As the railroad wraps up its 2018 track repair efforts with the arrival of winter weather, crews have successfully repaired 11 major washouts – each one averaging about a third of a mile. Durbin & Greenbrier Valley President John Smith says each of these major washouts were instances where rocks and debris had eliminated the track alignment, sending rail and crossties over the river bank and alongside the Greenbrier River. Large rocks had also slipped down the hillside and were blocking parts of the original right-of-way, causing timely repairs as crews chiseled away at the boulders and re-built the alignment.
Crews have successfully repaired track as far as north as Milepost 89, which is a little more than 1 mile south of the southern terminus of the railroad’s active line that hosts its Heisler-powered Durbin Rocket. Smith says there are no major washouts between Milepost 89 and Milepost 90.3, but the line needs additional crossties and fill support.
To date, the railroad has installed more than 16,000 crossties and 8,000 tons of rock and other fill to rebuild a stronger right-of-way. While a predominantly single-track railroad, railroad crews are installing sidings north of Cass and Hosterman for caboose stays, meets between trains, and general storage. There will be a total of four sidings between Cass and Durbin when the line reopens.
One of the last tasks before Cass and Durbin can be reconnected is the replacement of the Trout Run bridge, located near Milepost 86.5. The bridge was severely damaged during the flood of 1985, leaving the Cass Scenic Railroad isolated until the track between Spruce and Old Spruce was re-laid. Smith says a bridge replacement is planned by May 2019.
In early spring while the Trout Run bridge is replaced, crews will work simultaneously on a major tamping and re-surfacing effort along the entire line. Track workers will improve the curvature of the track and add additional rock fill before the line reopens.
The railroad declined to provide an exact reopening date, pending the outcome of the few remaining projects, but did say it is actively developing a marketing plan and railroad officials are confident passengers will be riding on the reopened track segment in 2019.
Smith says it will be a joyous occasion and not only will passengers be able to ride along a rail line that hasn’t seen trains since 1985, but they’ll be able to do so while being pulled by a three-truck Middle Fork Climax, hinting that the railroad might have more to offer in 2019 than just the track reopening. The locomotive is nearing completion in the Cass Shop.
sounds like good news. We sat the Durbin and took pics of it as we were on the way to ride the Cass.
Great news! I never thought that line would be rebuilt after the extensive flood damage.