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Flooding hits Wilmington & Western (again), other lines
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Author:  Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Sun Jul 23, 2017 11:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Flooding hits Wilmington & Western (again), other lines
As wI write heavy rains and the resultant flash flooding has or is impacting several excursion/preserved railroads in southern Pennsylvania, eastern Maryland, and northern Delaware. Lines known to have been impacted in some way so far include the Stewartstown, Steam Into History/Northern Central, and Wilmington & Western. As we type, waters are over two feet above flood stage in the Red Clay Creek along the W&W, and expected to crest at five or more feet above flood stage later tonight/tomorrow AM.

Weather Underground website reports 2 to 5" of rain at stations all the way up the Brandywine and Red Clay Creek valleys and 9" in one place on Faulkland Road (a road that crosses the W&W RR).

Further updates as they become available. Another wave of storms is moving up from the southwest as I type.

Images of the Stewartstown this afternoon/evening by Owen Stedding:

https://ogsphotography.smugmug.com/Trai ... /i-BCBBZhS
Author:  junior [ Mon Jul 24, 2017 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Flooding hits Wilmington & Western (again), other lines
Management of the W&W has stated that there were a few trees down, minor erosion and a few clogged bridges but nothing that will impact the upcoming weekend's schedule of trips.

Flood stage at Wooddale is something like 8 or 9 feet but the ROW and bridges are a good 15 feet above the Creek, I believe. The creek crested at just under 11 feet last night, then dropped.

If I'm not mistaken, hurricane Henri put the Red Clay Creek at 17 feet at Wooddale which is what cause a lot of the problems for them as water cut through the rock cut and went over the bridges.
.
Nothing like that this time around..... thankfully.
Author:  bigjim4life [ Mon Jul 24, 2017 11:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Flooding hits Wilmington & Western (again), other lines
Well, crap. The Stewartstown guys can't catch a break, can they?

What sort of damage occurred for the Steam Into History folks?
Author:  junior [ Tue Jul 25, 2017 12:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Flooding hits Wilmington & Western (again), other lines
Photos posted on the Friends of the W&W Facebook site show School Trains in operation today. Regular runs for Friday Saturday and Sunday will operate as scheduled.
Author:  Charlie High [ Tue Jul 25, 2017 7:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Flooding hits Wilmington & Western (again), other lines
The M&H experienced several washouts about mid way out the line. They will run tourist trains to the first wash out and then west to the interchange till the track is repaired.
Author:  junior [ Wed Jul 26, 2017 1:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Flooding hits Wilmington & Western (again), other lines
Charlie High wrote:
The M&H experienced several washouts about mid way out the line. They will run tourist trains to the first wash out and then west to the interchange till the track is repaired.


Bah!....that sucks!...they cant seem to win either.

Wonder when our country will realize that paving over all the open space, and farms is costing us more and more $$$ than it's worth.

W&W suffers from the effects of continued development in Chester County PA, where the Red Clay Creek and it's tributaries start.
Author:  bbunge [ Thu Jul 27, 2017 2:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Flooding hits Wilmington & Western (again), other lines
It isn't over yet:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/07/27/at-summers-peak-a-rare-winter-like-storm-is-set-to-drench-washington-friday-into-the-weekend/?utm_term=.3786cdcd20ee

From the article:

"Not only will the storm have the potential to produce extremely heavy rain, but it will also be slow moving — nearly slowing to a halt along the Mid-Atlantic coast. For all of these reasons, 2 to 4 inches is a conservative rainfall forecast, and some areas could receive 3 to 6 inches. Isolated amounts exceeding 6 inches are certainly not out of the question.

Heavy storms may line up along a corridor and hit the same areas repeatedly — a worrisome phenomenon known as training. Areas that experience training will be most prone to flooding."
Author:  Charlie High [ Fri Jul 28, 2017 5:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Flooding hits Wilmington & Western (again), other lines
As of 1500 today the M&H is reopened to just past the Swatara Creek bridge their normal east end stopping point. Providing a 10-mile round trip.
Author:  junior [ Fri Jul 28, 2017 10:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Flooding hits Wilmington & Western (again), other lines
Charlie High wrote:
As of 1500 today the M&H is reopened to just past the Swatara Creek bridge their normal east end stopping point. Providing a 10-mile round trip.


Awesome!
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