Saw a photo on the internet of a major washout on the WV earlier this week. Not sure just how extensive the damage was.


Les

Wow, too bad, home of the last operating Lima diesels, there is no mention of damage on their facebook pages. They did post a photo of #25 helping the state clear a canal last month.

Thank you PMC for shining the spot light on Lima Hamilton #25. We use old faithful for the side dump car due to the ridiculously large six cylinder air compressor that it was equipped with for working at CUT (and it is the preferred loco among the members). Fellow LH ex-Armco 709 continues to make progress towards operation. New radiators were just received for it, and will be installed shortly, as well as a rebuild air compressor (stock three cylinder). There is still a significant amount of work to do on it before it pulls trains, but we are getting closer. Next big purchase for that project will be for an oil cooler and new batteries.

The Whitewater Valley Railroad has several instances of track damage from the Rain this past Friday. Most of the damage is between MP 58 (Laurel) and MP 63 (Alpine). I have attempted to attach an image of where the water punched through under the track. The picture is from one of the organization's members during an inspection yesterday and is from just North of Laurel, IN.

In my 25 years with the organization, I have never seen water stress the track in the places this storm did. It is quite common to have issues along the Whitewater River and tributaries (twin arch bridge at MP 65.5 is notorious, as well as along the Canal in Metamora (MP50 to 51). This storm was different. We will start working on repairs this coming week, with the intent of having the railroad passable hopefully by the beginning of the season in May, although other things are likely to delay season start. Anybody wishing to make a donation to help cover the repairs may contact me, and I can connect you with our treasurer. Likewise if your interest is with No. 709's restoration.

It could have been worse for the railroad, but is certainly worse for the six people that perished during the same storm due to a bridge that washed away above Laurel. Thoughts and prayers go out to those affected families.

Ryan Scott
Chairman of the Board
Whitewater Valley Railroad, a 501c3 not for profit