Pan Am Worcester Main Line

Watching the Plate F cars roll under CSX's Fitchburg sub in this latest video raises the question whether that overhead bridge really won't clear domestic doublestacks. If not, very close.

Watching those couple of videos from the past speaks to the limits of a Maine intermodal market via Waterville moving forward. While that limited traffic could once again become part of the WML's faster future, even in the shorter run next couple of years, short of a Maine political quid pro quo, Port Saint John now offers at least as much opportunity and probably more.

RandallW wrote:Double stack clearances are Plate H (20' 3" vertical clearance), a full 3' 3" higher than Plate F (17' 0" vertical clearance).

Yes, while results may vary, that's exactly where I'm coming from when watching that video, to my eye seeing a decent chance for that 3'3" of clearance and if not, pretty close, using the cars' side hand-holds as a point of reference and toward the perspective of looking up from below as the cars pass under the bridge.

I'm also considering as to possibilities that within the context of earlier overhead clearance needs, soon into the progression ~19'6' clearance projects began including doing ~20'6" where it could be easily accomplished and toward longer term plans.

That certainly confirms the 19'6", thank you.

Those public clearance as well as weight limit maps provided by CSX and Pan Am are good sources of information for line or line segment capabilities but, unfortunately, lack the granular details at the level of individual structures and as it relates to immediate or longer-range plans.

In terms of what will be done with that particular bridge lacking at least a foot of overhead clearance depending upon CSX engineering requirements, I'd imagine its capacity would also be considered against probable strategic planning bringing the Fitchburg sub up to 286K from 263K as well likely against other long-range strategic plans that might exist for that area among lines and line segments.

With the WML an immediate first step done for NS along longer-term plans CP-45 Worcester to Mattawamkeag for full overhead clearance, one known detail is that since the mid-90's many states began regulating that minimum capability for any new or refurbished overhead structures. That, for example, provides a known for the more immediate project's CP-45 to Barbers part, shown as 19'6" on the ex-Pan Am public clearance map, when it comes to St V's hospital tunnel built late 1990's and against the older Lincoln Square tunnel(s) that appear to be 19'6". That also likely goes to the ongoing I-495 bridge projects that will probably benefit CSX and as posted spot-on by markhb 4/9 on the infrastructure upgrades thread.