Rosebud Falls Gazette - New Years Flood

[ttrigg]

Rosebud Falls Gazette
Charter Member of the Garden Railways Associated Press Enterprises
Published by Acme Enterprises

Flood waters from Rosebud Falls Lake Swamp Local Area
Six People Caught in Rampaging Water
Rosebud Falls (3 Jan. 1906) On The Grapevine today:
A raging torrent of water swept down on the city of Rosebud Falls yesterday as Rosebud Falls Lake overfilled its banks from two days of constant rain. Six citizens of Rosebud Falls clung to the Rail Road tracks at the culvert on the east side of town after being washed away by the flood water. All six we said to be in good condition and recovering at home. The most serious injuries were limited to small scrapes and bruising.

Three structures were washed off their foundations. The Church on Main Street was moved off its foundation by six inches. Roy's Pharmacy and Soda Shop was moved from its foundation almost one hundred feet. The newly constructed passenger station suffered minor water damage as the water reached a height of over two feet inside the station. Operations had not yet moved from the old station to the new one on Main Street, so no records were lost and no passengers were inconvenienced.

The National Weather Service predicts that there are at least another two days before any significant break in the rain. All citizens of Rosebud Falls and surrounding areas are cautioned to monitor water levels in their area. The Rosebud Falls Scenic Railways will maintain an engine with a full head of steam to provide an emergency whistle should the flood waters rise again.

The Rosebud Falls Gazette photo processing lab was slightly damaged and is currently unable to process photographs of the flood.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

I'd nix that standby engine with a full head of steam, and warm up one of the diesels instead! Ever see what happens when cold (as in flood) water surrounds a hot boiler with a good head of steam??? Big Booooooom!, parts blown all over the place!

That's why so few locos that had run off bridges were ever salvaged and ressurected!

[tangerine-jack]

Soooo, what's wrong with that Bob???? That would be cool!!!

[Train 284]

I know what your going through. Non-stop rain here, well pretty much non-stop!

[vsmith]

Hi Tom

Know what you mean!

My backyard turned into a temporary lake yesterday too! Luckily none of my structure floated away even though i left them out in the worst of it! Havent checked the rain guage yet but Im sure we got between 2 1/2 to 3 or more inches of rain between Saturday and Monday. It really came down yesterday! The Rose Parade was swamped real bad, I did a bike ride in rain like that once and I can tell you it was 2 hours of shear misery so I know how bad the marchers had it!

[ttrigg]

Capt Bob:

"warm up one of the diesels instead": Remember it is 1906 in Rosebud Falls! I think we need to wait a few more years for diesels to catch on.

TJ: I agree, what's so wrong with a big BOOM every now and then. Used to be an Explosives Specialists in the Army for 23 years. Booms are FUN!

Matt/ Vic:

From the one storm that reached all the way to San Diego we got 4.75 inches in 32 hours.

[vsmith]

4.5 inches of rain at my house in the same 3 day period.
1.5 on Saturday, 3 on Monday ! [8)]
Clear and warmer today and rest of the week [8D]

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Well then take that standby engine and hightail it to some place where you're on real high ground and hope no landslide in the area. I forgot that happens a lot in Ahnald country!

[ttrigg]

Now that the rains have subsided, the engine is back in regular service. Next scheduled run will be Sunday. Saturday will be consumed by digging up the dirt to put in an "overflow" pipe in the "leaf strainer" to prevent any more floods.