The Whitewater Valley Railroad hosted the touring steam engine Flagg Coal Company #75 for the first two weekends in September. This was the train's second visit to Southeast Indiana in two years, and it's first stop on a five month long tour of rail operations in midwest and southern states.
During it’s visit, the historic steam engine first operated from Connersville, for three days of excursions, and then moved it's base of operations to Metamora, for the Sept 8 & 9 weekend, where railroad enthusiasts and history buffs could travel a 19 mile former New York Central Railroad’s Whitewater Branch Line for a trip back in time when short-line railroads were the life blood of small towns.
Restored from a pile of junk by the father-son team of John and Byron Gramling, who purchased the engine in 1991 and painstakingly disassembled the locomotive, moved it to their shop in Ashley, Indiana and over the course of ten years returned it to service.
Fares for the hour long 38 mile round trip excursion pulled by Flagg Coal # 75 are $16 per person and children ages 2-12 ride for half price.
The historic train's visit to Southeast Indiana was it's first stop on a five month long tour of different rail operations. After the WVRR stop, the locomotive will visit the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad in Bryson City, North Carolina, before heading off for two more stops in the Carolina’s and two additional stops in Florida.
For more information on # 75, with photos of the restoration process, visit the locomotive online at www.FlaggCoalCompany75.com.
Link to WVRR (Whitewater Valley Railroad) :
