There is a post on railroad.net, that there are stories circulating that the Wilmington and Western is through.

I doubt that there has been any decision about this yet, but has anyone heard ANYTHING more, other than a list of the damage?

Are you out there Tom Gears?

Paul

plc95@yahoo.com

Personally, this feels like a rumor to me--I doubt any official decision has been made. I assume that the railroad will be meeting with local legislators, the governor, etc. and so on, and it will take some time to get a realistic sense of what public funds will or will not be avialable to help. I find it hard to beleive that all this could have happened already and a final decision been taken one way or another by Historic Red Clay Valley Inc.

I'm sure Tom Gears will let us know the moment the railroad has something official to say; he's always quick to keep us in the loop.

eledbetter@rypn.org

From their web site:

"We are now in the process of cleaning up the right-of-way and plans are to initially repair our tracks from Greenbank Station to Brandywine Springs."

I was out on Sunday with the track crew and we were cleaning trees off of some of the trestles. As far as I can tell, nobody has thrown in the towel yet, no matter what you may have heard elsewhere.

> There is a post on railroad.net, that there
> are stories circulating that the Wilmington
> and Western is through.

> I doubt that there has been any decision
> about this yet, but has anyone heard
> ANYTHING more, other than a list of the
> damage?

> Are you out there Tom Gears?

> Paul


Wilmington & Western Flood Update
acp19809@yahoo.com

All I can say from MY end:

I sent a railroad client of mine who needed temporary motive power (to tide them over while their own locomotives were cycled through overhaul/repair) to the W&W to discuss possibly leasing one of their two SW1's at a favorable rate. The idea was, if they were going to lease motive power at an expensive rate, better the money go to the W&W who needs it rather than a Class One or another lessor.

For whatever reason, that didn't come to pass--I think they said the one SW1 is down for repairs, and the other will obviously be needed to repair the railroad, as well as switching their one customer (unaffected by the flooding). BUT--the party and the railroad are now networking to find necessary repair equipment for the line, such as a hi-rail dump truck, etc., to borrow or rent.

So obviously the course for now is to repair.

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

I posted this earlier but it probably was not viewed by too many.

You will be hard pressed to find a better run non-profit / volunteer organization than that of the W&W. I have faith that they will pull off another miracle like they did after Floyd. I am not speaking on behalf of the W&W but having been a member for over twenty years I know a bit about the organization.

First of all the W&W is operated by a non-profit organization named Historic Red Clay Valley. I would find it hard to imagine that they would ever leave the Red Clay Valley. I donÂ’t think that moving to another railroad line is an option. You might see a few offline trips someday for revenue purposes but nothing more.

They are a determined and resourceful bunch of folks running the railroad. They can make something out of nothing and have done it for a long time. DonÂ’t count on anyone throwing in the towel.

The current management has made great strides on improving everything about the railroad. Just a few examples of things accomplished since the devastation of Hurricane Floyd include:

Building a new backshop
Installing a run-around track at Greenbank
Installing a station platform and lighting at Greenbank
Massive amounts of track repairs
Repainting and major repairs to passenger cars and cabooses
Major overhaul of locomotive #98 which is nearing completion
Improvements to the parking area at Greenbank
Installation of fire protection at the old Yorklyn Station (which was built by the first W&W)

A few important things to point out about the railroad: The new bridges did not wash away. The washed away bridges were all the old wooden ones that were not replaced. I am sure that the destroyed bridges could be replaced with similar structures designed to withstand floods worse that what we just had.

Some of the places that had right of way washed out before did not wash away due to the size and type of fill used to make the repairs after Floyd. Sure the track shifted and some ballast was lost but these are cheap fixes compared to replacing entire fills or bridges.

So to answer the question of “Is it not a loosing battle?” or “Should the line be rebuilt?’ NO! It is not a loosing battle. YES! The line should be rebuilt. The W&W management has not made a public statement about rebuilding as of yet but they have another storm to worry about right now. Once that passes and all of the damage is fully understood I am sure a workable plan will be made and the railroad will do what they have done on several instances in the past, pull themselves out of the mess and get the trains running.

