Steam & Excursion > Whitewater Valley Railroad - Connersville, IN flood update

In follow up to the earlier post on the WVRR, here is the latest crushing blow.

While the photos captured so far have revealed terrible flooding and significant track damage, I have been prepared (unwillingly) for the likelihood of a scenario like that pictued in the following photos.  With washouts from end-to-end on the 19 mile line, hirailing the line is not an option right now - and many areas are very remote and inaccessible other than by foot.  That has been much of the appeal of riding the train as the area is very scenic as it follows both the Whitewater Canal and the Whitewater River it's entire length.  

As I headed up to the yard today to lay eyes on the shop complex and to dry out my flooded caboose, I had to go survey the line from Laurel to Metamora as best I could.  I was encouraged by some areas that were previous trouble spots having escaped damage.  There were relatively minor issues for several miles - although those issues would have been big issues if that was all that had occured.  At the end of a nearby road I hiked back to see what the river has been doing while no one was looking and I was greeted with the following:

1.  Looks like a roller coaster and my heart dropped
2.  I found the concrete milepost dozens of feet from the ROW
3.  The gut punch

* Yes, I do believe that is a link from a link and pin coupler laying on the ground.    This area in the 1800's was known as the 'ice ponds' and there were loading docks and sidings back in the field to the left.  No trace of any of it now.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/16/26 21:04 by P.

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4.  From the previous view, I turned around for this view
5.  After walking around the abyss, this was the view from the other side.  The river usually drains fast, but it still running higher than normal 4 days after the deluge.
6.  Turning to look south, the damage continues on around the curve.
 

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The area pictured above is rarely photographed from the ground, so I don't have one, but here is a picture from a few months ago 1.5 miles further down river (or canal) in Metamora, IN.  This is our recently restored Lima Hamilton (number 2) on a test run prior to being repainted last year.  
Photo 2 is downtown Metamora, IN a mere 2 miles down stream from the washout.  

The WVRR has a dedicated team of volunteers that can get this restored, but it is a HUGE undertaking and full restoration will take time.  Many items are lost forever due to the flooding of our archives and everything else at our main shop complex.  It will take lots and lots of money + the ingenuity and dedication of the membership to get our track restored.  There is no doubt that revenue generation for the busy season of 2026 will be impacted, thus making it more challenging to execute a restoration.  If a donation is something you are able to provide, the website provides details on how to do so:  Whitewater Valley Railroad

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/26 03:54 by P.

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Great coverage showing the results of a really sad event!
Bob

Devastating.

Thanks for posting the Whitewater Valley RR flood update - overwhelming devastation to say the least.  Can you share some images of your flood damaged caboose-?

Is it possible that the damage in photos 3, 4, and 5 could be handled by a realignment ?

This is an observation, not a criticism... At the risk of stating the obvious, following a river valley for trackage is convenient due to the relativly level terrain, but doing so puts the trackage at risk of flood damage. unless well rip rocked and elevated above flood level.  

Bob Phelps
Micanopy, FL

I pulled up the FEMA flood maps and the railroad shops is in the flood zone designation SFHA which means the area would have a 1% chance of being inudated 1x every 100 years. This looks like the year it happened. Their main shop building looks like it was built in the last 15 years within the flood zone.  Building there was certainly a gamble that did not pay off. Seeing there is no freight business it looks unlikely money will come available for the line to be rebuilt.  Relocating the line just a little would trigger some extensive flood analysis to ensure the new alignment wouldn't cause more severe flooding. Very sad to see this happen.

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

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1972 Hurricane Agnes level damage, if anyone remembers that.

Yes, the final straw for the Erie-Lackawanna.

Victor Baird

bigsavage Wrote:
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> 1972 Hurricane Agnes level damage, if anyone
> remembers that.