Re: Co-Ordinates Entering Tutorial.

Posted by Chris Walker on Oct 18, 2024; 8:59pm
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/After-8-years-Alpine-Tunnel-Palisade-Wall-nearly-complete-tp20072p20228.html

Kurt Maechner wrote

Thanks! I can't quite make out a rock there,

try this Kurt, imagery dated Oct2015 so there is plausability that is a large rock on the grade visible between the wheel tracks.

Kurt Maechner wrote

Below is a photo showing what I think was around the spot that rockfall stopped the 1923 scrapper from pulling the mile of track from here to through the tunnel. I wonder if it's about the same spot of the boulder of today.

It indeed appears to be in the same area, much as my very similar Sanborn Postcard view of the boulder field.

As to the scrapper and the rocks....in 1923 leaving rails behind....scrap price per long ton was $23.50 in March, dropping to $16.31 in September and down to $14.00 in November. Price rose to $17.28 in Febuary '24, fell to $13.25 by May '24.  

30Lb rail = 47 long tons to the mile;  35Lb. 55 long tons to the mile; 40Lb. 62 long tons to the mile.

When did the Scrapper get paid for all of his efforts and his expenditure; most likely when the price had dropped at the end of the year.  He probably took the job on high price and watched his profits decreasing by the month.  He wasn't just pulling spikes and cutting joints here but having to haul out rails for miles, and moving just how much rock to obtain the rest probably tipped the mission towards quitting.