Shaping up bridge for second 100 years

摘要

In 1910, the Baltimore & Ohio constructed a two-track swing bridge spanning the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. Nearly a century later, that same bridge, now on CSX Transportation's main line, carries high traffic volumes, with priority traffic ranging from mail to orange juice. How do you rehabilitate a 94-year-old bridge under heavy traffic? Very carefully, with lots of advance planning, carefully-structured logistics and precise scheduling. In 1977, the railroad conducted an engineering study of the bridge's miter rails and associated machinery. There was no doubt that the work would be needed, but other priorities came ahead of this one.