Difference between revisions of "Chenab River Railway Bridge"

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1,056 feet high / 322 meters high<br />
 
1,056 feet high / 322 meters high<br />
 
1,532 foot span / 467 meter span<br />
 
1,532 foot span / 467 meter span<br />
2020<br />
+
2022<br />
 
[[File:1Chenabbridge.jpg|750px|center]]
 
[[File:1Chenabbridge.jpg|750px|center]]
 
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There is probably no other natural barrier on earth that has been more formidable to railway engineers than the Himalayan mountain range that stretches across northern India.  This became all too obvious when the Indian railway decided to build a line connecting the states of Jammu and Kashmir in the Himalayan foothills of Northwestern India.  When construction began in earnest in 2002, the engineers never expected extensive delays due to poor geology, access problems, tunnel excavation difficulties and labor disputes.  When the 213 mile (343 kilometer) line finally opens in 2019 (or later), it will be the most expensive stretch of India’s 40,000 mile (64,374 km) railway network.   
+
There is probably no other natural barrier on earth that has been more formidable to railway engineers than the Himalayan mountain range that stretches across northern India.  This became all too obvious when the Indian railway decided to build a line connecting the states of Jammu and Kashmir in the Himalayan foothills of Northwestern India.  When construction began in earnest in 2002, the engineers never expected extensive delays due to poor geology, access problems, tunnel excavation difficulties and labor disputes.  When the 213 mile (343 kilometer) line finally opens in 2022 (or later), it will be the most expensive stretch of India’s 40,000 mile (64,374 km) railway network.   
 
 
 
Of the many large barriers the railway crosses, the most daunting is the wide gorge of the Chenab River.  With its headwaters high up in the Himalayan mountain range, the river carved a deep gash that left its elevation more than a 1,000 feet (305 mtrs) below the level of the rail line.  The engineers decided the only bridge type suitable for the location would be a massive steel arch - the highest ever built for a railway at 1,056 feet (322 meters) from deck to water.  Only an arch is capable of handling the weight of a 300 ton locomotive along with a thousand tons of passenger cars.  With a length of 1,532 feet (467 meters), the main span will rank among the world’s 10 longest arches.  Although its height will also surpass all of China’s current arch bridges, there are several Chinese railway lines planned that will contain railway bridges that will surpass Chenab in height.  
 
Of the many large barriers the railway crosses, the most daunting is the wide gorge of the Chenab River.  With its headwaters high up in the Himalayan mountain range, the river carved a deep gash that left its elevation more than a 1,000 feet (305 mtrs) below the level of the rail line.  The engineers decided the only bridge type suitable for the location would be a massive steel arch - the highest ever built for a railway at 1,056 feet (322 meters) from deck to water.  Only an arch is capable of handling the weight of a 300 ton locomotive along with a thousand tons of passenger cars.  With a length of 1,532 feet (467 meters), the main span will rank among the world’s 10 longest arches.  Although its height will also surpass all of China’s current arch bridges, there are several Chinese railway lines planned that will contain railway bridges that will surpass Chenab in height.  

Revision as of 19:51, 8 August 2019

Chenab Railway Bridge
Katra, Jammu-Kashmir, India
1,056 feet high / 322 meters high
1,532 foot span / 467 meter span
2022

1Chenabbridge.jpg


There is probably no other natural barrier on earth that has been more formidable to railway engineers than the Himalayan mountain range that stretches across northern India. This became all too obvious when the Indian railway decided to build a line connecting the states of Jammu and Kashmir in the Himalayan foothills of Northwestern India. When construction began in earnest in 2002, the engineers never expected extensive delays due to poor geology, access problems, tunnel excavation difficulties and labor disputes. When the 213 mile (343 kilometer) line finally opens in 2022 (or later), it will be the most expensive stretch of India’s 40,000 mile (64,374 km) railway network.

