It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:22 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Flood Recovery at Ma & Pa Preservation Society
PostPosted: Tue Nov 27, 2018 9:59 pm 

Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2004 11:42 pm
Posts: 13
Location: Airville, PA
The Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad Preservation Society maintains and operates 3.6 miles of the former Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad main line as part of the Ma & Pa railroad Heritage Village (http://www.MaAndPaRailroad.com). The museum focuses on the central role of the railroad in the early twentieth century and includes the village of Muddy Creek Forks, a National Register Historic District.

On August 31st, the village and railroad were struck by a devastating flash flood. A wonderful group of more than 40 volunteers turned out to clean up most of the mud and debris from the village of Muddy Creek Forks on Labor Day, but the north end of the rail line sustained damage at five sites that was far too severe to be handled by volunteers. The most serious damage was at the crossings of three tributary streams to Muddy Creek. One 30 foot plate girder bridge was washed away, there was serious damage at two other bridges, and more than 700 feet of track were destroyed.

To get back in operation Society volunteers held a week long work camp to repair track south of Muddy Creek Forks that was not previously in use for passengers, and by our annual Heritage Day on September 22nd trains were running.

The Society has obtained an Emergency Permit to make necessary repairs to the railroad and has a track contractor and an engineering firm onboard for the work which is now underway. A few pictures of the work in progress were posted today on the Society's Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/MaAndPaRail ... e_internal

Current estimates are that the cost for repairs at all five sites will approach $170,000. This is a staggering sum for an all volunteer organization with limited resources. The area around the railroad was not declared a federal disaster area, and there is no expectation that any government funds will be available to aid the recovery.

The Society has appealed to its members and friends and is investigating other potential sources of funds, but outside support will certainly be needed. A GoFundMe page has been set up to provide a mechanism for community donors to support our recovery efforts.

https://www.gofundme.com/ma-amp-pa-rr-f ... d-recovery

The need for funds is urgent, since work under the Emergency Permit must be completed in just 60 days.

Many small donations can make a big difference in supporting this recovery, so we hope that some of our fellow rail preservationists will want to help. Donations in any amount would be greatly appreciated. I'll try to post updates as the work progresses.

Thanks for your help.

Craig Sansonetti


Attachments:
File comment: This track crosses a concrete box culvert which is plugged and completely covered with tons of rock washed down the tributary stream. The downstream channel is totally filled with rock and debris.
DSCN3881R2.jpg
DSCN3881R2.jpg [ 186.59 KiB | Viewed 8152 times ]
File comment: Debris deposited on the deck of the 13 foot B-3 bridge. The bridge was undamaged but the flood diverted the stream through the roadbed north of the bridge washing out the track.
DSCN3888R2.jpg
DSCN3888R2.jpg [ 165.37 KiB | Viewed 8152 times ]
File comment: North approach to the B-3 bridge. The track and roadbed is washed out for more than 120 feet.
DSCN3895R2.jpg
DSCN3895R2.jpg [ 168.8 KiB | Viewed 8152 times ]
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flood Recovery at Ma & Pa Preservation Society
PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 8:44 am 

Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2017 5:54 pm
Posts: 84
This is a repost of a Facebook post made back in September, probably for giving Tuesday. See the previous two topics.
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42453&p=282096&hilit=maryland#p282096
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42440


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flood Recovery at Ma & Pa Preservation Society
PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 9:38 am 

Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2004 11:42 pm
Posts: 13
Location: Airville, PA
With all due respect, to call this a repost is a complete mischaracterization.

None of the information about our recovery efforts, the work now in progress, and the expected cost of track repairs has appeared in RyPN previously.

Perhaps linking to our Facebook page for the progress pictures was not a wise choice. For easier access I will copy below our yesterday's Facebook post that has new pictures of the recovery work in progress.

Craig Sansonetti


Attachments:
Facebook11_28_18Page1.JPG
Facebook11_28_18Page1.JPG [ 99.76 KiB | Viewed 7909 times ]
Facebook11_28_18Page2.JPG
Facebook11_28_18Page2.JPG [ 140.68 KiB | Viewed 7909 times ]
Facebook11_28_18Page3.JPG
Facebook11_28_18Page3.JPG [ 155.49 KiB | Viewed 7909 times ]
Facebook11_28_18Page4.JPG
Facebook11_28_18Page4.JPG [ 170.33 KiB | Viewed 7909 times ]
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flood Recovery at Ma & Pa Preservation Society
PostPosted: Sat Dec 01, 2018 6:37 pm 

Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm
Posts: 2279
Count me impressed, when I first saw the photos of the girder bridge washed up on the shore I thought it was a lost cause for a small all-volunteer group, you have done well already.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flood Recovery at Ma & Pa Preservation Society
PostPosted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 8:44 am 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:07 am
Posts: 737
Location: Philadelphia Pa
What, if any, consideration has been given to raising the height of the bridge(s) and or ROW to prevent further destruction? We all know these "100 year floods" are becoming more routine. What is to say all of your hard work wont get washed away again with the next 3 foot sudden rise in water levels?

