Re: 78 Photos of Tempe Derailment
Author: Shortline Sammie
Date: 07-30-2020 - 16:32
Apples vs oranges! If I remember correctly the California bridge you reference was a timber structure over land that the UP replaces with one of their standard ballast deck "stock" bridges.
The Tempe is a through truss structure with a trestle approach. The trestle will probably be rebuilt with a process similar to the California one but I can't see UP doing anything but replacing the (at least two) damaged sections in kind.
Judging from the sagging centerbeam there was a LOT of heat developed by the burning load of lumber plus the creosoted ties but I doubt that there was significant structural damage to the remaiing sections other than rail and ties.
Enough speculating from a thousand miles away but I've dealt with a bridge fire before and they're anything but fun!
Sammie
Oregon Pacific Railroad