Latest Storm Damage To Any Northeastern Heritage Operations?

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Mon Dec 18, 2023 9:58 pm

Any (more) reports of any flooding or other damage to any of our Northeastern U.S. preservation brethren from the latest round of late-autumn rainstorms?

The Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes RR operation in Phillips, Maine chimed in with photos from this afternoon on their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/srrlrr/posts/p ... UkvQkNzeMl

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Tue Dec 19, 2023 12:57 am

SEPTA reports service is suspended between Malvern and Thorndale until further notice due to weather related track problems near Whitford Station.

This IS a heritage operation dating to the 1830's and electrified to Paoii in 1915.

Phil Mulligan

Kelly Anderson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am **Posts:** 2477

NJDixon · **Joined:** Mon Dec 06, 2021 4:36 pm **Posts:** 358

From Conway Scenic Railroad's Facebook page:

December 19, 2023

CONWAY SCENIC RAILROAD DAMAGE BEING ASSESSED, REPAIRS PLANNED

North Conway, NH.

Railroad lines operated by Conway Scenic Railroad received significant damage as result of flooding caused by exceptionally heavy rain on December 17th and 18th, 2023. Tracks will require repair at several locations and as of this time the full extent of damage was being assessed.

The railroad plans to make provisions to operate planned excursions scheduled for the week of December 18th, although some trains may require adjustments. Once a full assessment has been made the railroad will release a more detailed statement on the effects to planned excursions in the upcoming weeks.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Dec 19, 2023 2:53 pm

Latest SR&RL update:

https://www.facebook.com/srrlrr/posts/p ... TKgHaTPZZl

Quote:

These in this a.m. from Phillips from Brain & Sharon:
-As of an hour ago you can get from Phillips to Rangeley. Earlier Phillips, Strong, Rangeley north of Kingfield are/were isolated by bridge washouts. Not sure on the status now?
First three photos are from Ambleside, access road, bridge abutment at Hillside.
-The washout at Hillside IF it was due to water cresting the abutment this will mean the water was higher than the 1926? flood. I will try to find out. This area has had erosion issues before from rain.
-The old cemetery across from the bridge, a lot of headstones are knocked off their bases.
-The river at Ambleside towards the bridge is 10-feet? lower than the street, even much more at the bridge. Photo taken during the night, water at the bottom lip of the bridge with foam from the water on the bridge!
The rest at Sanders on Bridge, it was under 5-feet of water when the sun went down last night we do not know when it crested.

James Patten · **Posted:** Thu Dec 21, 2023 8:20 pm

WW&F Railway sustained no damage.

In northern New England the heavy rain hit a snow pack in the mountains that was already soaked from a rainstorm the prior Monday. This caused massive flooding, like you see with the Sandy River. The Androscoggin, Kennebec and Saco Rivers all were well above flood stage.

On the Kennebec in Randolph (former home of the Kennebec Central narrow gauge) the flooding was the highest I've seen, outside of pictures in the book Two Feet to Togus from a late '20s/early '30s flood which inundated the KC's Randolph terminus tracks.