copyright © arema 2012 8: 1 of 36 module 8: soils, drainage, & right-of-way

COPYRIGHT © AREMA 2012 8: 1 of 36

Module 8: Soils, Drainage, & Right-of-Way


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.


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


Load Distribution

Track Structure

Stress Distribution

Load

ing


Roadbed Stability

Stability of a railroad bed subgrade depends on:

Maintenance of DrainageMaintenance of Side Slopes

Compaction When BuiltSoil Types

silt gravel


Soils in SubgradeSoil strength depends on many variables:

Presence of Organics (peat)

Water Content Hardness

Angularity (or smoothness) of ParticlesGrain Size and Distribution


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


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


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


Soil Boring Log• Shows graphically soil types at depths


Soil Failures

Clay Heave

Slide

soil slide plane

soil

bulge

Crack parallel to embankment


Subgrade Ballast Pockets

Impervious

Impe

rvio

us


Soil Improvements

Lime injection stabilization

Soil Cement StabilizationAsphalt Underlayment

Adding a berm to the toe of slope


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!!


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


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.


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


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


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


Drainage

Poor Maintenance

Potential Results


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.


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.


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


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)


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


Field Surveying

Photo by Charlie Tucker

Har

d ha

t

Steel toed boots

Reflective vest

Eye protecti

on


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.


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)


Valuation Maps


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)


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


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


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


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


Vegetation Control

Mechanical Control

Chemical Control


Questions?

Authors:John G. Green, Ph.D., P.E.CH2M Hill, inc.

(312) 348-5030

[email protected]

Contributors:J. Gray ChandlerCSX (retired)

(904) 213-1121

[email protected]

Kevin Bollinger, P.E.Niemeyer & Associates

(815) 693-9400

Charlie TuckerFarnsworth Group, Inc.

(303) 692-8483

[email protected]

copyright © arema 2012 8: 1 of 36 module 8: soils, drainage, & right-of-way

Documents

copyright arema

drainage drainage

distribution slide

types of soil

rightofway slide

soil types siltgravel

embankment slide

drainage good drainage