Flooding in SC

whodom · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2015 10:56 am

A current event that is also historical.

I just heard that the CSX mainline in Kingstree, SC is under water. Previous historical flood in 1973 didn't get that high. I have seen numerous pics of washed out railroad beds on branch lines around Columbia and Sumter.

Edit- If CSX wants to run trains, they'll have to drop their "No steam" policy.

Crazy stuff.

airforcerail · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2015 1:49 pm

I just got back from inspecting the rail line here at Shaw AFB. We are ok, there is one small area where it started to undercut the ballast at the ends of the ties, but the track is stable and we can safely operate over it at reduced speed. We didn't even have any trees down.

As Hugh said, it is a moot point. I can move cars, no other railroad in the area can get them to me. The AKA line is washed out in numerous places. I live near Columbia, within a few miles of the AKA line and the NS W line to Charleston. I could hear NS crews and contractors loading rotary hyrail dump trucks all night with rip rock and ballast. I have seen lots of tree cutting on the NS line as well. The AKA? no evidence of anything, many trees still across the tracks leads me to believe it is a low priority for CSX. It is after all a secondary branch line.

I am about to go check my shortline. There are several bridges and large culverts that I am concerned about.

It normally takes me 40min to get to work, due to roads being closed or washed out, it is now a 2hr ordeal. Near me there is a gasoline tanker on its side washed off the road and in the woods. I hope it is empty...

whodom · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2015 2:47 pm

Adam- I hope you are staying safe and dry. I've seen crazy pictures around Sumter.

Here's a photo taken this morning of the CSX mainline (former ACL mainline) just south of Kingstree, SC. The Black River is there somewhere; it normally passes about 30 feet BELOW the railroad.

(photo by Linda Brown)

Here's the same general area during the previous record flood in 1973:

(photo from News & Courier newspaper of Charleston, SC)

airforcerail · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2015 6:22 pm

Thanks Hugh. First pic is of the CSX AKA line at approx. MP334, foxville interchange. It is washing out undermining the road bed.

Second pic is a hige washout on my shortline. Used to be trestle bit got a pipe and backfilled at some point. This is going to cost a lot to fix. I hope we will qualify for some aid and our insurance should cover some of it too.

whodom · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2015 7:52 pm

Adam- I don't see your pics (?).

airforcerail · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2015 8:40 pm

Opps sorry. It says they are too large I will have to resize them on the work computer tomorrow.

dinwitty · **Joined:** Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:18 pm **Posts:** 2226

yeh, I recall a pic somewhere a steam train hauling a full train over flooded waters. I'm not sure you dare try here for possible softening of the line, depends how well the ROW is built, they usually build it with stability in mind, it isnt just lay down some ballast and ties and rail, the whole ROW is prepared for drainage and support.

rock island lines · **Joined:** Mon Feb 17, 2014 4:20 pm **Posts:** 487

While Greenwood, SC experienced flooding and some evacuations, I see no mention of
flood damage on the Facebook page of The Museum of Greenwood and Railroad Historical
Center. They will host the "Carolina Executive Car Grand Opening" a few weeks from now.

http://www.indexjournal.com/lifestyles/ ... ng-Oct--23

Quote:

The Museum of Greenwood and Railroad Historical Center board of directors announce the grand opening of the restored Carolina Executive Car, 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 23, 908 Main St. Tickets are required to attend.

This railroad car was built in 1914 and served as an office car for Piedmont and Northern Railroad executives.

Related: Greenwood, SC rolling stock gets upgrades. (ATRRM Blog, 9/4/15)
https://www.atrrm.org/blog/2015/09/gree ... -upgrades/

airforcerail · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2015 12:52 pm

Ok, I think I got it to work this time.

usaf_andrew · **Joined:** Thu Nov 26, 2009 5:32 pm **Posts:** 30

Here are the pictures I took when I could during the flood. I have seen a number of CSX trucks running around but no trains yet. With all the crazy stuff I have done as a cop, going through this storm in a crown vic in the dark through floodwaters was the most scared I a have ever been. I haven't been out to see Adam's railroad yet. They have had me stuck on the other side of the county.

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/amn ... 834&type=3

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Fri Oct 09, 2015 3:04 pm

I saw a report that two R. J. Corman employees died when their pickup truck went off the road into flood waters.

whodom · **Posted:** Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:52 pm

Amazing pics, Andrew thanks for posting.

Does RE Colman have operations in SC?

alzubal · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 9:05 am **Posts:** 118

How do you get the link to work?

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Fri Oct 09, 2015 7:56 pm

whodom wrote:

Does RE Colman have operations in SC?

These were part of a storm team deployed from Kentucky "for Norfolk Southern in the Carolinas following last weekend’s historic flooding. The crew was helping repair rail lines damaged in the flooding."

Trains New Wire carried this a couple of days ago.

whodom · **Posted:** Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:00 pm

^ There was a story on the local news a couple days ago about 2 railroad men in a pickup drowning. I'm guessing these were the same guys. Apparently there were 5 guys in a truck; they drove around a barricade on a closed road and were swept off the road into deeper water. 3 guys escaped but the other 2 drowned.

Update- Here's a link to one of several news stories on the incident:

http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/Bodi ... 14982.html