The folks down at the Whitewater Valley Railroad went through the trouble of emailing me the press release for their annual steam event so I figured I’d pass it along. It’s only fair considering we covered the visit of Flagg Coal #75 to Mason extensively.
The Whitewater Valley Railroad is based on Connorsville, Indiana. For those who remember, we discussed the tourist operation earlier this year.
STEAM RETURNS TO THE WHITEWATER VALLEY
ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND STEAM LOCOMOTIVE FLAGG COAL CO. # 75 TO VISIT HISTORIC METAMORA, INDIANA.
For Immediate Release – Friday August 7, 2009
Metamora, Indiana – The Whitewater Valley Railroad is proud to announce that after three successful visits, steam locomotive Flagg Coal Company #75 will once again return to the historic ex-New York Central Railroad’s Whitewater Branch Line…
The Whitewater Valley Railroad will be hosting Flagg Coal #75 starting the weekend of August 28, 2009 for three weekends of education and fun. Historic Metamora, Indiana is only one stop on a nine month long tour of different rail operations in the US. After the WVRR visit, the locomotive will visit North and South Carolina, before heading off for additional stops in Florida.
There is a new and exciting addition to 75’s visit this year. Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the 16th United States President’s birth, Abraham Lincoln will be visiting Historic Metamora to ride Flagg Coal #75 on Saturday August 29 and Sunday August 30, 2009. Mr. Lincoln will be available for photo’s and questions before and during each train excursion. When the train arrives back in town, Mr. Lincoln will present one of his many speeches from the viewing stand near Flagg Coal #75.
Festivities with Abraham Lincoln reanactor Dean Dorrell will begin at 10:30 AM with four departures of Flagg Coal # 75 at 11:00 AM, 1:10 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM. Along the way, remnants of the Whitewater Canal locks, the restored Laurel Feeder Dam, and portions of the West Fork of the Whitewater River can be clearly seen. Fares for the scenic ten mile round trip excursion pulled by Flagg Coal #75 are $16 per person and children ages 2-12 rides for half price.
To kick off the event on Friday August 28, as well as September 4, special running’s of the Laurel Hotel Train to Dinner with Flagg Coal # 75 on the point are scheduled. Departing from Historic Downtown Metamora at 6:00 PM on each evening, the trains will carry a Wild West theme. To provide the evenings live entertainment, The Circle D Rangers from Muncie, Indiana will be aboard. The $65 fare includes round trip train fare, entertainment, meal and tip. These excursions have limited seating and have sold out in past years. Reservations are required for these trains.
On Saturday September 5 and Sunday September 6 in conjunction with the 11th Annual Metamora Folk Music Festival and Labor Day – Monday September 7, will see four departures of Flagg Coal # 75 at 11:00 AM, 1:10 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM daily. Along the way, remnants of the Whitewater Canal locks, the restored Laurel Feeder Dam, and portions of the West Fork of the Whitewater River can be clearly seen. Fares for the scenic ten mile round trip excursion pulled by Flagg Coal # 75 are $16 per person and children ages 2-12 rides for half price.
The third weekend will take a slightly different twist as #75 will be carrying a detachment of the Union Army to protect the train. While along the line a relentless group of Confederate soldiers plan and wait. On Saturday September 12, and Sunday September 13, Festivities will start at 10:30 AM in Historic Downtown Metamora, with four departures of Flagg Coal # 75 at 11:00 AM, 1:10 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM. Along the way, remnants of the Whitewater Canal locks, the restored Laurel Feeder Dam, and portions of the West Fork of the Whitewater River can be clearly seen. Fares for the scenic ten mile round trip adventure are $16 per person and children ages 2-12 rides for half price.
In addition to #75, the regularly scheduled excursions from Connersville to Metamora will be operating as normal. All trains operate rain or shine.
Metamora is Indiana’s treasured 1838 canal town. Nestled in southeastern Indiana’s beautiful countryside, Metamora is steeped in history and famous for its preservation of Indiana’s oldest and still operating water-powered grist mill. Located 60 miles east of Indianapolis and 35 miles west of Cincinnati, A must see town that retains all of its traditional charm and languid atmosphere. Shop in stores housed in buildings dated back to the early 1800s, eat and above all else… Enjoy the slow relaxing pace of the past! For more information on Historic Metamora, visit Metamora online at www.metamoraindiana.com.
Flagg Coal Company # 75 is a 40 ton saddle tank locomotive built by the Vulcan Iron Works of Wilkes Barre, PA in 1930. # 75 went into service in December of 1930 as # 2 for the Flagg Coal Company of Avoca, PA where it was used as a switch engine. In 1935 it was sold to the Solvay Process Co. in Jamesville, NY and renumbered 75. There, it was used to push 4-wheel hopper cars from the steam shovel to the crusher at the rock quarry. In the early 1950s the Solvay Process Co. disbanded their railroad operation in favor of trucking and in 1953, # 75 and twelve other locomotives were sold to Dr. Groman and his planned Rail City Museum in Sandy Pond, NY. There, the locomotive sat untouched until 1991 when John and Byron Gramling purchased it with the intent to restore it to operating condition. The father son duo painstakingly disassembled the locomotive, moved it to their shop in Ashley, Indiana and over the course of the following ten years returned it to service. For more information on # 75 visit the locomotive online at www.FlaggCoalCompany75.com.
Travel through time on Indiana’s most scenic railroad. Established in 1972, the Whitewater Valley Railroad is a non profit railroad history organization. It is an operating railroad museum dedicated to the preservation of a historic branch line railroad, the restoration of railroad equipment, and to the conduct of railroad educational programs. The railroad is operated by trained volunteers and all proceeds from this event will be used to further the organization’s mission.
Come to Historic Downtown Metamora for this spectacular railroading event, and return to a time when the railroad moved the nation and the short line railroad was a small town’s best friend. Call (765) 825-2054 for more information and reservations. Visit the Whitewater Valley Railroad’s online at www.whitewatervalleyrr.org.
