How to Load Railroad Box Culverts
- 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.
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