Road Crossing .... ya - right..........
Well, we were bored on Saturday, June 20, 1998 so we decided to put in a road crossing on the base. Well, not exactly - we put this crossing in to service the VIPs for the Air Show coming up at the end of July and to reclaim about 1000' of our track. Many years ago, the crossing was removed during a road re-paving project.

 

I need to thank two key people who made this project possible. Unfortunately, at this time (just hours after finishing the crossing) I don't know their names yet. One was the back-hoe and crane operator and the other was the Bobcat driver. As soon as I get their (your) names, I'll post them here. Thanks very much!!!!!Bobcat driver.

So, here we go............

Here we are building the snap track that will be the actual crossing.
Mike Dean, Fred Wiles, and Dan Cameron (left to right) Snap track.

 

Before crossing was installed.This is the road and the track before the crossing was put in. Doesn't look like that big of a deal, does it?????


 

Back Hoe at work.Here the back-hoe is digging out the crushed concrete that used to be the road. Luckilly this is a low traffic road!!

 

 

Ballast delivery.Here comes the ballast delivery truck. Boy, that sure was some king sized ballast, I'll tell you what!!! Very hard to work with. Should last a lifetime or two though.

 

 

Backhoe again.Now the back hoe is digging another 10" down or so to make room for the ballast base.

 

Tamping the dirt.

Thank goodness for power tampers!!!!!
Dan Cameron, Mike Dean, Col. Mitchell???,
Karl Joost and Fred Wiles (left to right)

 

 

Leveling the grade.

Here we are leveling the base before the ballast base goes in.
Fred Wiles, Dan Cameron, Col. Mitchell???, Mike Dean (shovel),
Tim Backhurst and Karl Joost. (Left to right)

 

 

Filling in with ballast.Time to add some of that ballast. Bobcats are good!!

Smoothing the ballast.We tried to level the ballast by manual labor but the back hoe operator did it for us. What a guy!!!

 

 

Lifting with crane. Its simple when you have the right tools.

Lowering snap track. A little to the right................. Snap track in place!Finally in place!

 

OK now, I told you that ballast was heavy.....
Filling in ties with ballast.Rudy Perales (shirt) and Mike Dean

Thanks again to the bobcat, putting in those crossing pieces was alot easier...
Rudy Perales, Fred Wiles, Jayson Gustaw Placing crossing pieces.

Drilling holes for crossing pieces.Drilling the holes to screw the crossing plates to the ties. More fun!!
John Erikson, Jayson Gustaw, Rudy Perales, Dieter Wenzel, Fred Wiles, Dan Cameron

 

 

And finally the finished product, well almost......just have to connect it to the main line......

Finished crossing!

We did finish the crossing on the weekend of July 11 and 12 and took the train over the crossing to "the other side" which has not seen a train in almost 4 years. There was much rejoicing!!!!

Need I mention that finishing the crossing was equally as hard as putting it in. Drilling 1" holes through 90 and 100 pound rail with that wonderful hand powered rail drill was a years excercise!!! I just kept telling myself, 'Its all for a good cause....."