The Walton Bridge

Typical of the sturdy replacement structures now being erected by the Railroad is the Cincinnati Division Bridge No. 27 over McCoy's Fork, near Walton, Ky., on the Short Line, some 16 miles south of Latonia.  Replacing the present steel viaduct, which is now proving too light to carry present-day traffic at desired speeds, the new bridge will be composed of six piers of reinforced concrete with abutments of the same material at either end.  Concrete footings on which the several piers are being erected go down into the ground from 17 to 20 feet to the4 bedrock limestone, this depth having been determined by core-drill soundings made before the job was ever undertaken.

All concrete used on this and other comparable jobs is tested (before addition of reinforcing steel) to withstand a minimum of 3,500 pounds of pressure per square inch after 28 days.  In all, the Walton job, when completed, will have consumed 4,000 cubic yards of this concrete, amounting to roughly 25 railroad cars of cement, 50 cars of sand, 100 cars of gravel.

Over a million pounds of steel will be represented in the six deck girder spans (actually, six pairs of girders to the layman), each measuring 86 feet, six inches; in one shorter span (two pieces) 80 feet, six inches in length; and in bridge shoes and other incidental metal parts.

On-the-job observation of this construction one recent May day found the men of B. & B. [bridges and building] gang No. 13, under Foreman V. B. Cass; and gang No. 17, under Foreman W. J. Wallin, working on the timber false work.  This temporary bracing was being erected to support the bridge girders while concrete abutments were being built at either end.  All necessary forms had been poured in the making of one concrete pier and a couple of others were partially completed, though of course the old bridge work would for some time still be used to support the track.

from the L. & N. Employees Magazine, June, 1951.  Mr. M. J. RoBards is the author.