Oct 6 2021
Over the last
four weeks, this site has provided some pretty bleak coverage
on ERTS. We labeled ERTS has completely impassable on Sept
10th. With the future of our county at stake, the dream of
having happy tourists by boat load come here and spend new
$$$, based on the dismal conditions on the trail, we see no
bright future in store. 14 miles of the 30 mile ERTS, it's
gone
There's another stretch of trail being worked on. That 17 mile section is a trail and rail adventure running from Dundon to up creek of Swandale by a few miles. Contractors have been on the job since mid July doing culvert upgrades, bridge repairs, brush cutting and more.
For us, the work seems to be going slow. That's in part due to lack of materials like cross ties.
But But But, we have an update, a good update.
Wed afternoon the Lycoming Co crew started pulling out rotten ties and readying for the new ones. Over 13,000 ties are contracted to be replaced. One of the crew members told us, under the right conditions, they can replace 400 ties a day. We hope that happens.
Right now, rail equipment is using the existing rails to move equipment and supplies. It's pretty cool to see a big dump truck, end loader, etc riding down the rails.They can make it from Dundon to Sand Fork where the Great Wash out of 2016 destroyed the rail bed. New ties are needed before that bridge can be used again.
Above Sand Fork thru Cressmont and Swandale , the rails are good enough to us by the contractors. About three miles above Swandale, the mine war bridge, which was blasted away, no travel above that point. That just mentioned bridge is being reconstructed now.
On Oct 6th, we took a few pics.
There's another stretch of trail being worked on. That 17 mile section is a trail and rail adventure running from Dundon to up creek of Swandale by a few miles. Contractors have been on the job since mid July doing culvert upgrades, bridge repairs, brush cutting and more.
For us, the work seems to be going slow. That's in part due to lack of materials like cross ties.
But But But, we have an update, a good update.
Wed afternoon the Lycoming Co crew started pulling out rotten ties and readying for the new ones. Over 13,000 ties are contracted to be replaced. One of the crew members told us, under the right conditions, they can replace 400 ties a day. We hope that happens.
Right now, rail equipment is using the existing rails to move equipment and supplies. It's pretty cool to see a big dump truck, end loader, etc riding down the rails.They can make it from Dundon to Sand Fork where the Great Wash out of 2016 destroyed the rail bed. New ties are needed before that bridge can be used again.
Above Sand Fork thru Cressmont and Swandale , the rails are good enough to us by the contractors. About three miles above Swandale, the mine war bridge, which was blasted away, no travel above that point. That just mentioned bridge is being reconstructed now.
On Oct 6th, we took a few pics.
Some pretty heavy equipment is starting work at Dundon replacing the ties.
This cart is hauling off the old cross ties.
This shot shows another piece of equipment removing an old tie. A big arm on the far side pushes the discarded tie out from under the rails
An even larger piece of equipment comes along later and stuffs in a new tie.
That larger piece was not doing its thing Wed afternoon
One of the workers told us on Wednesday, they were just getting ready (practicing with the equipment) Wed afternoon. In this pic, it looks like around 1000 ties are now on the ground and at the ready.
AW