I realize there is a substantial cost to that, but if there is a plan for the future, maybe you could obtain funding for those future improvements?

Serious questions here, not being sarcastic or judgmental.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flood Recovery at Ma & Pa Preservation Society
PostPosted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 9:34 pm 

Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2004 7:57 am
Posts: 2576
Location: Faulkland, Delaware
I hope they have been in touch with FEMA for possible disaster relief funding.

_________________
Tom Gears
Wilmington, DE

Maybe it won't work out. But maybe seeing if it does will be the best adventure ever.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flood Recovery at Ma & Pa Preservation Society
PostPosted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 11:46 pm 

Joined: Fri May 28, 2010 9:52 am
Posts: 90
The existing rail line runs along the floor of a flood plain nearly its entire length – not springing across the creek from elevated hillside to hillside - raising the entire line and protecting it from erosion would be prohibitively expensive.

The flood plain of Muddy Creek forms a narrow, deep valley, incised into hilly terrane. Valley sides are steep, raising roughly 200-feet or more to either side of the creek. Underlying metamorphic bedrock is geologically old, hard and tight. Water tends to quickly run this stuff rather than soak in. As a result the stream is flashy, as rainfall quickly runs off from the surround hills rather than infiltrate.

Hope this helps - Jim K (Geologist)


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flood Recovery at Ma & Pa Preservation Society
PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 10:39 am 

Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:07 pm
Posts: 1114
Location: B'more Maryland
The reasons for the MA&PA's charm are the reason for its undoings in many ways.

Sadly that same state seems to vex these valiant preservation efforts. But I'm really happy to see that the outcome is way better.

_________________
If you fear the future you won't have one.
The past was the worst.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flood Recovery at Ma & Pa Preservation Society
PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 1:07 pm 

Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm
Posts: 1182
I visited Muddy Creek Forks last Friday, including the site of the bridge that was washed off its abutments. The power of the water roaring down through the ravine must have been astounding! One wing wall of the bridge was lifted and carried more than 100 feet downstream and deposited on the opposite bank of Muddy Creek itself! I saw a photo of this unnamed stream pre-flood, and it was a mere trickle about a foot wide. Ever since the flood, I was told, the stream has continued to run high and strong, presumably due to almost continuous rain events.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flood Recovery at Ma & Pa Preservation Society
PostPosted: Fri Dec 28, 2018 11:14 am 

Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2004 11:42 pm
Posts: 13
Location: Airville, PA
A lot of progress has been made at the site of the most serious damage where a 30 foot plate girder bridge was washed into the creek and the abutments were seriously damaged. After cleaning up debris, the tributary stream was diverted and 16 yards of concrete were poured to underpin and jacket the base of the south abutment. The bridge span was retrieved from the creek, cleaned up, and found to be undamaged. Our contractor, John Nolan, was very resourceful in replacing the bridge on the abutments using only log rollers, tie plates as skids, and the large excavator he had already on site saving about $10,000 on the quoted cost of bringing in a crane.

The bridge is now in place and secured to the abutments, the north and south approaches have been regraded, the stream is again flowing freely under the bridge, stone has been placed to armor the stream banks, and the bridge timbers have been placed on the bridge.

Since the remaining work at this site does not require a permit, Nolan will begin next week to work north from High Rock on the repairs required at our four other damage sites. Relaying of the track will be deferred until spring.

There is also good news on the permit front. The Society has requested and received an extension of our Emergency Permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. With the extension to March 1, we expect that all work requiring a permit for work along Muddy Creek and the tributary streams will be completed barring unusually severe winter weather.

Financial support for this work is still badly needed. Donations can be made through our GoFundMe page

https://www.gofundme.com/ma-amp-pa-rr-f ... d-recovery

or directly by check to the Ma & Pa Railroad Preservation Society at P.O. Box 2262, York, PA 17405-2262.


Attachments:
File comment: In addition to diverting the tributary stream a cofferdam was needed to excavate the south abutment since its base was lower than the water level in Muddy Creek. Concrete was poured to underpin and jacket the base of the abutment to guard against future floods.
SouthAbutmentExcavatedR2.jpg
SouthAbutmentExcavatedR2.jpg [ 142.5 KiB | Viewed 6298 times ]
File comment: By devising a plan to replace the bridge on its abutments using only the large excavator already on site, John Nolan saved about $10,000 in costs to the Society.
PlacingBridgeR2.jpg
PlacingBridgeR2.jpg [ 152.73 KiB | Viewed 6298 times ]
File comment: The roadbed both north and south of the bridge has been rebuilt and timbers placed on the bridge.
ApproachesFromSouthR2.jpg
ApproachesFromSouthR2.jpg [ 174.27 KiB | Viewed 6298 times ]
File comment: The bridge is now secured to the abutments, all of the streambank work is complete, and the approaches have been rebuilt.
RestoredB-4R2.jpg
RestoredB-4R2.jpg [ 142.57 KiB | Viewed 6298 times ]
Offline
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


 Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], QJdriver, robert havens and 122 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: