(erielack) FW: [DelawareLackawanna] D-L Track damage at Del. Water Gap

["Joel Long" <el2401_@_willoughbyinc.com>]

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From: rev66vette [mailto:rev66_@_optonline.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 7:02 PM
To: DelawareLackawanna_@_yahoogroups.com
Subject: [DelawareLackawanna] D-L Track damage at Del. Water Gap



  The RR has suffered some damage in the "Point of Rocks" area of the
water gap. There is one large wash-out and several small ones, along
with considerable erosion to the embankment. Curiously, this is the
same are where the Erie-Lackawanna had a significant "event" in the
70's. 

  There is also a considerable amount of debris along the rails,
including ties, tree's, highway signs, (including a pavilion sign from
the Lake Shawnee resort!!!) etc. It appears that the entire railroad
from a last Smithfield township east to Portland was under water at
one time. There were numerous fish of all species left along the
roadbed and the various vultures, hawks, crows, etc, were all gorging
themselves at the free dinners left to them care of Mother Nature.

  A railroad grad-al type truck was working east from the area of the
water gap station and stopped just in the area of the major washout
before turning back in the afternoon.

  NS appears to still be dropping off as scheduled, as there were
approx. 35 cars for pick-up at Slateford Jct yard. Most of these were
covered hoppers.

  A coal train had visited the generating station overnight and left a
train of loads. There were no empties or power around.

  A word of caution: The bridge on 611 by the Portland diner that
caries a stream beneath it, was closed and undergoing an inspection.
You could not drive thru downtown Portland during the day today. In
addition, a similar bridge just of 611 by the intersection where the
trolleys are kept, was also closed. They would not let anyone travel
between 611 and Rt 80. This street has the water gap diner, several
service stations, and a hotel on it, so those businesses had to be
suffering in addition to what the floods incurred. The Laird
Technology factory also seems to have sustained major flooding. I had
to drive far west as I could on 611 and come back east in the area of
the Water Gap country club just ot get into the water gap Park area.
Hopefully, this will change as the weather gets better, but weather
service says we possibly could get 2 more inches Friday. 

   In doing some "guesswork" with a few locals it appears that the RR
will be able to serve some customers from the west for a while. But
they have some major work to do in an area that's difficult to get to.

  Hoping for the best.

  Thanks for listening.

  Rich O


  

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