Inexpensive and Fast Landslide Cleanup

[LesserKey]

Helping out a non-profit organization that runs a local railway. They suffered what looks like a slide slope failure with an approximate amount of soil to be moved at around 250,000 cy to 500,000 cy.

There is large trees mixed into the soil and am wondering of any ideas on inexpensive ways to clean this up without damaging the tracks. The site is pretty remote and hauling out the material would be by rail. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Pictures that might be helpful.

http://imgur.com/RqZVH.jpg

- The slide over the tracks. Looking at the photo, the slope to the left (failure slope)is roughly 50% and the slope to the right is roughly 50%.

 

[dicksewerrat]

Why do you have to haul the material out? If the tracks weren't there the slide would have just travelled down slope. Push the rest of the materail down the slope.

Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.

http://WWW.amlinereast.com

 

[BigH]

Pushing the material downhill might cause a downhill slide (bigger one) of the slide material which may drag down some of the hill on which the tracks are sitting. Why did the slide happen? What are, taking into account Richard's suggestion) the downhill topography and geology like? You might be able to "engineer" a fill area downhill. Where is the area - is the "forest" a protected one? (we have that here in Indonesia)

 

[clemusc1]

Depending on why it failed in the first place, there doesn't appear to be a reason to haul it out. Seperation of the large trees, using the soil there and possily using 'benching' to reduce future slope failures, which would require the same equipment needed to remove it, seems like it would work. Easier said than done w/0 more info, but hauling out seems needless if there is room to work.

 

[LesserKey]

The one thing I forgot is there is a creek to the right and the DNR wouldn't like the soil pushed into it. The easement is pretty narrow through there as well. Sorry about forgetting those important details.

 

[Zambo]

First find out if the fill can be sold, if so you can prepare a budget for your excavation work based on the planned income.

Can the tress be sold?

Next organise your plant and your excavation team using the rails as you suggest.

250,000 cy seems a lot (about 190,000m3). If it was 5m deep by 10m wide that would be 3.8km. If this is correct I think your non-profit organisation won't be able to cope - contact the insurer.

 

[Zambo]

LesserKey,

please check is it cubic feet? This would give about 7,000m3 which would be more reasonable.