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Re: Bad Railroad Bridges? Never any problems like this, right?
Author: Greg Hall
Date: 03-12-2021 - 09:03
Last year the fellow that the FRA sent to inspect bridges, yes they do do that, did not know the first thing about railroad bridges or structural engineering and we ended up spending a week in the office with him instructing him on what he was to be inspecting. Several years ago the FRA required formal engineering inspections by third party inspectors of all railroad
bridges in the U.S. Several short lines that could not afford the cost ended up shutting lines down. In one case, the cost to inspect just one of the bridges was over $1 million. As
a result the excursion that took place over that line was shut down and the common carrier
freight service ended. (The bridge had been recently refurbished and is actually in excellent
condition -- but disqualified due to lack of third party inspection.) Between FRA regulations
and liability concerns, railroad bridges are in pretty good shape -- far better than interstate hiway bridges score. Railroad bridges can look pretty ugly, as EPA regulations make it nearly impossible to paint them these days.
bridges in the U.S. Several short lines that could not afford the cost ended up shutting lines down. In one case, the cost to inspect just one of the bridges was over $1 million. As
a result the excursion that took place over that line was shut down and the common carrier
freight service ended. (The bridge had been recently refurbished and is actually in excellent
condition -- but disqualified due to lack of third party inspection.) Between FRA regulations
and liability concerns, railroad bridges are in pretty good shape -- far better than interstate hiway bridges score. Railroad bridges can look pretty ugly, as EPA regulations make it nearly impossible to paint them these days.
