Western Railroad Discussion > A Couple from the New Kate Shelley Bridge

I was able to swing by the bridge(s) after work today, and got a shot of the work on the new approach on the west end (can't see the bridge-it's around the corner) and of both bridges from the east. Looks like the track is in place on the new bridge, and it is temporarily tied in on the east side. I presume this is to get ballast cars onto the deck to dump. Signals are also in place but the heads are turned.

Has to be getting very close to going into service. I posted a couple of other photos and a little more explanation at http://look4trains.com/2009/08/high-bridge-update.html.

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Makes one wonder why UP put in all the extra curvature when a bridge south of the old one could be laid on a straighter course?

BTW, anyone have a photo of the old MILW bridge just downriver at Madrid?

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

The new bridge uses the old MILW bridge that was at Madrid.

Doug

funnelfan Wrote:
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> Makes one wonder why UP put in all the extra
> curvature when a bridge south of the old one could
> be laid on a straighter course?
>
> BTW, anyone have a photo of the old MILW bridge
> just downriver at Madrid?

This question is a good one. Now that we can see this curvature (distorted by the telephoto shot), will it be high speed curvature, or will the new bridge also be a 25 mph crossing? Maybe the new curves aren't as sharp as they look to be in these photos.

The speed over the new bridge will be 50mph. The bridge is built and designed for 70mph, but will have a posted limit of 50mph. It will take 6 days to cut in all the switches (three days each for each side) and work is to begin on August 22nd.

Is there a way to access that Hillside in the first picture? It seems like it would be a good spot to see Trains coming toward you on the new bridge...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/09 08:17 by SunsetRoute.

Is the old bridge going to be recycled for auto use? From that far bank, it looks like a nifty S-curve telephoto shot should be forthcoming. Neato.

Maybe they could single track the old bridge and send some of the parts to PA? lol ...

* JB *

SunsetRoute Wrote:
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> Is there a way to access that Hillside in the
> first picture? It seems like it would be a good
> spot to see Trains coming toward your on the new
> bridge...

Coach wonders:
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Now that we can see
> ...will the new
> bridge also be a 25 mph crossing?

Aside from the old bridge having reached the end of its useful economic life, one of the reasons UP wanted to replace it is that the 25 mph speed restriction can result in bottlenecks on an intensively used main line. Incidentally, UP performed a band-aid fix on the original structure a few years ago, and one guesses that the reason they didn't replace it then was that there were too many other needs for their capital. However, not this time.

It will be interesting to see when, and if, they turn their attention to the antique span that crosses the Mississippi River at Clinton.

billio Wrote:
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> Coach wonders:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> Now that we can see
> > ...will the new
> > bridge also be a 25 mph crossing?
>
> Aside from the old bridge having reached the end
> of its useful economic life, one of the reasons UP
> wanted to replace it is that the 25 mph speed
> restriction can result in bottlenecks on an
> intensively used main line. Incidentally, UP
> performed a band-aid fix on the original structure
> a few years ago, and one guesses that the reason
> they didn't replace it then was that there were
> too many other needs for their capital. However,
> not this time.
>
> It will be interesting to see when, and if, they
> turn their attention to the antique span that
> crosses the Mississippi River at Clinton.
Isn't the old bridge also limited to one train at a time? Maybe I'm wrong about that, but thought that's what I heard/read.

KimHeusel Wrote:

> Isn't the old bridge also limited to one train at
> a time? Maybe I'm wrong about that, but thought
> that's what I heard/read.

Think you're correct, but not sure.

Correct, the old bridge is restricted to one train at a time.

SunsetRoute Wrote:
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> Is there a way to access that Hillside in the
> first picture? It seems like it would be a good
> spot to see Trains coming toward you on the new
> bridge...

Not that I'm aware of, but I'm no expert on the area. There are a LOT of blocked off roads and no trespassing signs in the area. There is a road that goes under the bridge that was apparently open to the public at one time but is now closed off. My guess is the hillside is strictly off limits, but it would be an awesome place to shoot from.

You can run two trains at a time on the old bridge currently. When I rode the CNWHS Special in May up to Boone our train was on the bridge and was passed by an EB. That was one of the factors of strengthing the old bridge in 2002.

And yes, there are a lot of no tresspassing signs around there.

MILW86A

The one-train-at-a-time restriction was lifted with the modifications made a few years ago.

I used to hear references to retaining one track over the old bridge, but more recent mentions don't say anything about that.