How is everybody faring out there, anyway? I'm seeing some pretty awful stats out there for rain - anybody in the region report in here with what they have seen or know of our members and projects.

Only confirmed hit I've heard rail-wise is that the track was knocked off the Escambia Bay bridge on CSX (Pensacola bay) - but no confirmation of any more damage more than that.

I understand the I-10 causeway across Pensacola Bay was knocked out as well. A tractor trailer is in part of the wreckage.

I am also wondering about the following:

* The Naval Air Museum in Pensacola. It was a very nice museum; with some rare pieces; some of which were stored outdoors. I hope they were able to fly them out to safety.

* The remains of the U.S.S. Mississippi, an Indiana class battleship of 1893, whose remains are in 26ft of water at Fort Pickens State Park, 1½ miles SSE of Pensacola Pass. It was sunk as a gunnery target in 1921. Top of turrets visible at low tide.

* The Heisler fireless that was at Newport Industries in Pensacola.

* The Frisco 2-8-2 on display on Gregory St. in Pensecola.

* The Frisco 4-8-2 on display at Spring Hill Park, Gaillard Dr. & Ziegler Blvd., Mobile, AL.

* The 2-4-2T on display outdoors at the Marine museum in Pensacola.

I talked to a former co-worker who works in New Orleans and lives near Gulfport MS. It sounds like that part of the coast came out in fairly good shape; I assume Pensacola really got it hard.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a



Surviving World Steam Project

.

Pittsburgh got hit with almost six inches of rain - a new all-time record (the previous one was last week!) and had widespread flooding. Considering the amount of high-water damage down there, it's hard to believe there hasn't been some significant damage to the rail system too. The Ohio river is expected to crest tonight at about eight feet over flood stage at the point. There's a band a damage across the lower left quarter of PA that's streaming in tody.

The Everett Railroad, near Altoona, PA, had some flood damage in a location prone to such events, but track is back in service to Roaring Spring, PA. Local NRHS excursion should run Sunday as scheduled. Freight service on the branch to Claysburg, PA, will be out for a couple of days.

A.W. Maples
Everett RR

According to E-mail and phone information, the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum had 2 feet of water in the shop and visitors center. Track is washed out in at least 3 places. The carbarns, being on higher ground, escaped damage.

In less than an hour, I left work in Weirton,Wv, drove home, picked up my little girl, and tried to go back the way I just came. Was trying to get to Pittsburgh and see my wife who had heart surgery Monday. In less than an hour ALL major, and more secondary roads were closed due to land slides, floodong, etc. Pittsburgh, Steubenville,Ohio areas got TONS of rain.

East Broad Top is not operating this weekend but expects to be back in service next weekend.

Alan Maples

The damage at Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (Washington, PA) was due to 18" of water in the combined restoration shop/visitor center/store/museum offices building. Three cars (PRT 5326, BERy 3618, West Penn 1) were caught in the shop and suffered water in the motors. Many shop tools were wet, lots of files in the office and store lost, much store stock lost, all the photo display modules destroyed, and the whole building a general mess. One forklift and one mobile crane plus SEPTA loco RG2 were also in the flood and our Gravely tractor was completely submerged. The track between Richfol and Fairgrounds suffered multiple deep washouts. The remainder of the line was generally undamaged, but operations will be cancelled for at least a brief period. If you're planning a visit, call ahead first. The museum's archives, located in a separate building a mile away were also flooded to a one foot depth and many thousands of irreplaceable documents and photos soaked. The museum's new Trolley Display Building, just occupied by 31 cars in July, remained just one foot above the supposed 100 year flood plain. But the other buildings were supposed to also be above that level.

The Pittsburgh & Ohio Central RR, which parallels the museum's line, suffered some huge washouts and their service will be significantly impacted.

Many areas around the greater Pittsburgh area had very significant flood damage. The official measurement (taken at the Pittsburgh airport) was 5.95" of rain in about 12 hours, but reports of as much as 9" of rain in that same period came from surrounding communities.

There were some minor problems with the mainline railroads of the region, but those were for the most part quickly corrected. At least one Amtrak #30 was cancelled east of Pittsburgh due to problems on CSX.

Although local streams receeded quickly after the rain stopped, the major rivers then crested well above flood stages the next day. The Wheeling, WV area was particularly hard hit.

Dave Hamley,
Vice President, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, Inc.

Norfolk Southern Service Alert

Flooding in Enola, Pa.; Tracks Out of Service

September 19, 2004

As result of severe weather and flooding in the Enola, PA, area Norfolk
Southern main tracks are out of service. Operations continue to be
hampered throughout the northeast as a result of high water. Traffic
moving through these areas will experience delays.

Special note to customers with committed service agreements: Norfolk
Southern is invoking force majeure effective 12:01 PM, Sunday September
19, 2004 on all traffic moving in through these areas.


EDIT: (add) by RDG: I have a friend down there that just e-mailed me that the water came 'almost to the top of the arches' on the Rockville bridge at the crest, and that homes in Marysville are completely submerged along the river. That's just unbelievable! The NWS shows the water crested last night so the worst is over.

In Scranton, the Laurel Line suffered some washouts in South Scranton, and the Roaring Brook bridge will need inspected. If anyone is planning to visit, please call the Museum at 570-963-6590 for current operating information.

Randy-

According to my wife's parents, who live in Fly, Ohio (on Ohio River across from Sistersville, WV), the river was up over the banks, and a foot deep over parts of Ohio 7 along the river. Most homes along the river, especially in Fly, Sardis and Powhattan proper were also flooded out. In addition, the bridge between Powhattan and New Martinsville, WV was also closed (approaches flooded, but not the bridge itself), as were some of the locks just north of the bridge. The CSX main alongside the river on the WV side was also inundated.

The inlaws were without power (not unusual in Monroe County, Ohio) but didn't suffer flood damage as they are up in the hill area boarding the Wayne National Forest (between Ohio 800 and 7 for those that know this area). News is that Marietta and Parkersburg may have been hit hard as well --- wonder how the Hotel Lafayette is doing about now! Will let you know when I find out more.

TJ Gaffney

Think i just got my answer on the Lafayette Hotel in Marietta --- Nationa Weather Service Report from this morning:

At 3 am Monday the stage near Marietta 2sw was 41. 6 feet and the trend is slowly falling.

Flood stage at Marietta 2sw is 34 feet.

The river at Marietta 2sw remains above flood stage. The crest occurred around 4 pm Sunday afternoon. With a stage of 42. 4 feet. The level will slowly fall to below flood stage by Tuesday morning.

At stages near 42 feet, the lobby of lafayette hotel becomes flooded. On west side. Gilman avenue at westview avenue is flooded. Moderate to major flooding in many other areas in and around Marietta, Ohio and Williamstown, West Virginia will be noted.

The Lafayette Hotel in Marietta definitely took on some water during the Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen annual meeting. The Muskingum really threw a scare into everyone, and those who left early when they saw the first signs of a flood are really catching it from those who were surprised. If you want to see more of their stories, check out the discussion board at <ttp:www.steamboats.org>