Track Repair and Remediation

Reinstated passenger service highlighted unexpected deterioration in track support due to embankment instability.  The site investigation concluded that a peat layer existed under the embankment and must have been present under previous operations.  Unable to determine how the previous operations stabilized the site, a grouting program was undertaken to confine and stiffen the peat layer while minimizing impact on rail operations.  

During site investigations in the 1990's this site was identified where drainage challenges were compounding a subgrade instability.  The figure shows the track geometry effect associated with the area of mud pumping.  A task for FRA's R&D Broad Agency Announcement presented an opportunity to demonstrate a novel material to reduce subgrade stress and provide the needed filter separation to limit mud pumping while improving overall site drainage.  The novel geoweb material, neoweb, was unique at the time in the ability to resist stress without the creep common to most high density polyethylene used in common geoweb materials.  In this installation, the shallow use of geoweb required a material that could maintain the confining stress to provide the needed support improvement without creep.  

The maintenance and renewal of federally owned track was accomplished under contracts that required tight specifications to ensure quality work scheduled to minimize impact on operations.  These projects were typically National Park Service operations like the Cuyahoga Valley National Park excursion train and the Lowell National Historic Site trolley operation.  From track inspections and development of project requirements, securing funding, and developing the statements of work to monitoring contract progress, these unique projects have very unique requirements to maintain historic value while ensuring cost effective operations. including ensuring historic power systems and catenary work accomodates system requirements in the most cost effective means possible.