(The following story by Brad Devereaux appeared on the Lovell Chronicle website on July 30, 3009.)
LOVELL, Wyo. — Burlington-Northern Santa-Fe workers have been replacing old railroad ties since May beginning in Casper and are currently passing through northern Big Horn County on their way to Laurel, Mont., where the project will end.
BNSF mechanic Randy Bone said the crew started at Kane last week and will replace worn out ties with 33,000 new ties in the area, he said. From Casper to Laurel, they will install a total of 265,000 railroad ties. They will spend about three weeks in northern Big Horn County.
The process takes about 25 different machines, Bone said. The machines are responsible for brooming the track, pulling spikes, removing the old tie, spreading anchors, using a crane to move the old ties away from the track, inserting new ties, tamping gravel, lifting rail and inserting plates, inserting spikes, squeezing rail clamps and straightening and leveling the track. The machines move down the track in a group along with a crew of 30 or more workers.
They work on a schedule, working for a period of time while periodically vacating the tracks to allow trains to pass. Bone asked that curious observers stay a safe distance from the crew, because everyone on the site is required to wear proper safety gear.