Shoring on the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge RR

On our walk today, we passed the construction site for a new bridge to cross the Animas River.  This is 32nd Street in Durango and the train crosses the street on the way north.  The city is building a pedestrian and bike bridge that will span from the rails to the right of the signal across near where we were standing.  The path will cross the tracks at grade level and then jump the river.  This is to provide a continuous path that does not cross any streets for 15 miles.  A very welcome and used path.

The interesting thing here is the shoring and bulwark that was installed right next to the track.  It has deep bars/screws embedded in the wall and then shot-create on top.  What I find interesting is that the DSNNRR is running their K-37 #493 on the train now. That was the biggest loco on this part of the DRGW narrow gauge back in the day. It weights north of 180,000 pounds (lots of kilos). Seems to me a whole lot of force on that wall.  Hope it holds!  Glad I am not the engineer.