Re: Pictures of rusty Railroad bridge accross Tanana River at Nenana

gl4316@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 (gl4316@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
) wrote in
news:gl4316-0805080208530001@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 

 
>> >> >I have been investigating bridge inspections.  There are heeps of
>> >> >rules and literature on highway bridges but little attention
>> >> >given to railroad bridges.  There is evidence that the RR bridge
>> >> >in Nenana was painted with lead paint.  Would the lead paint
>> >> >peeling and falling into the Tanana river and wa****ng downstream
>> >> >to the Yukon river cause problems with Salmon?  Much attention is
>> >> >given to the Pebble Mine and the potential pollution problems
>> >> >from this mine and the effect on salmon runs.  Yet we have this
>> >> >bridge right under our noses that is slipping by, until now that
>> >> >is. 
> 
> 
> Bridges of that era were certainly painted with lead paint.  However,
> if this bridge were to be repainted they would have to sand blast all
> that off, which would pose another significant threat to the river
> because of the risks of all that stuff falling off at once.  Generally
> they do try to keep the stuff contained, but that doesn't mean the
> containment works that well.

Here's how a local railroad museum handled the issue:

http://www.trainmuseum.org/Roundhouse/SR202/Bridge35_1.htm

Loose paint and rust was sandblasted while the bridge was "bagged"
to catch the dust and debris.  The bridge was repainted to encapsulate
the remaining lead paint/primer as well as protect the metal
structure and improve appearance:

http://www.trainmuseum.org/Roundhouse/SR202/Bridge35_2.htm

--Damon