Virginia and Truckee Reconstruction -- Tracklaying

[Bigpimping808]

Could you get your clothes snag on train tracks or your foot stuck

[318Captain]

so THATS how they bend rail.... awesome!

[thepresident1981]

you would think nosing would accrue with this quick nail process

[nickd444]

the guy with that sledge has quite good accuracy haha.

[bcschmerker]

This is an update of the old-fashioned tracklaying methods used in the late 1860's for modern machine tools. This is one FAB vid. ;-)

[virginiatruckee]

@bcschmerker Thanks so much, I really appreciate the comment!

[belac6137]

H&H sucks

[virginiatruckee]

@belac6137 You get no argument from me! It's too bad there's a trackbuilder who contracts with UP out of Fernley, near Reno, but he knows what BS the Commission will put him through and doesn't bid.

[starnet36]

Why are they using jointed rail?

[virginiatruckee]

@starnet36 For at least three reasons:

1)some of this rail was donated, rail used from Gold Hill to Overman pit came from the shoo-fly bypass used in the Reno Trench project.

2) I am guessing this rail, even new, is cheaper than continuous rail ( I assume you are talking about the 1/4 mile sections used by class I railroads).

3) Because the nearest connection to a Class I railroad is at least thirty miles away, they can't bring in the CWR by train. I would guess it's impossible to truck it.

[djvensel]

Perhaps I'm missing something but don't they usually lay ties on a bed of stone first? I've done lots of rail work but never in this area. We always laid out ballast for drainage first. Maybe this is not an issue here??

[virginiatruckee]

Yeah, I never posted a video of the rest of the process, I should. In other videos of mine you can see them spreading ballast on the track using a diesel and a hopper car. Then they line and lift the rail into place and use a tamper.

I guess I am confused, if you lay the rock first, how do you get the rail set into the rock? I can see lining and lifting, them tamping, I can't imagine what the opposite process would be. Sometime I will have to post a video response showing the rest of the work.

[1xsooliner]

just wondering why they dont plate and set one side then gauge off the other its quicker and lot less work in the long run?

[virginiatruckee]

Good point, but irrelevant to this group. This project is not known for logic, consistency or efficiency. I love the project but the people running it change their minds every few months.

Having said that, the contractor was H&H Trackbuilders from CA. Perhaps if they did it your way they wouldn't make as much money?

Thanks for commenting. I'm not 100% cynical about this project but I'm almost there. Back when they said it would cost $10 million it was one thing. Now it will reach $70 million!

[pieman97405]

I just want to update the end of track for us all, they are just past the bridge (less then 100 feet past). So phase two of the project is almost done. In three years (and about six miles), we can ride the new V&T from Carson City to Virginia City, if things go as planed.

[virginiatruckee]

Sorry I haven't posted new videos for awhile. I've been busy and RR video has been waaayyy on the backburner. If some troll posts nasty comments I apologize if I don't delete them quickly.

Jim

[freckldnred]

Great video. i just added a short clipd of the VT Depot in Virginia City.