@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:Where I live the BR&W has been replacing ties and reballasting track where needed heading back towards Lambertville. The track section had been closed down since either 1989-1990(can't quite remember what year for sure). It took a while for them to decide to pursue fixing the line and has been a slow and steady process.
They have worked at this for sometime, I think since around 2010 or 2012(I think they started somewhere around there). I do recall some years back that there was a washout along the line where the ballast was completely gone for a section about 3-5 foot stretch. They had on their website the progress of the work back around 2015-2016.
In 2019 they had advertised the Sunset Special which ran out to the old Bowne Station stop where local farmers used to bring their produce in the late 1800's-1900's. The ride out there was slow and steady with some interesting scenery that I had not seen since I was a boy. I think one of the trains I had gone on was in the late 1970's which went all the way to Lambertville.
The work out there was not just the rails, but also the overgrowth that naturally happened on an out of use line. While this is probably not the case(the overgrowth I mean) for the Western Maryland, the work with the ties and ballast probably is. I would imagine that the work involved in fixing the track would be much like here, slow and steady. Granted I have no idea on how many people they have to work on track or if they have the equipment handy to do so.
I am curious that if work is done, would inspections be monthly on work sections as well as the trackage overall or does inspection happen bimonthly or based on traffic?
On the BRW line ties and ballast have been continuing to be replaced from Three Bridges all the way through Bowne Station with most of the work now being focused on the Flemington to Ringoes section. Keep on the look out for a major track upgrade project on the Copper Hill section later this year. Track inspections are done weekly as well to spot which parts need work or for any general defects. On the WMSR line it seems more issues keep cropping up. Hopefully they can keep soldiering on as they have been so far to resolve most of the issues. That mountain line of theirs is one heck of a railroad
