NBEC took the unusual step of weighting the rail bridge with loaded ore cars. Students of New Brunswick railway history might remember what happened when CP did the same thing in 1987. There was a flood and CP put loaded fertilizer cars on the Perth Andover bridge that was washed away, and the fertilizer ended up in the river.
Fortunately this bridge survived and everything is open again up there. Best of luck to everyone in the Saint John river area.
EDIT: Changed date from 1976 to 1987. The 1976 date was the year the Woodstock bridge was carried away.
3 comments:
Hi Steve,
Hard to believe it was twenty one years ago that the CP Rail bridge in Perth Andover, was destroyed due to severe ice jams and high water. That date was actually April 01st, 1987, when 17 cars of fertilzer ( covered hoppers )went into the St. John River.
I know for a fact, the use of loaded railcars to stabilize that bridge, was also used in April 1986, with a subsequent intended good outcome.
Brian
Thanks for correcting me. I didn't have my notes right in front of me.
The last time the Restigouche had flooded like this was back in 1994, CN had used loaded ballast cars to weigh the bridge. That turned out to be a good idea and the bridge stayed. (Of course.) NBEC used the same tactic this time. I'm sure useing loaded ballast cars would be a lot more environmentally friendly than what had happened to CP back in the 80's.
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