Second BNSF Plattsmouth Bridge

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Brad
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Second BNSF Plattsmouth Bridge

Post by Brad »

BNSF to build a second Railroad Bridge at Plattsmouth, NE over the Missouri River

BNSF wants to build new bridge over Missouri River between Nebraska and Iowa

http://www.rtands.com/newsflash/bnsf-wa ... -4308.html
Railway Track and Structures wrote:BNSF is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to construct a new railroad bridge and off-line single-track crossing over the Missouri River near Plattsmouth, Neb., and Pacific Junction, Iowa.
Railway Track and Structures wrote:The proposed bridge is 1,676 feet in length and will be ballasted with cast-in-place concrete deck composite with deck plate girders and with truss stringers. The piers will be solid shaft cast-in-place concrete. The layout of the main truss over the navigation channel will meet the requirements of the Coast Guard for horizontal and vertical clear opening.
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Seth
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Post by Seth »

Since it says they plan to keep the existing bridge open, I wonder if this will improve rail congestion?  I know the Zephyr has had to wait for freight traffic in this area when I've rode it, so it would be nice if this would help.
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

Seth wrote:Since it says they plan to keep the existing bridge open, I wonder if this will improve rail congestion?  I know the Zephyr has had to wait for freight traffic in this area when I've rode it, so it would be nice if this would help.
That's the Plan  They are adding a lot of capacity in the area.
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

Photo Update 7/29/2012

1.  Looking West From Iowa
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2.  Shot this through the car windshield... Tried to clean it up the best I could.
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3.  Looking East from Nebraska
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4.  Looking East
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5.  Looking North East
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6.  Looking North
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7.  Looking North West
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Seth
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Post by Seth »

Cool pictures!  It's always neat to see new rail construction after seeing so much being abandoned over the last century.
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

Seth wrote:Cool pictures!  It's always neat to see new rail construction after seeing so much being abandoned over the last century.
Between Plattsmouth and Blair, there is plenty to go around, around here.

From what I heard, 25mph track costs about $1 Million per mile to build.  Can't imagine what the projects around here are!
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

1.  Here was the biggest surprise of the weekend, the new BNSF Missouri River Bridge!  I assumed it would be new and boring, but I was wrong!
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2.  Looking west at the Missouri River Bridge
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Silverspoon
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Post by Silverspoon »

Awesome pics Brad!  I wasnt aware that the Plattsmouth bridge was still operational.  I guess I just gathered that assumption from it looking so poorly maintained cosmetically.
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

Silverspoon wrote:Awesome pics Brad!  I wasnt aware that the Plattsmouth bridge was still operational.  I guess I just gathered that assumption from it looking so poorly maintained cosmetically.
I am guessing 50+ trains a day use it.  I was down at Oreapolis on Sunday and they were bumper to bumper down there including an Amtrak train.
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Silverspoon
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Post by Silverspoon »

Brad wrote:
Silverspoon wrote:Awesome pics Brad!  I wasnt aware that the Plattsmouth bridge was still operational.  I guess I just gathered that assumption from it looking so poorly maintained cosmetically.
I am guessing 50+ trains a day use it.  I was down at Oreapolis on Sunday and they were bumper to bumper down there including an Amtrak train.
Should have gotten a pic of that...  :yes:
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

Silverspoon wrote:Should have gotten a pic of that...  :yes:
I did!  Twice - Ashland and Plattsmouth!

Ashland
1.  First off, a shot I always wanted, Amtrak or Not, The Platte River Bridge near Linoma.
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2.  Another Amtrak shot on the Platte River Bridge
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Plattsmouth
3.  Caught Amtrak #6 again after it left Omaha at Oreapolis
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4.  Got a wave from the friendly crew.
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

BNSF to spend $110 million on projects in Nebraska

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130912/N ... n-nebraska
Emily Nohr / World-Herald staff writer wrote:BNSF Railway Co. on Thursday announced plans to invest about $110 million this year in maintenance and rail capacity expansion projects in Nebraska.
Emily Nohr / World-Herald staff writer wrote:The money will go toward completing a bridge over the Missouri River between Plattsmouth and Pacific Junction, Iowa; construction of about a mile of westbound wye track near Seward; improvements to BNSF’s car and locomotive shops in Lincoln; and signal upgrades for the federally mandated technology positive train control, or PTC.

It will also go toward maintaining nearly 3,800 miles of track surfacing and undercutting work and replacing nearly 130 miles of rail and 115,000 railroad ties.
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

Word on the street is that this new bridge may open today.
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Re: Second BNSF Plattsmouth Bridge

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Here is Amtrak using the new Plattsmouth Bridge. You can see the old bridge right behind it.

1.
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2.
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nativeomahan
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Re: Second BNSF Plattsmouth Bridge

Post by nativeomahan »

Great photos!
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Brad
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Re: Second BNSF Plattsmouth Bridge

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nativeomahan wrote:Great photos!
Thanks Nativeomahan!
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Seth
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Re: Second BNSF Plattsmouth Bridge

Post by Seth »

Brad wrote:Here is Amtrak using the new Plattsmouth Bridge.  You can see the old bridge right behind it.

1.
Image
This angle really illustrates the depth of those trusses. It's a reminder of the incredible weight these bridges are designed for!
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Brad
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Re: Second BNSF Plattsmouth Bridge

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Aerial Photo Update!

1. Nebraska facing East towards Iowa
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2. Nebraska facing East towards Iowa
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3. Nebraska facing East towards Iowa
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4. Nebraska facing North/North East towards Iowa
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5. Facing North
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6. Facing North West from Iowa towards Nebraska
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7. Facing West from Iowa towards Nebraska
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8. Facing West from Iowa towards Nebraska
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9. Facing West from Iowa towards Nebraska
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10. Facing West from Iowa towards Nebraska
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11. Facing South East
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12. Facing North West
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Re: Second BNSF Plattsmouth Bridge

Post by iamjacobm »

Crazy how big some RR projects are. They moved a ton of earth to cut into that hill!
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Brad
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Re: Second BNSF Plattsmouth Bridge

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iamjacobm wrote:Crazy how big some RR projects are.  They moved a ton of earth to cut into that hill!
It's amazing. I think it took them almost as long to cut that hill and reinforce it as it did to build the bridge.
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