While I am not speaking on behalf of the railroad I am sure they accepting any and all donations so send in what you can.

To quote Mark Twain: "Reports of my death are premature!"

Yes, the Wilmington & Western was very badly damaged by flash flooding on September 15. The good news is that much of the reconstruction of the railroad following Hurricane Floyd in 1999 survived the much-more severe flooding of the 15th. The two new steel bridges and the portions of the line that were rip-rapped are relatively undamaged. The historic iron through truss bridge also survived.

The bad news is that the remaining timber bent trestles were either destroyed or severely damaged. Tracks and roadbed are also damaged in several areas.

The Wilmington and Western Railroad is a historical treasure, not only for residents of the State of Delaware, but for all those who are interested in the legacy of our Nation's railroad history.

The Board of Directors of Historic Red Clay Valley, Inc., owner and operator of the Wilmington and Western, voted unanimously this week to rebuild the line. Our steam locomotive #58 will travel to downtown Wilmington this Saturday, as planned, to be on display at the Wilmington DE Amtrak Station as part of Delaware's Transportation Day and Wilmington's Riverfest.

It may take us a long time to recover from the damage of September 15. Depending upon the availability of financial help (and funding options are currently being explored) from government agencies, private foundations, businesses, and individuals, we are going to clean up the debris left by the flood and begin restoring our tracks. For the time being, all regularly scheduled trains have been cancelled.

For periodic reports on our progress, check our website www.wwrr.com. I would also strongly urge everyone who reads this list to become a member of HRCV, Inc. We need your support!

Ronald Bailey, President HRCV,Inc.

There is a post on railroad.net, that there
> are stories circulating that the Wilmington
> and Western is through.

> I doubt that there has been any decision
> about this yet, but has anyone heard
> ANYTHING more, other than a list of the
> damage?

> Are you out there Tom Gears?

> Paul


rbailey@supernet.com

To which I say, good job in being decisive and forward-thinking.

This destruction, although catastrophic, is not fatal. As I drove up the Red Clay Valley last Saturday, it occurred to me just how badly the northern part of Delaware NEEDS this corridor of rural tranquility and charm, no matter what form it takes--linear parkland, rail-to-trail, operating railroad, or whatever. I can think of no other operating railroad stretch I have seen firsthand, save for the Maryland & Pennsylvania stretch in Pennsylvania or the East Broad Top, that so perfectly characterizes the rural shortline railroading described in "Mixed Train Daily" and similar treatises from the past.

That said, I trust that HRCV will carefully consider all the options available to them for restoration of the line, and possibly see to it that as many options as possible are available. Certainly it would be nice to see a huge unrestricted check from a private donor or Federal disaster relief funds, but the options could include everything from partial conversion to a trail to possible acquisition of the right-of-way by the county or state as a public corridor for permanent preservation of transportation, nature, and green space.

Having heard firsthand of the many travails of the line over the past 35+ years, I'm truly amazed that it has survived so strongly for so long. This is not a crack at HRCV or its volunteers, but at the changes in the surrounding environment. In many ways, seeing the Wilmington & Western is like encountering a general store inside a city beltway--you love to see it, but you wonder how long it can hold off.

Good luck--and remember, we're pulling for you.

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

Ronald,

Thank you so much for the post, and I'd like to thank you and all of the board members at the Historic Red Clay Valley for voting to rebuild, the Wilmington and Western is a historic treasure, and really, the great sucess story of the Tourist Railroad industry. I want to see the Wilmington and Western survive forever.

I have always been a fan, but I have been inspired by Ronald's thread to become a member, and I also encourage all who read his letter to also do that.

Paul


plc95@yahoo.com

I'll echo your thoughts, Paul. Ronald Bailey, David Ludlow, the BOD and the staff and volunteers of the W&W/HRCV are dedicated, committed and responsible caretakers and I have faith that they will once again return the railroad to full operation. The railroad is in very good hands. They are a resourceful bunch and are a model for non-profit tourist lines everywhere. Can't you see a grand reopening celebration a few years "down the track" with doubleheaded steamers Nos. 98 and 58 on the head-end? They will make it happen, no doubt.

