{jcomments on}The rail is being laid in Portland.  The construction crew crossed Washington Street today and is heading south toward the Allen Ave crossing.  A four engine freight sat the day on the siding waiting for the crossing to be cleared.  The seven work "trucks" each accomplish a specific task.  Removing the old rail and cleats the first truck rides on one rail. 

The second truck routes the ties to a level line while work crew sets the cleats in place.  A loader mounted on track sled guides the rail into place on the cleats like a slithering snake. The rail is heated to 90 degrees by a blast heater unit to establish the expansion scale and shape of the rail conture.  A spike is set in each cleat on each side by the air gun nailer truck followed by the clamp truck that attaches the clamps on the rails on each side of a tie to complete the fastening structure.  

 

There are many points in Portland where the process can be safely observed through the next few weeks until the snow, ice and frost close the construction till spring.  It looks like the weather will hold and the track completely laid.  The next step of the construction in the Spring will be crossing upgrades and tie replacement.