Valles Mines, Missouri, U S A
Founded in 1749 by Francois Valle in the French Upper Louisiana before Lewis and Clark. 275 years later the Valle Mining Company's 4000+ acre property every year absorbs
21,000 tons of carbon dioxide and generates
14,000 tons of oxygen, enough to meet the needs of 63,000 people. [USDA Forest Facts]
Bringing Back Our Railway 2020
So how to run a railroad when you can't turn around at the end of the line?
One choice for our railroad today might be a Budd Rail Diesel Car ("RDC")
and hopefully we will find a later version like the Pioneer III.
When you get to the end, the engineer walks to the other end and drives back.
Budget below currently under development
3.5 mile standard gauge RR from Lake Timberline Station to Valles Mines Post Office Station at State Hwy V.
Specification: top speed 10 mph. Used ties and rails.
Spikes:
- 4 per tie, 240 spikes per keg = 60 ties/keg
- 10,413 ties / 60 = 24 kegs
- 24 kegs X $78 per keg = $1,872
Ties:
- 2978 ties per mile for a nominal spacing of 2 feet
- Tie + Delivery @ $40.25 (put in place on roadbed)
- 2978 X 3.5 miles = 10,413 ties
- 10,413 ties @ 40.25 = $419,123.25
Tie Plates
- $2.35 ea. (need 2 per tie)
- 10,413 x 2 @2.35 = $48,941.10
Rail Joiners
- 272 per mile (136 per side)
- $80 per joiner
- $80 x 272 X 3.5 = $76,160
Hardware
- 4 bolts + 4 lockwashers at 96 bolts per keg
- # of bolts = 272 x 4 = 1088 bolts
- 1088/96 = 12 kegs
- 12 kegs @100 =$1200
- 1088 Split washers@$200/keg or $0.20 each = $217.60
Rails
- 90# rail = 90 # per yard, weighs 90 x 1760 =158,400 # per mile
- 158,400 X 2 (both sides) = 316,800 # per mile or 158.4 tons per mile
- $300 per ton used - comes in 39' sections.
- 158.4 tons @300 = $47,500 per mile or $166,250 for 3.5 miles
TOTAL HARDWARE COST (APPROX)
Or add a GE Diesel Switch Engine and some cars (Not in estimate above