Of the many large barriers the railway crosses, the most daunting is the wide gorge of the Chenab River. With its headwaters high up in the Himalayan mountain range, the river carved a deep gash that left its elevation more than a 1,000 feet (305 mtrs) below the level of the rail line. The engineers decided the only bridge type suitable for the location would be a massive steel arch - the highest ever built for a railway at 1,056 feet (322 meters) from deck to water. Only an arch is capable of handling the weight of a 300 ton locomotive along with a thousand tons of passenger cars. With a length of 1,532 feet (467 meters), the main span will rank among the world’s 10 longest arches. Although its height will also surpass all of China’s current arch bridges, there are several Chinese railway lines planned that will contain railway bridges that will surpass Chenab in height.

Construction will be done by building the arch outward from both sides of the canyon using the stayed cantilever method. This technique was also used for the similar design of the New River Gorge bridge in West Virginia, U.S.A. The uneven sides of the gorge will result in one side of the arch terminating into the foundation 40 feet (12 meters) higher than the other side.

In September of 2008 it was announced that the Chenab Railway Bridge was canceled despite the completion of the approach viaducts in 2007. Difficult geological conditions on the steep slopes supporting the arch foundations were sited as the reason as well as the development of a lower, more direct route through tunnels. In 2013 this decision was reversed and the original route is back on track with the bridge being constructed as originally planned.

Whenever the Chenab Railway Bridge is finally completed, it will be more than just another bridge but a prestigious symbol of how far India and its railway engineers have come since the country’s first mile of railway track became operational more than 150 years ago.

Chenab and Anjikhad bridges are located less than 10 miles (16 kms) north of the busy tourist town of Katra. Despite its small population, Katra is loaded with hotels and restaurants due to its proximity to the Vaishno Devi, the second most visited religious shrine in all of India after the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. Located a mile above sea level, the large complex of white buildings steps down the side of the holy mountain of Vaishno Devi. The Hindu shrine is located about 8 miles (13 kms) from Katra and is visited by millions of people a year. There is an airport in the much larger city of Jammu, located 30 miles (48 kms) south of the Chenab bridge.

The Kashmir valley has always been one of the most isolated regions in India. When the rail line is finally finished, it will finally open up the area to the rest of India and the outside world. For a more extensive history of the railway and its construction visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir_railway.


ChenabElevNew.jpg

Chenab Railway Bridge Elevation


ChenabBridge14ByLALIT SINGH RAWAL.jpg

Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


ChenabBridge8ByLALIT SINGH RAWAL.jpg

Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


ChenabBridge9ByLALIT SINGH RAWAL.jpg

Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


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Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


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Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


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Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


ChenabBridge18ByLALIT SINGH RAWAL.jpg

Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


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Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


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Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


ChenabBridge17ByLALIT SINGH RAWAL.jpg

Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


ChenabBridge16ByLALIT SINGH RAWAL.jpg

Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


ChenabBridge15ByLALIT SINGH RAWAL.jpg

Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


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Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


ChenabBridge11ByLALIT SINGH RAWAL.jpg

Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


ChenabBridge7ByLALIT SINGH RAWAL.jpg

Image by LALIT SINGH RAWAL.


ChenabBeamsWeld.jpg

The square ribs of the main arch that will be filled with concrete after they are raised into position.


ChenabBeamsWeld2.jpg


ChenabCanyonbyWSP.jpg

Chenab River canyon with the completed approach spans visible on the right. Image by WSP.


ChenabTowers.jpg

The two construction highline towers that are located more then 700 meters apart.


ChenabWindTunnelbyWSP.jpg

Chenab Railway Bridge wind tunnel test. Image by WSP.


2ChenabApproach.jpg

The approach spans were completed several years before construction began on the main arch.


3ChenabApproach.jpg


ChenabNorthSatellite.jpg

Chenab Railway Bridge north side staging area and construction site.


ChenabSouthSatellite.jpg

Chenab Railway Bridge south side staging area and construction site.


ChenabSatellite.jpg


ChenabTopoMap.jpg

Chenab Railway Bridge topo map.


ChenabSatelliteWide.jpg

A wide satellite view shows the Chebab River near the top and the Anjikhad River across the bottom.


AnjikhadLocationMap.jpg

Chenab Railway Bridge location map.


AnjikhadLocationMapWide.jpg


ChenabMap.jpg

Map of the Kashmir Railway route. The Chenab Bridge will be located between the stations of Reasi Road and Katra.


JammuRouteMap.jpg

Image by Prashant Chaudhary