How to Load Railroad Box Culverts

Carefully measure how much load is on the culverts.

Railroad box culverts are often used in place of round culverts below railroad tracks because of all the additional weight they can support. However, when loading these culverts it's important that you calculate how much load the culverts can support. There are weight allowances listed and it's up to the engineer to figure out how to load the culvert once it's been put in place.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Shovel/earth-moving equipment

Instructions

1. Measure the area above the culvert that will be filled. The material resting atop the culvert is assumed, according to the "Concrete Engineer's Handbook" to weigh 30 pounds per square foot and it should be treated like a liquid.

2. Account for the angle of the slope. At the end of the railroad ties there begins a slope at a rate of 1/2-to-1 for the drop. This live load is assumed to account for 50 percent of the weight due to the angle. If you have a fill of more than 4 feet in height, this additional 50 percent weight should be accounted for in your culvert's weight bearing.

3. Place your fill atop the culvert. Once the trench is dug and the culvert is firmly in place pile the fill on top of the culvert. Once the fill is in place and filling all of the areas you predicted, add the ties and tracks so that the train can now come through over the top of the culvert.

Tips & Warnings

• You can never have a culvert that's too strong, only one that's not strong enough for your project.

• Always check the weight rating of your culvert. If your estimates are at, or near, what the culvert's maximum load is, invest in a stronger culvert to avoid risks and dangers.

References

• "Concrete Engineer's Handbook"; George Hool, Nathan Johnson and Solomon Hollister
• Barger and Sons: Box Culvert Information