I like to photograph old drainage culvert designs and this was a new one I came across near Sutton, Nebraska on the BNSF mainline to Denver. The rails run the entire length of the culvert. The ends come out through a slotted iron ring. In a couple of places (top and right side) a pin goes through the rail. This section of track was put in service in 1871, so it could be very old. I hope to get closer for further inspection at a later date.
Nice,
never seen one like these before!
Chr.
Interesting. I've never seen anything like that either.
That is very interesting. I've seen lots of stone masonry, boilers and timber boxes for culverts on the railroads in Oklahoma, but never any reinforced with rail. Makes sense, though; they had a lot of it laying around.
I did find this interesting article:
Railroad Bridges Built With Rail
That’s a new one for me as well. Makes sense too.
On another note I have just started “Sunrise Serenade” and in the first few pages learned more about WWII than I ever learned in school. I love history and find your book an excellent read. Thanks! B-)
Jerry, I hope you don't mind but I cross-posted this to the Railway Preservation website (RYPN Post) to see if it elicited any comments. None of any substance so far.
Can you tell what the interior material is? Looks smooth like concrete.
The rail they used was well worn.
The ring appears to be steel.
I have come across tank car culverts. The only thing I have seen rail used for is small culvert briddges, 4 rails are embedded in the concrete walls under each rail run and the ties are then laid on the rails.
The steel may only be in rings long the length of this culvert. The rails are close enough together to serve as supporting formwork for poured in place concrete. I would say it requires an interior inspection.
Paul in PA
The rail profiles look varied, both worn ans different cross-sections. Getting comments on rypn.org but I didn't realize that it was posted "non-survey" so they can't see the convo.
Next time I am through the area I will get closer for more details. It looked like the interior was lined with concrete with the flat part (bottom) of the rails exposed.