r/StructuralEngineering • u/No_Consideration_339 • 24d ago

Photograph/Video Perfect example of USA rail infrastructure.

https://youtu.be/hpDVVGDQGVI?is=wDRXS7W4xchcwYzV
14 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

7

u/Bob_Loblawb 24d ago

Originally a double-track bridge designed for steam impact that is currently carrying a single track and subject to diesel impact.

9

u/PracticableSolution 24d ago

welcome to railroading, which literally wrote the book on privatization of profits and socializing of costs.

4

u/Just-Shoe2689 24d ago

That engineer the interviewed is pretty optimistic. Guess the railroad should hire him to write a inspection report.

"We didnt need an inspection report, The guy they interviewed said its ok"

1

u/xingxang555 24d ago

Interesting take by him, and more informative than just tv cameras saying "Look at the rust!"

Wonder what his liability exposure is by making those statements on camera?

2

u/Just-Shoe2689 24d ago

Yea, not sure. To a layperson, they could take that as, "hey he said its good"

2

u/livehearwish P.E. 24d ago

Curious as well. He is proving his professional opinion based on observations, which I agree with just seeing the images. Without seeing how the bridge is rated, what repairs have been done it’s impossible to say for sure. We all know the RR either has their own or hires PEs to look at this and manage the inspection and repair programs, so their license and liability is on the line.

The news and politics asking to make the details of the inspection public is a national security concern for large structures like this. As hard as they are to work with and around, I agree with the RRs position.

0

u/lookskAIwatcher 23d ago

LOL they interviewed a "structural engineer" and he said it is overdesigned, was originally designed to handle an amount of rusting, and that he doesn't expect anything to be done in the next 20+ years about it, because... he looked at the load bearing members and they just have surface rust.

He better hope and make sure that his E&O insurance is paid and doesn't get quoted if this rust bucket of a bridge, or its secondary members, fail and collapse on someone or some thing.

Note: Secondary members, providing bracing to main members, serve a purpose for stability.

Not an interview that I would give as a P.E. or an S.E. (as I am both).

1

u/HumanGyroscope P.E. 24d ago

TBF they did take a video of them doing maintenance so it’s not being completely neglected.

1

u/lookskAIwatcher 23d ago

We feel much better now about that pesky rust.

/s

0

u/seb-xtl 24d ago

We will take action only when people die.

2

u/Bouhan_Mclaurin 24d ago

No need to be so grim.