Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 8:54 am
Mr. Hogan, considering how there appears to be adequate distance between the existing OSB station and the present bridge, and that the line is predominately passenger, a 2% ruling grade would not be unreasonable.
Let's see; to ascend to the 81 feet MHW level of the Baldwin, at 2%, that means a 4000 ft approach on either side. I don't recall all that much development around there. While in the Fairfield Navy, I sailed up that way on occasion.
And to whomever holds the freight rights over that end of the Corridor, well guess you'll have to assign an additional unit to your trains.
Hahahahahahaha ...... I can just imagine the panic reaction from the townspeople in Old Lyme. Oh no! You're destroying our quaint little town! The wealthy gentleman (Bostonians may have bought a car or two from his dealers over the years) who lives at the end of Ferry Rd in Old Lyme may have something to say too, as it may interfere with his helicopter flight paths.
"Oh, but wait... we can take our yachts out whenever we want? Oh, we may let you build it, then".
P&W freights through OSB generally have more than enough power on them, usually fore and aft, to make switching easier. So the grade shouldn't be a problem. This isn't 1943 and there aren't 100 car freights traversing the Shore Line route anymore.
In reality, such a proposal would raise the pricetag through the roof, enviornmentalists would have a field day, and none of us would live through the decades of study. I'm not sure how far along the present proposal is, whether its just waiting for funding or even fully designed.
A high level option I'm sure was discussed and studied by Amtrak and I'm sure if it was logically possible, they'd do it, even if just for the sake of being able to run more trains over the river. But in reality, a high level wouldn't get you any more trains, since you still would have movable spans at NAN, Shaw's Cove (and further east, Thames & Mystic). High levels between CONN and SHAW really would only benefit CTRail commuter trains since more in theory could be added to the schedule if you had no more bridge openings to contend with. Maybe CT didn't want to pony up any extra money to get CONN higher, knowing its not the only obstacle, and they're going to have to finance bigger bridges to the west of CONN in the years ahead.