This morning on the Weather Channel, I saw video of a caboose and a heavy weight passenger car on their side near Lady Smith (I think) Wiconsin.

Does anyone one have more information on this?

Thank you.

Bill Geresy

geresyb@aol.com

> This morning on the Weather Channel, I saw
> video of a caboose and a heavy weight
> passenger car on their side near Lady Smith
> (I think) Wiconsin.

> Does anyone one have more information on
> this?

> Thank you.

> Bill Geresy

Bill,
Ladysmith took a direct hit on Monday afternoon. The Chamber of Commerce has a replica depot on the southeast side of town with a wooden Soo Line caboose, an FP7A and three or four heavyweight cars. I suspect the equipment was some of those display cars. A Soo Line 2-8-2 (1013, I think) is in the downtown area with a roof over it. I wonder how it fared? When I went up for the 2719 trips last year they had experienced quite a bit of storm damage earlier that week. There were many damaged trees from that one. Luckily there were no serious human injuries reported. Sounds like we can't say as much for the railroad equipment.
Don C.

old_fxrs@msn.com

> Bill,
> Ladysmith took a direct hit on Monday
> afternoon. The Chamber of Commerce has a
> replica depot on the southeast side of town
> with a wooden Soo Line caboose, an FP7A and
> three or four heavyweight cars. I suspect
> the equipment was some of those display
> cars. A Soo Line 2-8-2 (1013, I think) is in
> the downtown area with a roof over it. I
> wonder how it fared? When I went up for the
> 2719 trips last year they had experienced
> quite a bit of storm damage earlier that
> week. There were many damaged trees from
> that one. Luckily there were no serious
> human injuries reported. Sounds like we
> can't say as much for the railroad
> equipment.
> Don C.

For the record, the Soo Line 2-8-2 at Ladysmith is #1011 (class L-2.) Soo Line 2-8-2 #1003 that has been restored for operation is a class L-1.

midlandblb@cs.com

Here's a picture from the Minneapolis Star Tribune site. Some of the articles I've seen on the various news sites mention two railroad cars toppled over, but this shot clearly shows three heavyweights on their side, and if the weather channel video shows the caboose on its side then that makes four. The coach at the end there looks like it might be twisted somewhat as well. The F7 is still upright, though it looks like the rear truck may have come off the rails. I haven't found any word yet on how Soo Mikado no. 1011 fared. If I remember correctly she is displayed a couple of blocks away from the other equipment.

parkengines.railfan.net

rjenkins@railfan.net

There was a report on "Morning Edition" today that the entire downtown area was destroyed. That may be a bit of hyperbole - the link below has a story.

Ladysmith Tornado