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Re: SMART Puerto Suello Work Raises Question: Golden Spike Location?
Author: Burr Wilson
Date: 06-28-2015 - 07:16
Gold spike, or gold fishplate (or golden thermite weld)? Yeah, I'd been wondering if there might be any sort of celebration joining of the rails and marking the completion of railroad track into San Rafael. Maybe a reporter or photographer will be present, but I don't know when that will actually happen. Anyone else know anything?
Wooden ties at the tunnel southern portal; it appears those ties are unusually longer than the concrete and wooden ties used elsewhere along the line. Apparently nine or ten footers. I speculate those longer ties are necessary to stabilize the track and reduce "mud pumping" of sub-grade, in an area of seasonal high groundwater intrusion and drainage runoff from the cut. Or maybe there is a shortage of concrete ties. and the lead time for delivery became an issue. (SMART contractors are under strict timelines to deliver a finished, functional railroad in 2016.)
Incidentally, to my eye, telephoto distortion causes that track under construction to appear as HOn3 model RR flex track from Kato.
Wooden ties at the tunnel southern portal; it appears those ties are unusually longer than the concrete and wooden ties used elsewhere along the line. Apparently nine or ten footers. I speculate those longer ties are necessary to stabilize the track and reduce "mud pumping" of sub-grade, in an area of seasonal high groundwater intrusion and drainage runoff from the cut. Or maybe there is a shortage of concrete ties. and the lead time for delivery became an issue. (SMART contractors are under strict timelines to deliver a finished, functional railroad in 2016.)
Incidentally, to my eye, telephoto distortion causes that track under construction to appear as HOn3 model RR flex track from Kato.