> Ronald,

> Thank you so much for the post, and I'd like
> to thank you and all of the board members at
> the Historic Red Clay Valley for voting to
> rebuild, the Wilmington and Western is a
> historic treasure, and really, the great
> sucess story of the Tourist Railroad
> industry. I want to see the Wilmington and
> Western survive forever.

> I have always been a fan, but I have been
> inspired by Ronald's thread to become a
> member, and I also encourage all who read
> his letter to also do that.

> Paul

So, when will we see you up here with a hard hat and a shovel?

> To which I say, good job in being decisive
> and forward-thinking.

> This destruction, although catastrophic, is
> not fatal. As I drove up the Red Clay Valley
> last Saturday, it occurred to me just how
> badly the northern part of Delaware NEEDS
> this corridor of rural tranquility and
> charm, no matter what form it takes--linear
> parkland, rail-to-trail, operating railroad,
> or whatever. I can think of no other
> operating railroad stretch I have seen
> firsthand, save for the Maryland &
> Pennsylvania stretch in Pennsylvania or the
> East Broad Top, that so perfectly
> characterizes the rural shortline
> railroading described in "Mixed Train
> Daily" and similar treatises from the
> past.

> That said, I trust that HRCV will carefully
> consider all the options available to them
> for restoration of the line, and possibly
> see to it that as many options as possible
> are available. Certainly it would be nice to
> see a huge unrestricted check from a private
> donor or Federal disaster relief funds, but
> the options could include everything from
> partial conversion to a trail to possible
> acquisition of the right-of-way by the
> county or state as a public corridor for
> permanent preservation of transportation,
> nature, and green space.

> Having heard firsthand of the many travails
> of the line over the past 35+ years, I'm
> truly amazed that it has survived so
> strongly for so long. This is not a crack at
> HRCV or its volunteers, but at the changes
> in the surrounding environment. In many
> ways, seeing the Wilmington & Western is
> like encountering a general store inside a
> city beltway--you love to see it, but you
> wonder how long it can hold off.

> Good luck--and remember, we're pulling for
> you.


Wilmington & Western Flood Update
acp19809@yahoo.com

> So, when will we see you up here with a hard
> hat and a shovel?

Heck, I volunteered to help out the B&O Museum back in February, and I've yet to hear anything other than "Thanks, your name has been added to the list". I think the Wilmington & Western is in exactly the same straits at the moment--a damn shovel and hard hat won't do diddley. Even a hundred of us would barely make a dent.

It's easy for you to say "pitch in and help"; it's another thing to make it so I can basically walk up and do so. For example, the Friends of the East Broad Top put out the notices here for its work parties; yet one still has to pay up to become a member of FEBT to work on these parties (somewhat understandable--insurance and all). When I helped the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington lay track last year, all I had to do was show up--and they even fed us. (Maybe that part of Maine hasn't seen lawyers yet, I dunno.) And every operation I've seen (W&W included) has both people who greet the prospective volunteer with "Great to have you, let me show you around and show you ways you could help us....." and people whose first remark is along the lines of "Don't come around here again until you go buy some steel-toe boots!" (Honest Injun, that was the greeting the first day I showed up at the Marshallton enginehouse, when CP Royal Hudson 2839 was being test-fired in 1982.)

When I was a member of HRCV in my college days, my lack of a car prevented me from being able to attend crew training sessions that would have allowed me to do more than the piddling amount I did around the enginehouse. Instead, I worked with the railroad's newsletter and PR producers, only a short bike ride from my college dorm.

Not all of us are either financially or physically able to contribute in the way your remark indicates you want to. I don't suppose it's enough that I'm trying to find the very equipment Mr. Ludlow asked for in my friend's phone call? (I'm hot on the trail of three hy-rail dump trucks and some tie tampers, for example......)


LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net