copyright © arema 2012 8: 1 of 36 module 8: soils, drainage, & right-of-way
TRANSCRIPT
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Module 8: Soils, Drainage, & Right-of-Way
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Objectives
• Soils – The foundation upon which the railroad structures are built.
• Drainage – Controlling runoff and keeping the track dry.
• Right-of-Way – The property owned by the railroad.
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Subgrade Soils
• Subgrade soils perform three functions:– To bear and distribute the load of the train– To provide a solid platform for the track and
ballast– To facilitate drainage
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Load Distribution
Track Structure
Stress Distribution
Load
ing
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Roadbed Stability
Stability of a railroad bed subgrade depends on:
Maintenance of DrainageMaintenance of Side Slopes
Compaction When BuiltSoil Types
silt gravel
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Soils in SubgradeSoil strength depends on many variables:
Presence of Organics (peat)
Water Content Hardness
Angularity (or smoothness) of ParticlesGrain Size and Distribution
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Unified Soil Classification System
• Three Major Soil Types – Coarse-Grained Soils (50% particles > 0.074 mm dia.)
• Sand• Gravel
– Fine-Grained Soils (50% particles < 0.074 mm dia.)• Clay• Silt
– Organic • Peat• Blackdirt / Topsoil
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Soils Notes• Track fails when differential rail deflections become
excessive• Stiffer ground is better under track to reduce
deflection• For Better Track Bed:
– Replace Bad Soils• Expansive Clays (ie – Bentonite)• Silts• Peat• Black Dirt / Top Soil
– Increase Compaction when Roadbed is Built– Design Good Drainage
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What Kind of Soil Do I Have?
• Soil Boring Samples are taken to determine types of soil, and at what depths they are present
• “In Situ” Soil Properties Tests:– Cone Penetration Tests– Pressuremeter Tests– Vane Shear Test
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Soil Boring Log• Shows graphically soil types at depths
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Soil Failures
Clay Heave
Slide
soil slide plane
soil
bulge
Crack parallel to embankment
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Subgrade Ballast Pockets
Impervious
Impe
rvio
us
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Soil Improvements
Lime injection stabilization
Soil Cement StabilizationAsphalt Underlayment
Adding a berm to the toe of slope
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Drainage
Drainage is the process of collecting and managing stormwater through the use of ditches, pipes, box culverts, bridges, etc. to protect the railroad track structure.
All good railroaders know the three most important elements for good track are:
1)Drainage, 2) Drainage, and 3)
Drainage!!
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Drainage
- Good drainage keeps subbase from getting saturated and soft- Sub-Ballast Side Slope is typically between 24:1 to 40:1
Rainfall drains due to slope
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Drainage
Hydrology (rainfall and runoff) is used to determine stormwater runoff through such methods as the USGS Regression Equations, Rational Formula, National Resource Conservation Service methods (TR 55 and TR 20), Army Corps of Engineers HECRAS, & FHWA HYDRAIN computer models.
Hydraulics is used to properly size the conveyance mechanism of the stormwater runoff. Mannings’s equation, culvert design charts, and computer modelling help assist the engineer in determining ditch size, culvert openings, and bridge span lengths.
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Recommended Procedures
• Existing Drainage Study
– Establish Watershed Limits
– Identify Floodplain Boundaries
– Identify Existing Bridges, Culverts, and Problem areas
– Select Outlet Points
– Select the Proper Hydrologic and Hydraulic Criteria
– Go Out in the Field
• Proposed Drainage Study
– Superimpose Proposed Improvements on the Existing Drainage Study
– Identify Floodplain and Wetland Impacts and Mediate
– Never Relocate an Existing Outlet
– Maintain Existing Watershed Limits
– Review Adjacent Property Owner Impacts, They are Protected Under the Law
– Initiate Permitting
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Culvert Pipe Design
NOTICE: Stresses on a culvert pipe below a track are over twice as much as on a culvert crossing under a highway!
Loading on a Culvert Pipe across a Track
Loading on a Culvert Pipe across a Highway
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Permitting
• Stormwater– Typically the Local Authority (City,
County, or Stormwater District)
• Floodplain and Floodway– State, County, Local and Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA)
• Waters of the US– US Army Corps of Engineers– Environmental Protection Agency– Department of Natural Resources
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Drainage
Poor Maintenance
Potential Results
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Erosion & Sediment Control
•Today, many local, county, state, and federal agencies are taking an active role in erosion control and require an E&SC plan.
•The railroads are required to have an E&SC plan filed with each state which has to be updated annually.
•Construction projects require an E&SC plan to obtain the permits for construction.
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Erosion & Sediment Control
E&SC plans typically consist of these sections:1. General – publication references, work
description, construction schedule, and a plan for the resident state.
