Box culverts

[Jeff Young]

I've been searching for pictures of box culverts (specifically, what the ICC maps call "wood box") without much luck.

I found this one near Jefferson:


http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15330coll22/id/43040/rec/69

and this one near Denver:


http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15330coll22/id/42471/rec/78

and this, which is perhaps what they term an "open box" (or it might just be a single-span trestle):


http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15330coll22/id/42483/rec/102

None of these, however, are very satisfying from a modelling perspective.

Anyone have (or know of) any more?

Thanks,
Jeff.

[Chris Walker]

How about some brand new uninstalled box culvert sections ?


http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/76301/rv/singleitem/rec/5

[Tim Schreiner]

Here are a few images of the remains of one just west of Como.

[Tim Schreiner]

[Tim Schreiner]

[Chris Walker]

At Silver Plume

http://cdm16079.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/41253/rec/1

At Idaho Springs (open type)

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/67930/rv/singleitem

also at I.S. at 18th Ave

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/67735/rv/singleitem/rec/14

[Jeff Young]

Excellent stuff, guys.

It’s reasonably clear that none of them have wings on the exit sides.

Only the Idaho Springs open culvert clearly shows the entrance side, and it doesn’t appear to have wings either.

So I’m going to surmise that box culverts are wingless.

It would appear that there are several different construction types: the smaller ones with 3 edge-jointed boards, all along the flow; the open types with a couple of “spreaders” at right angles to the flow; and larger closed ones with planked (across the flow) roofs.

Tim’s example (which appears to be at least 24” wide) could be either the “large” type or the open type.  None of the boxes between Como and Red Hill are listed on the ICC as open, and the first is 36” x 36”, so we’ll assume Tim’s example is a “large”.

Cheers,
Jeff.

[Jeff Young]

There's a great picture of a semi-open (?) wood box culvert on page 177 of the Pictorial Supplement.  (It's directly under rail level, with what appear to be 8" x 8" bridge ties covering the culvert, with the rails running along two of the bridge ties.)

There's also a nice picture of one under construction on page 355, but it doesn't contain any details of the wood box itself.

Sadly, that's about it in the way of wood boxes....

[Jeff Ramsey]

A still fuctional wood box or culvert at MP 9.28 or bridge 1406 located in Bear Valley City Park in Sheridan, west of Sheridan Junction. Most likely the only intact structure on the Morrison Branch.

 

[Jeff Young]

Hi Jeff,

Any idea of the dimensions on that one?  It's hard to tell the scale from just the grass and weeds, but it looks to be quite small (on the order of 12" or something)?

Thanks,
Jeff.

[Darel Leedy]

David Primus took this photo in Dickey during the Spring of 2002. 10 years later in 2012 (another drought year) I was there but didn't take a picture or measure the culvert.
But it does show how being submerged in icy water for 40 some years is good for preservation.

[Jeff Young]

That’s quite remarkable (and a great picture from a modelling perspective).  

The timber is quite light.  Those look to be 1”x4”s?

[Darel Leedy]

More like 2" or 3" x at least 8". Think big planks.

[Jeff Young]

Well, that’s good.  I really didn’t fancy trying to make anything out of HO-scale 1”x4”s. ;)

[Chris Walker]

Not even a Snowfence?

[Jeff Young]

> Not even a Snowfence?

He he… I have what I’m calling 2x6’s for that.  (They’re actually a scale 2.75" x 5.5", but close enough.)

Cheers,
Jeff.

[Chris Walker]

How about no less than Four in quick succession following a short span?

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll21/id/9822/rv/singleitem/rec/1687

[Chris Walker]

Jeff,

your single span bridge, in close-up


http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/42511/rv/singleitem/rec/144

[Jeff Young]

> your single span bridge, in close-up

Nice one, Chris!  (Definitely a trestle bent in there, so it is indeed not an open box culvert.)

Do you have the call-number for that image?  (The link just goes to the DPL’s front door.)

Cheers,
Jeff.

[Chris Walker]

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/44075/rv/singleitem/rec/30