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way. The rail plow functioned as part of a plow train, which
consisted of locomotives, rail plow cars, and several supply
cars. The supply cars carried the conduit and other construction
materials needed for the installation and continuously fed these
supplies to the rail plows.
As the locomotives pulled the plow train forward, the rail
plow dug a trench and simultaneously lowered and buried the
conduit. The rail plow could install multiple conduits at the
same time. The rail plow installed the conduits at a depth of
approximately 42 to 56 inches and at a distance of 8 feet from
the nearest rail. The rail plow also buried a warning tape
approximately 1 foot from the surface and backfilled the land to
its original contour. The plow train could install conduits up
to 4 miles a day, depending on the availability of track time and
the severity of the terrain.
In situations where a rail plow could not be used, Qwest
used a tractor plow, backhoe, or other similar machinery. If the
conduit needed to be laid across a bridge or through a tunnel,
the conduit was typically placed in a galvanized steel pipe and
attached to the side of the bridge or along the tunnel floor or
wall. If the conduit needed to be run under a river or other
obstruction, regular or directional boring techniques were used
to bore small tunnels through which the conduit could be fed.
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Last modified: May 25, 2011