Official Railroad Press Release Follows


Whitewater Valley Railroad
P. O. Box 406
Connersville, Indiana 47331
(765) 825-2054
http://www.whitewatervalleyrr.org

STEAM RETURNS TO THE WHITEWATER VALLEY

STEAM LOCOMOTIVE FLAGG COAL CO. # 75 VISITS HISTORIC METAMORA,
INDIANA FOR TWO WEEKENDS OF FUN.

For Immediate Release –

Metamora, Indiana - The Whitewater Valley Railroad is proud to
announce that after two successful visits, steam locomotive Flagg
Coal Company #75 will once again return to the historic ex-New York
Central Railroad's Whitewater Branch Line...

The Whitewater Valley Railroad will be hosting Flagg Coal #75
starting the weekend of Labor Day 2008 for two weekends of fun. This
year's activities are being held exclusively in Historic Metamora,
Indiana. This is only one stop on a five month long tour of
different rail operations in the US. After the WVRR stop, the
locomotive will visit North and South Carolina, before heading off
for additional stops in Florida.

To kick off the event on Friday August 29, 2008, a special running
of the Laurel Hotel Train to Dinner with Flagg Coal # 75 on the
point is scheduled. Departing from Historic Downtown Metamora at
6:00 PM, the train will carry a Wild West theme. To provide the
evenings live entertainment, The Delaware Rangers from Muncie,
Indiana will be aboard. The $50 fare includes round trip train fare,
the meal and the tip. Limited seating is available and reservations
are required.

In conjunction with the 10th Annual Metamora Music Festival,
Saturday August 30 and Sunday August 31, Festivities will start at
10:00 AM with four departures of Flagg Coal # 75 at 11:00 AM, 1:10
PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM. Along the way, remnants of the Whitewater
Canal locks, the restored Laurel Feeder Dam, and portions of the
West Fork of the Whitewater River can be clearly seen. Fares for the
scenic ten mile round trip excursion pulled by Flagg Coal #75 are
$16 per person and children ages 2-12 rides for half price.

Labor Day - Monday September 1, will also see four departures of
Flagg Coal # 75 at 11:00 AM, 1:10 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM. Along
the way, remnants of the Whitewater Canal locks, the restored Laurel
Feeder Dam, and portions of the West Fork of the Whitewater River
can be clearly seen. Fares for the scenic ten mile round trip
excursion pulled by Flagg Coal # 75 are $16 per person and children
ages 2-12 rides for half price.

The second weekend will take a slightly different twist as #75 will
be carrying an attachment of the Union Army to protect the train.
While along the line a relentless group of Confederate soldiers plan
and wait. On Saturday September 6, and Sunday September 7,
Festivities will start at 10:30 AM in Historic Downtown Metamora,
with four departures of Flagg Coal # 75 at 11:00 AM, 1:10 PM, 3:00
PM, and 5:00 PM. Along the way, remnants of the Whitewater Canal
locks, the restored Laurel Feeder Dam, and portions of the West Fork
of the Whitewater River can be clearly seen. Fares for the scenic
ten mile round trip adventure are $16 per person and children ages 2-
12 rides for half price.

In addition to #75, our regularly scheduled excursions will also be
operating. These include the very popular Laurel Hotel "Train to
Dinner" and the traditional Connersville – Metamora Excursion. All
trains operate rain or shine.

Metamora is Indiana's treasured 1838 canal town. Nestled in
southeastern Indiana's beautiful countryside, Metamora is steeped in
history and famous for its preservation of Indiana's oldest and
still operating water-powered grist mill. Located 60 miles east of
Indianapolis and 35 miles west of Cincinnati, A must see town that
retains all of its traditional charm and languid atmosphere. Shop in
stores housed in buildings dated back to the early 1800s, eat and
above all else... Enjoy the slow relaxing pace of the past! For more
information on Historic Metamora, visit Metamora online at
http://www.metamoraindiana.com.

Flagg Coal Company # 75 is a 40 ton saddle tank locomotive built by
the Vulcan Iron Works of Wilkes Barre, PA in 1930. # 75 went into
service in December of 1930 as # 2 for the Flagg Coal Company of
Avoca, PA where it was used as a switch engine. In 1935 it was sold
to the Solvay Process Co. in Jamesville, NY and renumbered 75.
There, it was used to push 4-wheel hopper cars from the steam shovel
to the crusher at the rock quarry. In the early 1950s the Solvay
Process Co. disbanded their railroad operation in favor of trucking
and in 1953, # 75 and twelve other locomotives were sold to Dr.
Groman and his planned Rail City Museum in Sandy Pond, NY. There,
the locomotive sat untouched until 1991 when John and Byron Gramling
purchased it with the intent to restore it to operating condition.
The father son duo painstakingly disassembled the locomotive, moved
it to their shop in Ashley, Indiana and over the course of the
following ten years returned it to service. For more information on
# 75 visit the locomotive online at http://www.FlaggCoalCompany75.com.

Established in 1972, the Whitewater Valley Railroad is a non profit
railroad history organization. It is an operating railroad museum
dedicated to the preservation of a historic branch line railroad,
the restoration of railroad equipment, and to the conduct of
railroad educational programs. The railroad is operated by
volunteers and all proceeds from this event will be used to further
the organization's mission.

Come to Historic Downtown Metamora for this spectacular railroading
event, and return to a time when the railroad moved the nation and
the short line railroad was a small town's best friend. Call (765)
825-2054 for more information and reservations. Visit the
Whitewater Valley Railroad's web site at http://www.whitewatervalleyrr.org