I need a new BRIDGE!!!

[Tractor Seabee]

I like the idea of using the railroad flatbed, the site is about 20 miles from the railway station. Located beside the old bridge is a ford that we are now using. It works well unless there has been a heavy rain. We drive our SUVs across it and have had dump trucks come through there in the past. Hopefully we could get a concrete truck across there, and back.

I have permits from the Corps of Engineers and the Wildlife Commission for the repairs. Building this as a low water bridge that we know would flood is acceptable. One of the neighbors put in a swinging foot bridge a few years back that we use during floods. It is about 150' long and is above the flood mark.

Several posters wondered where you get a RR flat bed and how too haul. Depends how far you live from an industrial area that has a big salvage outfit. They buy these things and try to sell before scrapping out (labor). They can usaully haul for you on a big low boy machinery trailer. The RR car is no more than 10' wide so wide load permit is not required. Definitely a crane set unless you have a rig big enough to drag into place. A large track hoe would work nice to lift one end to drag off trailer and across the ground. Put rollers on top of sills and drag across. Just hard work and be careful. Length is the biggest hurdle for hauling. Don't build your piers till you know what you are getting so you can tailor to it. I doubt a standard 53' semi trailer frame will structurally support the propane truck. Check with your vendor on the weight. A trailer centers from fifth wheel to axels is some what shorter than the total length versus your sills being close to the ends. Pure logic. Sorry, I do not live close enough to sidewalk superintend. Lot's of luck, keep mus posted.

Ron

 

[LD1]

All good info so far.

But I have to ask, what have you done in the past. You said the propane truck has crossed this wooden bridge before If I am picturing it right, your span in 40', but you have a block/pier in the middle and that lessens the span of the lumber beams to 20' right?

I still would not want to drive across it. I dont like lumber for outdoor load-bearing structures. Because different species/grades have different strengths, knots and bad sections weaken it, plus it is hard to see if/when it starts to rot before it is too late. Steel is MUCH better IMO. Weak areas (rusting) can easily be spotted and addressed before its too late.

The RR flatbed sounds like a good Idea, if you can get one. IF not, it looks like you are going to need some sizable I-beams.

Either way you go, I would suggest meeting with an engineer. It would be well worth the money spent to get his advice. He can come out and actually take a look at what you have. I am sure there is certain guidelines (that he will know for your area) for footer/peir size and depth. Because what you have now (2' x 2' x 12') on each end doesnt sound like it is big enough (or deep enough) to handle the weight of the bridge + 40ton dumptrucks.

If you want an Idea of what you are in for, drive around in your county and look at bridges. Find one that is ~40' span and has a full 40T rating. Pull over. Look underneath. Make notes. Take pictures.

 

[Army grunt]

If your going to make it higher . Youll need to leghten it. How about a few 40 ft flatbed trailers?Strip all hard ware an redeck with oak 2 bys.Replace the center block with say the bottom part of a ceptick tank filled with stone& cement.The trailers are 8 ft wide so you could use 12 footers for decking. Allow 2 ft. overhang each side. put a ribbon board (bolted) say a 2x6 oak to hold a railling. also it will give you the feeling you wont fall offJust a thought.
Army Grunt

 

[ultrarunner]

On New Years I took a ride on the Swanton Pacific Railroad and it has a bridge designed by students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo...

The trestle was very strong and yet built from lightweight steel members bolted together...

 

[DJ54]

Here are some pictures of a flatcar being used as a bridge on the Moonville RailTrail, a muscle powered only, RailTrail is SE Ohio. The railroad pulled all bridges when they abandoned the line. Thank goodness they left the abutments.

All we needed to do, is find something to fit the spans. We secured three flatcars from the Dept. of Energy. They donated them to us, being we are a non-profit org.

One of our members is a contractor, and charges us only cost on equipment and labor. No profit, so it keeps his guys working when things get slow.

Car was stripped of decking. He hauled it in on one of his tractor trailers. They used two smaller cranes, because of getting them into the remote location, and was actually too much for either one, when booming down to get it centered on the abutments.

 

[Rowdy Raven]

Hey folks, thanks so much for all the great ideas. I talked with some folks today about a flatcar. A 85' flatcar weighs 44k pounds and is offered for $22k plus delivery. I have talked with an engineer and he is going to come out and meet us at the site, I plan to talk with him about all the options. I'll keep you posted as to his suggestions and what we move to do. Again many thanks!

 

[strum456]

Hey folks, thanks so much for all the great ideas. I talked with some folks today about a flatcar. A 85' flatcar weighs 44k pounds and is offered for $22k plus delivery. I have talked with an engineer and he is going to come out and meet us at the site, I plan to talk with him about all the options. I'll keep you posted as to his suggestions and what we move to do. Again many thanks!

I have no idea what railroad cars sell for, but that seems pretty high for scrap price.

 

[jimmachinist]

I have no idea what railroad cars sell for, but that seems pretty high for scrap price.

I know there is an antique bridge for sale in meadville pa. Might be worth looking into

 

[beeforty]

Any of these in and around Last Chance Road, Swanton or Davenport?

Happy Valley area (Branciforte Dr) only in January of 1982 it wasn't so happy:laughing:

 

[beeforty]

On New Years I took a ride on the Swanton Pacific Railroad and it has a bridge designed by students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo...

The trestle was very strong and yet built from lightweight steel members bolted together...

Don't want to appear negative to RR bridges but that Swanton trestle bridge was built to replace a railcar bridge that washed out in Jan '82. Now it's 2x? the lenght that it was. That's why I say make it high and anchor it good!! When they wash out they usually take out 1 or 2 banks and then you have more work and $$