Railroad Applications
SNLI has the right solution for railroad applications. High mobility and rapid installation means that track closures can be minimized or eliminated during shallow landslide repairs. Trains are able to run their tracks on schedule and the repair often costs half of more traditional repairs such as caissons, piling and retaining walls. Our designs can widen embankments and ensure soil stability for repetitive dynamic car loading.
Concrete facing blocks of a railroad bridge abutment serving the Union Pacific rail line were moving outward due to inadequate horizontal reinforcement underfootings. Additional reinforcement was needed in the top three feet of the bridge abutments within the right-of-way for the main rail line. Work could not interfere with train traffic and was restricted to the 12-foot-wide work zone adjacent to each abutment.
SNLI engineers worked with K & E Excavating Inc., Marion County, and county consultants David Evans & Associates to develop the reinforcement loads, nail locations, and obtain necessary permits. SNLI assembled special equipment to install and load test two rows of 20-foot nails in the north abutment and one row of 12-foot nails in the south abutment within the restrictive vertical and horizontal work zone. The result was rapid and economical abutment reinforcement without railroad traffic interruption.
Contact:
Kerry Kuenzi, K&E Excavating, President
Kerry@keex.net
John Steward, Soil Nail Launcher, Inc., Consultant
john@soilnaillauncher.com
