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Maintenance Of Way : Installing a Mainline Turnout

Tuesday April 2, 2002 our construction crew cut in a #24 switch at Auburn, WA. Auburn is located south of Seattle on the BNSF Seattle to Portland mainline. The Stampede Pass line connects with the mainline at Auburn.

This is part of the upgrades we're doing to be able to run more Sounder commuter trains. This particular location, milepost 24x, will be a new control point with two #24 crossovers. We build the new switch directly across from where it will be placed in the mainline. All that has to be done is slide it into place. I brought my work camera with me for this one. All photos are Fuji Provia 400F taken with a Canon Sureshot 120.

There are 15 Photos in this category

01 - Removing Panel Track
Photographer: Mark Gillings
Image: 640 x 480 jpg, 90k
(Added: 13-Apr-2002) - Hits: 1166

Rating: 3.67 Votes: 21 - Rate This Image

In the couple days prior to installation, the mainline was panelized by squaring up the rail joints. This allows for a very quick removal of the old track. Just unbolt the angle bars and hook up the loaders. Here the loaders are lifting the existing track.

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02 - After Removing Panel Track
Photographer: Mark Gillings
Image: 480 x 640 jpg, 103k
(Added: 13-Apr-2002) - Hits: 1265

Rating: 3.00 Votes: 12 - Rate This Image

After the panel track was removed, the the area was ready to be graded. In the distance, the first switch we did can be seen on main 1.

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03 - Prepping the Grade
Photographer: Mark Gillings
Image: 640 x 480 jpg, 94k
(Added: 13-Apr-2002) - Hits: 826

Rating: 3.12 Votes: 9 - Rate This Image

After the panel track was removed, the old ballast (rock) was removed and the area graded in preperation for installing the new turnout.

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04 - Panelized turnout
Photographer: Mark Gillings
Image: 640 x 480 jpg, 132k
(Added: 13-Apr-2002) - Hits: 1205

Rating: 3.54 Votes: 13 - Rate This Image

The turnout was to be installed into the BNSF Seattle to Portland mainline. Building it in place would take the track out of service much too long and interrupt traffic. To prevent that, the turnout was built off to the side, known as panelizing. Here is the entire thing all welded together. It's about 280 feet long. The Signal Crew painted the switch rods and all their special signal stuff so the tamper operator would skip those ties. You sure don't want to bend any of these brand new parts.

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05 - Dragging the Panel
Photographer: Mark Gillings
Image: 640 x 480 jpg, 106k
(Added: 13-Apr-2002) - Hits: 911

Rating: 3.88 Votes: 8 - Rate This Image

Now that the grade is ready for the installation, the loaders drag the new turnout into place on the mainline.

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06 - Dragging the Panel
Photographer: Mark Gillings
Image: 640 x 480 jpg, 80k
(Added: 13-Apr-2002) - Hits: 1455

Rating: 4.27 Votes: 19 - Rate This Image

Now that the grade is ready for the installation, the loaders drag the new turnout into place on the mainline. It's heavy and the loaders have all they can handle pulling and lifting it into place.

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07 - Dragging the Panel
Photographer: Mark Gillings
Image: 705 x 480 jpg, 110k
(Added: 13-Apr-2002) - Hits: 1018

Rating: 2.55 Votes: 11 - Rate This Image

Now that the grade is ready for the installation, the loaders drag the new turnout into place on the mainline.

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Links Updated On: 13-Jun-2007 - 23:15:17