In the United States alone, drainage culverts protect more than 150,000 miles of mainline rail routes from the powerfully erosive force of water on their rail bed substructures. Many of the culverts have outlived their life expectancy and are now failing or in jeopardy of failing. The pipe ramming technique causes little to no soil displacement, is capable of large diameter replacement or new installation, and has been in use to install steel casing for more than thirty years. It is also the most cost-effective alternative to other methods such as auger boring, open cutting and micro-tunneling. Typically work can be completed without disrupting rail traffic patterns and consequent loss of revenue during the replacement or installation process. This paper will discuss the pipe ramming process and challenges related to the installation or replacement of culvert drainage pipes under railroad beds. In addition, case studies will be presented including a project in Cairo, Illinois, completed by Hurk Underground of Grinnell, Iowa.
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