Got asked to bid a very unusual project

[Hay Dude]

So this is a recently abandoned railway in my town. We have hundreds of them here in the rust belt. Unfortunately, with their abandonment comes a lack of maintenance. I would think they would still have to maintain this, but owner tells me they won’t.
So I have been asked to remove this log jamb.
I have my ideas, but thought some backround information would be helpful.

There is no access from the RR bridge. It is closed off and off limits, so debris cannot be removed from there.
On the right side of the picture, the land you see is mush. You cannot realistically get equipment to the edge of the river from there.
On the left side of the picture, there is a “ledge” of ground. You can get a pickup down there, but not much bigger without cutting/building an access path.

My thought was to rent a crane with a clamshell bucket and an operator and have him “grapple” the logs and swing them over into a waiting debris truck. The crane would sit where you see the foot tracks in the foreground.


Water is fairly deep and current fairly strong. The width of the water from the center of the rail bridge center support to the edge of each bank is about 50’ of water.

Thoughts?

 

[LHF2019]

I highly doubt that’s a private stream by the size of it. That would put it in conservation control I would think. Interesting job you are looking at though

 

[oosik]

You say - "remove" the log jam. I doubt "they" would allow the use of dynamite. Your idea sound about the best - at the moment.

 

[CH4Ohio]

I always thought the Corps of Engineers managed that stuff. But I guess they’d hire contractors wouldn’t they? Duh.

Can you drag stuff out and untangle it and let it float downstream? Or does it all have to be pulled out of the water?

 

[Chewwy]

Maybe outside your expertise but some problems can be solved with the simple application of explosives.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Whatever price you come up with, better double it just to cover contingencies!!

 

[D&D]

I highly doubt that’s a private stream by the size of it. That would put it in conservation control I would think. Interesting job you are looking at though

Exactly my thought too, who “owns” it and who has permission to issue permits for the job? Natural Resources office?

 

[CH4Ohio]

If the riverbank will support the crane, your idea seems the simplest.

 

[Hay Dude]

I highly doubt that’s a private stream by the size of it. That would put it in conservation control I would think. Interesting job you are looking at though

You are correct. The Conservancy “manages” it and they are the Customer. They are in control of how it is to be done.

 

[LHF2019]

.

 

[Hay Dude]

I always thought the Corps of Engineers managed that stuff. But I guess they’d hire contractors wouldn’t they? Duh.

Can you drag stuff out and untangle it and let it float downstream? Or does it all have to be pulled out of the water?

Can’t be floated as it would obstruct or possibly damage other structures down river.

 

[LHF2019]

You are correct. The Conservancy “manages” it and they are the Customer. They are in control of how it is to be done.

Well then you are in the clear. Have fun with it. Looks like it will be interesting.

 

[Hay Dude]

Maybe outside your expertise but some problems can be solved with the simple application of explosives.

Yeah, no explosives. You can see the picture was taken from inside a glass wall, which is about 50’ high.
No way we can blow things up….

If the explosives go incorrectly, it could damage the center pillar and cause enormous damage.

 

[Hay Dude]

I remember when I was doing a large ditching job and was bouncing around ideas, one TBN member thought I would have to contact the United States Coast Guard to clear it with them.

 

[Chewwy]

If you don’t have to actually remove ALL the debris, a grapple hook on the and of a small cable could be tossed from the bank and then pulled with a winch, truck or ATV to dislodge the debris. Some debris could be retrieved and hauled off. Some would likely float away down stream. If it’s to far to toss the grapple, a small boat could be used to take it there.

Likely to be less costly than renting a crane and an operator.

Nether will be as much fun as the first suggestion.

 

[airbiscuit]

The logjam is within reach of an excavator boom? How deep is the river around it?

Otherwise I see a person on the pile attaching cables and a whole lot of winching. What harm is it causing - just aesthetics?

 

[WM75Guy]

We did some confined space training exercises lowering Public Works employees to the bottom of 50' deep sewer manholes to clear debris. See if your local swift water rescue team wants to do some dry suit training in body recovery. They could attach cables to the debris, and you could winch it in, as they look for the "victim". Of course, a sizable donation will help in their decision making.

 

[scootr]

If the current is strong I'd fear the first bite you take out the pile will send the majority of it down stream. IF you put a cable around it and pull it out into swift water it may pull the tractor off the bank. IDK just a thought.

 

[timbatrader]

video of what will happen if left

around here often cleared by helicopter with grapple. Note you need to set up a line of floats at a 45 degree downstream as often after a few logs are cleared the rest WILL float downstream so set your floats at easy to access location on a bend in the river if possible as the logs naturally swing to the outside of the curve

 

[Snobdds]

Put in a temporary "floating barrier dam" to prevent dislodged debris from floating down river.

Rent a long arm boom excavator and proceed.