More Information On This Project:

Associated Services:

• Railroad Bridge Driftwood Removal
• Railroad Bridge Maintenance

Equipment Used:

• Excavator
• Hi-Rail Grapple Truck

Industries Hulcher Serves:

• Railroads
• Passenger Railroads

Video of Air Excavation / Vacuum Truck Featuring the Air Spade®

Download Printable Version of the Driftwood Cleanup Case Study (PDF)

Download Driftwood Cleanup Flyer (PDF)

Download Hulcher Hi-Rail Grapple Truck Flyer (PDF)

Download Core Services Brochure (PDF)

Download Track Maintenance / Maintenance of Way / Engineering Services Brochure (PDF)

 

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Hulcher Case Study

Hulcher Clears Fire Damage For Bridge Repair, Performs Driftwood Removal From Bridge Piers

SCOPE

Trespassers caused driftwood around a bridge pier to catch fire, which led to damage of one portion of the bridge. Inspection of the situation made it clear that the driftwood was more than a fire threat. It also stressed the bridge piers and rechanneled the river water, which could cause flooding of the surrounding area. The railroad needed a contractor to remove the damaged portions of bridge as part of their crew's bridge repair work, and to pull out the accumulated driftwood to eliminate the multiple hazards it presented.

SOLUTION

Hulcher deployed a Caterpillar® 325 excavator and hi-rail grapple truck to remove the damaged pieces from an 80-foot stretch of the bridge. The excavator carefully disassembled the burned segments, breaking them into manageable lengths that were then loaded onto the grapple truck for disposal. The excavator cut off affected pilings below ground level, dressed up the slope and cleaned remaining debris from the area. This work was completed in six hours, allowing the railroad’s bridge gang to rebuild the affected portion of the bridge and restore it to full working order.

Hulcher’s excavator later returned to remove the driftwood. Over a two-day period the excavator worked, sometimes standing on the driftwood “island” itself, to pull out the debris and haul it downstream.

OUTCOME

Hulcher performed both phases of the project on time and on budget, and the project supervisor was pleased with how efficiently the work was completed. The Hulcher crew’s railroad expertise allowed them to work quickly and smoothly with the railroad’s bridge crew as they completed the bridge repair work. Finally, with the driftwood removed, the risk of fire, structural stress and flooding due to water flow obstruction has been eliminated.

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PHOTOS OF THE DRIFTWOOD REMOVAL PROJECT