DIP Under Railroad

[matt1829]

Hey guys I need your help.
I have an existing 2x6 culvert approx 1.8' under an railroad track. I was going to replace it with 42" Class 54 or 56 DIP(.017%) but I have no room for elevation change. The Prop DIP will be around 1.8' below the bottom of the track. Do you guys have any idea what I should do? I got the OK from the RR to "open Cut". Would the class 54 or 56 hold up to an E-80 load rating giving the cover. ALso, I tried to 2X barrells but still would put me around 2-30" pipes and also tried to used concrete elliptical=no help. Thanks again

 

[bimr]

Perhaps that is the reason the existing culvert is 2 x 6.

What is the purpose of the culvert? Why are you replacing it?

 

[rconner]

You might check with the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association to see if you could get hold of a paper entitled, "Thickness Design for Ductile Iron Pipe Under Railroads", I think written by a gentleman named M.J. Higgins several years ago (I think I have actually seen smaller ductile iron pipe buried even more shallow than that for drains under some rails, that appeared to be holding up OK, but I think pipe of that size deserves a design evaluation, due to the possibility of high live load).

 

[matt1829]

I will look into that. Actually the culvert is approx 2X3 or 2x4 NOT 2x6 (mountain stone) my fault. How it stands up to E-80 loading is anybodys guess. The culvert is actually a combine sewer line. We are looking at replacing it due to RR wanting to REHAB the intersection and now would be a good time do it also w/ funding.

Thank You

 

[bimr]

The design approach when you have an obstruction is to reroute the sewer or use a depressed sewer (inverted siphon).

 

[cvg]

you may want to check a little further with the railroad on the permit requirements. I would suspect that a casing is required, thus the casing will support the load. This will increase the required diameter

 

[matt1829]

Thanks but i got it worked out. I now need to concrete encase the pipe to withstand e-80 loading????

 

[cvg]

steel casing or concrete encasement would be the two options I would look at.

 

[bimr]

For major railroads, open cut is generally not permitted under mainline tracks. Also, open cut is generally not permitted within the limits of a highway/railroad grade crossing. The buried pipe generally has to be at least 4' - 6" below base of rail for non-mainline tracks. Gravity flow drainage pipes do not always require casing.

Open cut will also require additional work involving rail, ties and other track material that generally must be performed by railroad employees at the expense of the Owner.

Each railroad has very specific requirements and these should be reviewed.

 

[matt1829]

thank you. i got it to work out. thanks everyone for the help.