BNSF Transcon Third Mainline Installation.

Third mainline installation for Amarillo's BNSF Transcon which was installed in 2005.
It is interesting to see how they install a new mainline right next to the two other active mains of the Transcon. Also, track laying is much different nowadays with concrete ties.

[@jasonalperin9414]

UP needs to do this on a few of its single tracked and some places on their double tracked lines as traffic increases!😊

[@BNSFAmarillo]

Probably a good idea. Thanks for watching!

[@patrickmundy1966]

That uneven subroadbed will be a maintenance nightmare! It's similar to uneven concrete roadway paved over with asphalt. after a few years, the bumps come back!

[@BNSFAmarillo]

So far after almost 20 years they haven’t touched it. Thanks for Watching!

[@workinghardusa]

Great video well done!

[@BNSFAmarillo]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@mattanderson6336]

I thought this would be something that was done in 2024.

[@BNSFAmarillo]

They started the third mainline track work in late 2004 and it was finished in 2005. Thanks for Watching and Subscribing.

[@JeremyStyninger]

The asphalt is new to me. About how much ballast ended up between the asphalt and the bottom of the ties?

[@BNSFAmarillo]

It varies, it looked like 12 - 24-inches. Thanks for Watching and for your feedback!

[@anb7408]

The bottom layer of ballast actually sinks into the asphalt a bit from the weight above, further securing the roadbed in place. Plus, it greatly improves water drainage! It’s expensive, but saves on maintenance costs down the road.

[@spankyfuentes3502]

Have you been out the Amarillo Railroad Museum out on East US 60? (Route 66)… Interesting place.

[@BNSFAmarillo]

I have but it has been years ago. I live on the complete opposite side of Amarillo and hardly ever go on that side.

[@grifftech]

How do they level the rails with the asphalt so unlevel?

[@BNSFAmarillo]

They have a machine that travels down the track that raises the track assembly where it is too low and pushes it down if it is too high. Thanks for watching!

[@grifftech]

@@BNSFAmarillo ahh so does it then push ballast under when it raises it up and removes some when it lowers it? I love watching videos of those giant railing laying machines. I am just a casual rail fan, wish I had more time to get out and see more stuff

[@glennfoster2423]

​@@BNSFAmarillo I am familiar with a tamper. That machine picks up the rail assembly (rails, ties, attachments like plates, spikes or clips), and once aligned to the required tangent or curve, tamps the ballast to secure everything. But what machine can "push the rail down."?

[@BNSFAmarillo]

The machine has the ability to vibrate the ballast while holding the track assembly. It can also push ballast back underneath that has escaped on each side. Hopefully we will be able to provide videos of the things you miss. I will try to get some video of the track laying process and also the rail grinding train.

[@BNSFAmarillo]

I'm not an expert on the track laying process, but from what I have seen its the same machine. It doesn't so much push it down but it vibrates the ballast which allows the heavy track assembly to settle down into proper position. Thanks so much for watching our channel and your feedback!

[@squibrail4014]

👍

[@BNSFAmarillo]

Thanks!

[@how_to_hallagon1]

Then abandoned and ripped up in a few years time

[@BNSFAmarillo]

No, its still there...

[@anb7408]

He meant in the not too distant future. UP is already ripping up 2nd and 3rd main tracks in Colorado, Nebraska, etc due to the massive drop in PRB coal, thanks to Obama’s War on Coal.