Railway Preservation News :: View topic

Date: Sun, Aug 28, 2011 11:30 pm

A preliminary storm damage assessment was made by 4PM on Sunday the 28th.
The museum's general manager, Wayne Sandford, called a meeting on site,
at which about a dozen staff members were present.
At this time, power is off in many parts of Branford and East Haven, including
the trolley museum. Once power is restored, cleanup efforts can begin in
earnest.
We have canceled public operations and charters through and including this
coming Friday, Sep 2. Based on our observations today, we expect to have
limited operations resumed by Saturday the 3rd.
Because of the power disruptions, a number of staff members are without
phone and/or internet service. A more detailed message to the membership
will be released tomorrow, August 29th.
Thank you to the many members who have already assisted to minimize the storm
damage and begin the cleanup.
-Jeff Hakner
Chairman, Board of Trustees[

When the first official statement is sent out via email to this list later today then feel free to post that verbatim to whatever email lists, internet discussion groups, facebook, twitter, etc. that you desire.

Author:	Randy Hees [ Sun Aug 28, 2011 4:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Damage from Irene?
From the safety of the West Coast, it looks like Branford Trolley Museum might have have been in harms way... Else where I suspect that many creeks and rivers will run high enough to damage right of way and bridges. What damage is being reported? Randy

Author:	tomgears [ Sun Aug 28, 2011 6:10 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Damage from Irene?
Wilmington and Western seems to be intact. The roadbed and bridges were mostly wiped out in 2003 during Tropical Storm Henri and rebuilt in a very substantial manner. A quick look shows the bridges I visited unscathed and the roadbed intact. There were huge piles of trees jammed up against the trestles that will have to be removed at some point. Of course a detailed inspection of the line by the W&W track people will have to be made before anyone can say that everything is fine.

Author:	daylight4449 [ Sun Aug 28, 2011 6:33 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Damage from Irene?
Not sure what sort of damage the depot (or the Hodgkins building/schoolhouse in East Brookfield). I haven't been able to get through to Dan. I did talk to Dennis' son, Tom earlier to give them a storm update (and let them know the worst was over). I can't tell about anything else.

Author:	robertjohndavis [ Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:37 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Damage from Irene?
Just heard from a friend on the Vermont Railway that the classic covered bridge at Lower Bartonsville Road washed away. He sent a very sad video of it happening. If you are a student of early steam preservation, you know this as the oft-photographed bridge along the Green Mountain (ex Rutland) line once used by Steamtown. Irene trumps history. Rob

Author:	Al Patterson [ Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:39 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Damage from Irene?
Tom, Good to hear that. When I heard on the news that the flooding in Manayunk and Chadds Ford was a bad as during Floyd, I did wonder how well all the new bridges and the ballast, etc., on the W&W were holding up.

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Damage from Irene? https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=31959	Page 1 of 3

Author:	robertjohndavis [ Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Damage from Irene?
I mention the Bartonsville bridge collapse becuase of its history, but there are quite a few miles of historic, though very active, rights of way under water in NJ right now. Not the least of which are the PRR through Trenton and the LV around Manville. Rob

Author:	wilkinsd [ Sun Aug 28, 2011 10:24 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Damage from Irene?
It is my understanding that Branford enacted their emergency plan, which included pulling a lot of the collection to higher ground, as their shops and barns are either at or barely above sea level. Any confirmation of this?

Author:	RCD [ Sun Aug 28, 2011 10:39 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Damage from Irene?
The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum has reportedly faired well, same unforentelly can't be said for a lot of the town though.

Author:	JimBoylan [ Sun Aug 28, 2011 10:42 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Damage from Irene?
Branford did close after the 10:00 a.m. charter Saturday morning so that they could carry out the mitigation plan. They were not sure at that time if they would operate on Monday Aug. 29, but the web site says right now: Quote: Because of the impending storm system, the museum will be closed to the general public on Saturday Aug 27 and Sunday Aug 28. You can now Donate to the museum online! The museum is open every day through Labor Day.