2. Products – items such as barriers, fences, matting, fabrics, aggregate, inlet protection, dust suppressors.
3. Execution – plan to carry out construction and E&SC protection.
4. Railroad Certified Responsible Land Disturbers5. Copy of Resident State’s E&SC Requirements.
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Right-of-Way• Valuation Maps (ICC 1914 Cadastre)
Station/Land/Track/Terminal Variants Multiple maps may exist for the same location (detail)
Profile Maps Tend to show high water, r/w changes & scour histories Show relationships to original ground lines
Land Schedules (ICC Form DV-107 ) Important source of information about tile field rights and
drainage easements / senior water & drainage rights
Pipeline & Terminal Utilities MappingGIS/LIS - The future of digital records
and railroad information management
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Right-of-Way -ContinuedTrack Charts
Normally 1”=3000’ Schematic with graphical data information sets Show maintenance history / pipe & bridge locations/ planning tool Layout is peculiar to each railroad (all similar, but different) More commonly used on railroads by employees than Val maps
• Stationing Engineer Profile Stationing is common between Val maps and Profiles Stationing is slope chaining per ICC Valuation General Order #5 of 1914 Beware of EQUATIONS (Vertical Datum Shifts/ Horizontal/Construction)
• Mileposts True location of the milepost is determined by stationing Mileposts in the field tend to “wander” after maintenance activity Long and short miles (not always 5280’ for various reasons)
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Valuation Maps• Official Record of the Railroads
– Discussed here is US regulation (ICC/STB Standard); Canada & Mexico have their own rules, quirks, standards and formats.
• Property Use Record for the Railroads– Right-of-way limits, how acquired– Relationship(s) to local land lines– Railroad tracks, bridges, & structures– Highway & highway bridge crossings– Ingress/egress for utilities – water, sewer,
gas Beware of the abuse of the term
“easement”, and remember rules granting the crossing of railroad lines may change from state to state.
ICC Form DV-107
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Field Surveying
Photo by Charlie Tucker
Har
d ha
t
Steel toed boots
Reflective vest
Eye protecti
on
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Words To The Wise CAVEAT #1 –Buried signal cables are not likely to show
up on railway mapping – the RR Signal Dept. needs to locate & ID cables.
CAVEAT #2 –Utilities crossing railroad ROW will not show up on local assessor maps. These Contracts/Permits/Licenses tend not to show up in the local courthouse / public records repository.
CAVEAT #3 – Railroads support but do not belong to Utilities Locates services for reasons listed above in #2, and to avoid safety conflicts with 49CFR214 “On – Track- Safety” compliance issues.
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Valuation Maps
Predecessor railroad name
Valuation Section and Map Sheet Numbers
(Are referenced in many documents, but are being replaced by FRA/DOT
line segments)
(Close-up on next slide)
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Valuation Maps
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Valuation & Profile Maps• Provides valuable history of the railroad
– IF the railroad was in existence in the period 1914-1920 or since, there is a copy of the mapping that can still be recovered(NARA)
• Needs to be kept updated (49 CFR 1201)– NOTE: Since Staggers deregulation of the 1980’s only the Class 1 railroads are
required to keep current maps and records. Good public stewardship and engineering practice suggest that mapping be kept current by all landowners to mitigate risk and protect the railroad’s land interests/ assets , the adjoining landowner(s) and the general public.
– PLEASE PRESERVE NGS/USGS/USC&GS MONUMENTS and PROPERTY CORNERS FOUND ALONG THE RIGHTS OF WAY
SAMPLE PROFILE MAP FROM ICC GENERAL ORDER #1 (1914)
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Stationing & Mileposts
• Engineering stations provide the length of each track segment and locates the following:– Points of switches, bridges,
culverts, road crossings, mileposts, etc.
• Mileposts indicate the distance along the railroad in miles.– A railroad mile may/may not
equal 5,280 feet, each mile is individually measured.
BNSF Birmingham Sub,M.P. 588, Tupelo, MS
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Fences
Needed for:• Security Fencing – provides security for railroad
property and separation from the public in urban areas
• Livestock Fencing – keeps livestock off railroad property
• Snow or Sand Fencing – creates a place for drifting of snow/sand away from the track
• Slide Fencing – signalized fencing indicating a rock/mud slide, or fallen trees from steep embankments
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Special Signalized Fences
Slide Fencing & Slope Stability Fencing
Signalized slide fence detects material falling off of the slope
Signalized slope fence detects movement of an unstable
roadbed and alerts the dispatcher
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Vegetation Control
• More than just esthetics• Prevents choking of track and ditches which
creates drainage and maintenance problems• Improves sight distances and reduces tripping
hazards• Prevents interference with railway personnel
performing normal duties and the safe operation of trains
• May Require Permit
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Vegetation Control
Mechanical Control
Chemical Control
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Questions?
Authors:John G. Green, Ph.D., P.E.CH2M Hill, inc.
(312) 348-5030
Contributors:J. Gray ChandlerCSX (retired)
(904) 213-1121
Kevin Bollinger, P.E.Niemeyer & Associates
(815) 693-9400
Charlie TuckerFarnsworth Group, Inc.
(303) 692-8483