Hurricane Counter-Measures:

[Anonymous]

Let us make a list of Hurricane (severe rainfall) counter-measures so that one will exist.

I think this is an important issue since, unlike small scales, we deal with the weather.

Are there such counter-measures or do we just pack it up and deal with the rebuilding project?

I look forward to replies...

Capt Carrales

[kstrong]

Unfortunately, the answer is pack it up and deal with the rebuilding. There's not a whole lot you can do to protect a railroad from 100mph+ winds or torrential downpours. Bring the trains and buildings inside and pray. One fellow in Maryland got hammered by Ivan last year. It completely flooded out his railroad (not to mention the house). Nothing to do but rebuild.

But that's part of the inherent beauty of this scale. I had an ice storm bring down half of a tree onto my old railroad, necessitating rebuilding a passing siding. This morning, we got hammered with 20 mintues of marble-sized hail which totally erased any signs of reballasting that I had just done and shredded the vegetables and herbs I just planted. We deal, just like the real ones. (Though marble-sized hail doesn't make a dent in the prototype's ballast.)

Tomorrow, I'll wipe off the tops of the rails, clean out the switches, and get trains running again. [:)]

Later,

K

[underworld]

Definately bring in everything that you can. A steel framed home is good if you are in the position to build. They can withstand the abuses of nature much better than wood frames.

underworld

[Anonymous]

Pack it all up. Take it all with you, and go visit friends, or relatives, in Kansas. Hurricanes wipeout even the real thing. Look at Flagler's Overseas Railroad. Even blew full size steam locos off the track, and ripped up miles of track.

[ghelman]

I to live in a hurricane prone area Capt. I will leave mine where it lays. If I evacuate, I will take what I need to survive for a few days and hope for the best. I will take important papers and pictures that can't be replaced. The RR if damaged will just give me something to do after putting a new roof on, or building a new house or ....... [:)][:D]

[Anonymous]

I live in a hurricane prone area myself. Was living in Punta Gorda just before Charlie hit. Moved to the Jacksonville area and just missed getting hit by it.
Hurricanes are one of the reasons I live in a motor home. Hurricane come, I go............
I went to Valdosta Ga. for Charlie. Everything I own. Wind never went over 10 mph and not a drop of rain. If it had looked like it was headed my way there in Georgia, I would have kept driving till it wasn't. I've been through four hurricanes at sea. One of them, through the eye four time(Juan). I've seen the power of a hurricane first hand on more than one occasion. If there is anyway possible to get out of the way, I'm getting me some serious yonder. Wayyyyy.... over yonder!!!!

[Capt Bob Johnson]

And as one who also has been through a few myself, I'll second the motion: hightail it and let the trains tend to themselves. They can be replaced, people can't!

[Capt Bob Johnson]

As far as rainfall damage to the railroad is concerned, I've had more damage from some summer squalls or heavy quick downpours than I've had from hurricanes. It's the wind driven water in hurricanes that gets you!

[bman36]

Hey there,
We only get a good soaking here with the occaisonal thrashing from a heavy wind. My motto here is "take it in". For me if a storm is coming it is far less work to put away what I can then deal with repairs. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

We get monsoons here and I think our rainfall is higher but our wind speed is lower than what you experience.

I leave my track in place but from previous downpours i know where the trouble spots are . In these places I have already mixed the fines in the ballast with cement and i cement the whole thing in place and this works for me.


Rgds Ian