Author:	Evan [ Sun Aug 28, 2011 10:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Damage from Irene?
Haven't heard any 1st hand reports from Catskill Mountain RR but they more than likely will have issues to handle. Today's high water mark at Cold Brook on the Esopus Creek was 3' above highest ever previously recorded. Trolley Museum of New York on the Kingston Waterfront had their entire parking lot under water from the Rondout Creek and the barn pits flooded. No damage expected to the rolling stock.

Author:	Chris Chestnut [ Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:30 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Damage from Irene?
Ct Trolley only suffered one tree falling on our New Haven coach and minimal roof damage to a few barns. Power was still on when I inspected the grounds yesterday afternoon after the storm had passed. Still waiting to hear about Shoreline as East Haven seems to have suffered the most damage from the storm surge with house washed away. If we don't hear soon will probably try and get Bill Wall on phone to see how they are and if they need help. No news on the naugy either. The rivers on that side of the state seem to be causing the most flooding and will for a few more days. News video from bristol / plainville are showing cars being swept along and streets / homes under water with people being rescued. The rivers are not expected to crest for another day or so according to the news.

Author:	JimBoylan [ Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:49 am ]
Post subject:	Branford Electric Rwy. Ass'n. - Shore Line Trolley Museum
Quote: Date: Sun, Aug 28, 2011 11:30 pm A preliminary storm damage assessment was made by 4PM on Sunday the 28th. The museum's general manager, Wayne Sandford, called a meeting on site, at which about a dozen staff members were present. At this time, power is off in many parts of Branford and East Haven, including the trolley museum. Once power is restored, cleanup efforts can begin in earnest. We have canceled public operations and charters through and including this coming Friday, Sep 2. Based on our observations today, we expect to have limited operations resumed by Saturday the 3rd. Because of the power disruptions, a number of staff members are without phone and/or internet service. A more detailed message to the membership will be released tomorrow, August 29th. Thank you to the many members who have already assisted to minimize the storm damage and begin the cleanup. -Jeff Hakner Chairman, Board of Trustees[ An earlier message said: Quote: When the first official statement is sent out via email to this list later today then feel free to post that verbatim to whatever email lists, internet discussion groups, facebook, twitter, etc. that you desire. The shop and yard area is supplied by a different electric company (Connecticut Light & Power) than what supplies the trolley wire and station United Illuminating).

Author:	Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Mon Aug 29, 2011 1:30 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Damage from Irene?
Baltimore Streetcar Museum: Utterly nothing to report. A jammed roll-up door is causing more problems than Irene did, once you discount the sandbags that have to be moved out of the way now.....

Author:	n2qhvRMLI [ Mon Aug 29, 2011 7:24 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Damage from Irene?
The Railroad Museum of Long Island's Greenport Site came through Irene unscathed, no flooding or damage to property. The Riverhead site suffered the uprooting of two trees in the shop area of Engine #39, Engine #1556, our tool baggage car and Engine #399. No damage to our equipment as the winds carried the trees AWAY and toward the neighboring parking lot. One 40' tree is leaning on our overhead 3 phase electric supply line. The local utilities have been advised and will remove the hazardous condition. One tree near Riverhead's North Freeman Building split, dropping half the tree on neighboring property. Over the next few days our tree contractor will get to work and clean things up. Unfortunately, Irene landed on the weekend of our Riverhead Railroad Festival 2011. The Festival was canceled this year and both Museum sites were closed for the weekend. I anticipate a fully functioning Museum for Labor Day Weekend. Overall we dodged the bullet! de Don n2qhvRMLI Don Fisher, President Railroad Museum of Long Island

Author:	Gary Gray [ Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Damage from Irene?
Being rather far inland, we also dodged the bullet with Irene. While it was windy and we watched angry clouds swirling around all day, it didn't start to rain until about 10 minutes after we finished painting the caboose we're getting ready for next weekend. A few water spots, and we got a good soaking while putting the tools away.

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