Just as I promised the extension along the former CNW main line here in Iowa completed another segment last week. The streach from CPA108 West Blairstown to CPA118 West Belle Plaine was cut in last week. This leaves only the portion from CPA140 to Cpa 118 in true ATC Territory The CNW is dying a long and slow death The final blow will be when the Kate Shelly High Bridge comes down when the new bridge is completed later this year Larry
Huh, I thought the Kate Shelley was a registered landmark? I must be thinking of another Iowa bridge.
Nope thats the one it will come down bedause of the steel and age The U P will donate to whatever group wants it they just have to take it out of the Valley
Huh- I thought they were going to leave it up and use it as a ped bridge. Good luck on finding somebody to move it to somewhere else…
The last I heard the steel bridge was going to be fenced off, like that will keep people off of it. Long term, I look for them to donate it to either the county or state historical society. I don’t know that they would have to move it, but it does sit right where a replacement bridge would go many years down the road. I wonder if the new bridge will last as long as the Kate Shelley bridge?
If responsiblity (liability) for the bridge isn’t transferred to someone else, I would look to see it dismantled in a few years. After they are sure the new one is going to hold.[:)]
Jeff
The new bridge is designed for a 100-year lifetime using methods and materials that are well-understood with long experience in their use for railways, so I don’t think there is any reason to lack confidence that it will not last 100 years.
RWM
Might I add, Jeff, that if they’re unsure as to how long it will last, I would expect to see your Cromer running east alot more to avoid going over it![;)]
There are a lot of guys who say they don’t want to be the first over the bridge. It wouldn’t bother me to be the first over the bridge. I just don’t want to be the last one over the bridge, if you get my meaning.[:)]
Seriously, when we first started running two trains at the same time over the Kate Shelley, many said if they knew another train was coming, they would stop and wait for it to clear the bridge. The first couple of times meeting a train on the bridge was kind of eerie, especially at night, but now it’s routine. AFAIK, no one ever waited for the other train.
Jeff