The track shoulder on curve 12 is completely plugged up with
coal. We get our mini excavator on the track and clean it out today.
Coal plugging the shoulder won’t allow water to drain away from
the track and we gonna fix that problem in this video. Excellent
drainage there now.
Good drainage is one of the keys to having a healthy track. The water
has to be able to run away from the track. In fact when a contractor builds
the original road bed grade, it is supposed to have a slight slope so
the water will drain down thru the ballast and then run away from the track bed.
An old railroader once told me the 3 most important things you need to
know about track work are: #1 Drainage. #2 Drainage. and #3 More Drainage.
We also going to clean out the shoulder on curve 14 in this video and
I have a most delightful surprise to show you that just happened to
show up on my truck set that morning! It is Awesome.
Our mini excavator is a Kubota 161-3 Super Series and has seen
a lot of good use out here on the railroad over the years.
Made March 31 and April 01, 2022
#TrackShoulder#MiniExcavator
source
we called that gobbed up when the coal packed like that.
I love how you love what you do.
The world would be a happier place if everyone enjoyed their job as much as you! Saying that you look forward to work really says a lot, not only that you are doing what your meant to do, but that you have a great employer as well!
Serious question from someone who doesn't know much about the industry/trade: does this railroad require significantly more maintenance because of the heavy use and the coal mess? It seems like the upkeep is endless, and not something the Class I railroads would be able to keep up with if all their track miles had to be tended so carefully.
Nice film Dave thanks, apart from the speeded up section 😢
Hi Dave! Who is the musical artist in your video? Very appropriate music!
Dave get get some east terminal railway gear there bringing back a disused branchline
Thanks Dave, you've brightened up our Sunday! Keep laughing!!!
I love your attitude! Always smiling and laughing! Like you really enjoy life! It makes me smile! Thanks for the video!
Another cool episode, Dave. Was the contamination from one event or is it just the accumulation from small leaks in the doors over time?
Thanks to you I now know how bad mud, including mud made of coal dust is to track stability. But what about coal chunks that are similar size to ballast rock. Do they act like ballast rock or do they break down into smaller pieces or even just coal dust and thus become more of a problem?
Dave,
Ever think about becoming an artist? You look like an artist operating the bucket of the excavator. Picking, placing and cutting like a pro. Will you recycle the piece of rail you found buried? Hate to hit it with a brush cutter in the future. Thanks for showing us the other side of railroads. The part few people ever see. TG
Hey, very nice vest there! Congrats! Wow…it IS plugged solid! Eek! Glad you worked at it, got it open. Time for more ballast!
One muddy spot!
Love the video you have a very interesting job and that you enjoy it keep up the good work
Good job Dave If you like what you are doing. It not work a all. I enjoy my job too. Have a wonderful RailRoad Day
On the next shutdown you really need to get an undercutter or Ballast Cleaning machine. That should take care of the whole line, clearing Ballast of mud and coal.
Great video
Fantastic video my good friend, it really is fantastic and I love it so much 🤩🤩🤩🤩. Like 1090 👍 !!!!!!
I tried to buy a rail jack for my railroad today but lost the bid .it went for 160 dollors.
For not a very long RR it sure keeps you busy… Always something to do.. Fun to watch! Daylight Dave 😜
I always enjoy your enthusiasm for your job. It is a blessing to have a job you enjoy.
I'm curious as to what the difference is for having the dirty ballast on one side of the tracks versus the original side? It's not obvious from the video if there's an angle away from the road. Won't the long pile on the new side fill in with water and tailings just like it did on the original side?
Keep up the good work!
In a previous video, I asked if the ballast can be washed. You replied it is not easy to clean the coal out of the ballast. I wonder if the ballast was sent through a firing oven to burn the coal away? That would probably work. It probably is not cost efficient but certainly it could be done.
Great video, love your positive attitude!
Good morning Dave, May 12, 2022.
Job security.
You don’t work in the rain?
Is there a way to haul some of excess garbage mud coal rock out of this location?
Nice vest!! So great that you enjoy your work.
Good job sir,
I really like ur experience 🌹
Dave playing with his toys! Great job Dave.
Good job Dave it is really good to see a professional gentleman who enjoys there job and looks forward to going into work everyday. Thank you for another awesome video. 😀❤🇨🇦
Thank you Dave and your wife for the prayers of support.
I was wondering if it would be economically worthwhile to collect the contaminated ballast, wash it and re-use the stone component. I've seen ballast cleaning machines in other videos but the operation was combined with rail grinding and track alignment; the scale of the work was huge. 🙂
Very nice. Love the time lapse part.
Good work! Can you clean what you dig out to reclaim/reuse the ballast? I guess the coal is too small to reuse?
What do you end up doing w all the dirty ballast? Do you guys wash it,then reuse it or…..?
Do you have a video showing us a tour of your train room you talk about?
Its in the 90°s here in central Illinois, send that snow our way, please!