Nicholson Construction Uses Custom Dymax Rail Cart to Reinforce Eucha Dam

DYMAXRAIL CUSTOMER STORY

Overhead view of Nicholson Construction crew and DymaxRail equipment working along the crest of Eucha Dam during anchor installation.

Close-up of DymaxRail cart with drilling equipment positioned directly over the dam deck during deep anchor shaft drilling.

Cat 308 excavator and stacked drill pipe positioned on a DymaxRail cart during dam stabilization work at Eucha Dam.

Cat excavator mounted on a DymaxRail cart with winch setup visible, ready for anchor drilling operations on Eucha Dam.

Nicholson Construction is reinforcing Eucha Dam with the support of a custom 30T Dymax Rail Cart. The dam supplies critical drinking water to the city of Tulsa. Over time, its foundation began to shift, raising concerns about long-term stability.

Nicholson built a temporary rail system directly into the dam’s crest, anchoring it to the concrete.

A heavy-duty Dymax Rail Cart travels along this track, serving as a mobile drilling platform. Its removable decking system allows crews to drill directly through the surface without repositioning. Stabilizers and a manual parking brake keep it steady during operation.

The 8×24 rail cart is winched into place with an air system and supports a Cat 308 excavator, which helps manage drill pipe extensions. A second cart carries a specialized drill rig that performs the shaft work. Once drilled, the shafts are grouted and capped with steel plates to stabilize the structure.

It’s a long, complex job. Site setup took four months, drilling has been underway for two, and work is expected to continue into early 2026.

They killed a cottonmouth snake on the tracks the other day. The cart wheel cut it in half. Sad — but better than being bitten.

About the Customer

Nicholson Construction Company is a national leader in geotechnical construction and deep foundation solutions. With over 70 years of experience, they specialize in solving complex challenges in dam rehabilitation, tunneling, and ground improvement across the U.S.