Railroaders

The West Memorial Boulevard railroad underpass between South Potomac Street and Maryland Avenue has been closed for almost two months as city officials have searched for the source of persistent flooding that occurs during heavy rains. After extensive investigation, the cause of the flooding appears to be a nearly 100-year-old stormwater pipe beneath the roadway that has become blocked, or possibly broken, somewhere along its path toward the east end of the city, according to Eric Deike, director of the Hagerstown Public Works Department.

The Civil War involved many troop movements, strategies and tragedies. But John Hankey said the timing and the conduct of the conflict was controlled by one thing: railroads. The north and the south had two distinctly different railroad systems during the war, and it was the north that proved to be “astonishingly effective” in its use of the railroad, Hankey said. Hankey spoke to a large crowd at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts Sunday during an appearance that was sponsored by the Washington County Free Library.

John P. Hankey will present a lecture titled “Railroads and the American Civil War” at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public. The Friends of the Library will host a reception following the lecture. The museum is at 401 Museum Drive in HagerstownCity Park. In his illustrated lecture, Hankey explores the many roles played by railroads in the North and South during the Civil War, and especially the Baltimore and Ohio, Western Maryland, and other railroads in the region.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to stop pursuing a possible 23-mile bike trail. The plan, estimated to cost about $16 million, drew strong protests at a public meeting in Boonsboro last month. Without the county's support, the plan appears likely to die - just as it did when proposed about 20 years ago. “That's the end of it, as far as we're concerned,” said John F. Wilson, the associate director for stewardship within the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' land acquisition and planning unit.

Boonsboro resident Heidi Welsh said she did a study in 1993, talking to area residents who were for or against the Civil War Railroad Trail, but things have changed since then. “At that time (the representatives) did the wrong thing,” she said. “They showed up in people's backyards with survey stakes, and people felt pretty attacked.” She said that 20 years later the issue has been handled differently. “The commissioners should be commended for doing this public participation,” she said.

People with strong opinions for and against a possible 23-mile bike trail packed steamy Boonsboro's fire hall Thursday night. The proposal is in its early, formative stage. Joseph Kroboth III, Washington County's public works director, said there's no local, state or federal money committed to the project, which has been estimated to cost about $16 million. Some at the meeting spoke in favor of the appeal of a new avenue for healthy exercise, and the possible tourism and economic development draw that a trail might have.

Officials will hold a public information meeting on the proposed Civil War Railroad Trail project that would connect Hagerstown to Weverton, in the southern portion of Washington County. The meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, June 21, at 7 p.m. at the Boonsboro Volunteer Fire Co., 6 St. Paul St. in Boonsboro. Washington County has partnered with the City of Hagerstown and the Hagerstown Bike Advisory Committee on the planning stages of the project. The public is invited to attend to learn more about the potential project and offer comments, according to an emailed news release from Washington County.

Local government officials will hold a public information meeting next week on the proposed Civil War Railroad Trail that would connect Hagerstown to Weverton in southern Washington County. The meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, June 21, at 7 p.m. at the Boonsboro Volunteer Fire Co., 6St. Paul St., Boonsboro. Washington County has partnered with the city of Hagerstown and the Hagerstown Bike Advisory Committee on the planning stages of the project. The public is invited to attend to learn more about the potential project and offer comments, according to a county news release.

The Wright boys - Chandler, Braddock, Abram and Oliver - were all aboard for Railroad Heritage Days. The Falling Waters, W.Va., brothers, ages 5 and younger, sported railroad-engineer stripes as they moved from display to display Saturday at the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum. Even their mother, Tiona Wright, had a coordinating outfit. “They just love trains,” said their father, Carvey Wright. “I honestly wonder what it is about them, and I'm not quite sure.” Wright said his grandfather piqued his sons' interest in the railroad when he bestowed upon them a 1930s Lionel set. The boys also have an extensive Thomas the Tank Engine collection.

Artists and crafters throughout the mid-Atlantic region are invited to submit applications for the Annual Brunswick Railroad Days, Saturday, Oct. 6, and Sunday, Oct. 7. General and railroad/train themed, quality, hand and/or home-made arts and crafts and demonstrations including  painting, photography, ceramics, wood-working, textiles, stained-glass, candles, jewelry and more will be considered. This two-day festival celebrates the railroad heritage and impact on Brunswick. The event will include headline entertainment, food, railroad exhibits, children's activities, film festival, train rides and more.