Hi,
I'm new to this forum so if this topic has already been covered forgive me. I did search but didn't find anything.
I am interested in the logistics of building a railroad from the viewpoint of getting all the materials to the end of the line in the context of the late 19th century.
i have found references to rail mounted steam shovels that were used to prepare the sub grade. The temporary track for that was placed directly on the sub grade. As the sub grade was prepared new rail was laid on the new surface and the shovel moved ahead. The rail behind the shovel was taken up before ballast was laid. How did they transfer the ballast, which presumably was brought up from behind on the finished rail in gondolas, ahead and compact it? Surely not manually. A car loaded with thirty tons of rock is a hell of project to unload with shovels even if the car dumps the rock first. And that much ballast probably doesn't even extend the line the length of the gondola.
I would appreciate any leads or thoughts you can give me on this subject.
fly_sail
I'm new to this forum so if this topic has already been covered forgive me. I did search but didn't find anything.
I am interested in the logistics of building a railroad from the viewpoint of getting all the materials to the end of the line in the context of the late 19th century.
i have found references to rail mounted steam shovels that were used to prepare the sub grade. The temporary track for that was placed directly on the sub grade. As the sub grade was prepared new rail was laid on the new surface and the shovel moved ahead. The rail behind the shovel was taken up before ballast was laid. How did they transfer the ballast, which presumably was brought up from behind on the finished rail in gondolas, ahead and compact it? Surely not manually. A car loaded with thirty tons of rock is a hell of project to unload with shovels even if the car dumps the rock first. And that much ballast probably doesn't even extend the line the length of the gondola.
I would appreciate any leads or thoughts you can give me on this subject.
fly_sail