Official Railroad Press Release Follows ------------------------------ Whitewater Valley Railroad P. O. Box 406 Connersville, Indiana 47331 (765) 825-2054 Whitewater Valley Railroad - An Operating Railroad Museum STEAM RETURNS TO THE WHITEWATER VALLEY STEAM LOCOMOTIVE FLAGG COAL CO. # 75 VISITS HISTORIC METAMORA, INDIANA FOR TWO WEEKENDS OF FUN. For Immediate Release – Friday July 11, 2008 Metamora, Indiana - The Whitewater Valley Railroad is proud to announce that after two successful visits, steam locomotive Flagg Coal Company #75 will once again return to the historic ex-New York Central Railroad's Whitewater Branch Line... The Whitewater Valley Railroad will be hosting Flagg Coal #75 starting the weekend of Labor Day 2008 for two weekends of fun. This year's activities are being held exclusively in Historic Metamora, Indiana. This is only one stop on a five month long tour of different rail operations in the US. After the WVRR stop, the locomotive will visit North and South Carolina, before heading off for additional stops in Florida. To kick off the event on Friday August 29, 2008, a special running of the Laurel Hotel Train to Dinner with Flagg Coal # 75 on the point is scheduled. Departing from Historic Downtown Metamora at 6:00 PM, the train will carry a Wild West theme. To provide the evenings live entertainment, The Delaware Rangers from Muncie, Indiana will be aboard. The $50 fare includes round trip train fare, the meal and the tip. Limited seating is available and reservations are required. In conjunction with the 10th Annual Metamora Music Festival, Saturday August 30 and Sunday August 31, Festivities will start at 10:00 AM with four departures of Flagg Coal # 75 at 11:00 AM, 1:10 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM. Along the way, remnants of the Whitewater Canal locks, the restored Laurel Feeder Dam, and portions of the West Fork of the Whitewater River can be clearly seen. Fares for the scenic ten mile round trip excursion pulled by Flagg Coal #75 are $16 per person and children ages 2-12 rides for half price. Labor Day - Monday September 1, will also see four departures of Flagg Coal # 75 at 11:00 AM, 1:10 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM. Along the way, remnants of the Whitewater Canal locks, the restored Laurel Feeder Dam, and portions of the West Fork of the Whitewater River can be clearly seen. Fares for the scenic ten mile round trip excursion pulled by Flagg Coal # 75 are $16 per person and children ages 2-12 rides for half price. The second weekend will take a slightly different twist as #75 will be carrying an attachment of the Union Army to protect the train. While along the line a relentless group of Confederate soldiers plan and wait. On Saturday September 6, and Sunday September 7, Festivities will start at 10:30 AM in Historic Downtown Metamora, with four departures of Flagg Coal # 75 at 11:00 AM, 1:10 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM. Along the way, remnants of the Whitewater Canal locks, the restored Laurel Feeder Dam, and portions of the West Fork of the Whitewater River can be clearly seen. Fares for the scenic ten mile round trip adventure are $16 per person and children ages 2- 12 rides for half price. In addition to #75, our regularly scheduled excursions will also be operating. These include the very popular Laurel Hotel "Train to Dinner" and the traditional Connersville – Metamora Excursion. All trains operate rain or shine. Metamora is Indiana's treasured 1838 canal town. Nestled in southeastern Indiana's beautiful countryside, Metamora is steeped in history and famous for its preservation of Indiana's oldest and still operating water-powered grist mill. Located 60 miles east of Indianapolis and 35 miles west of Cincinnati, A must see town that retains all of its traditional charm and languid atmosphere. Shop in stores housed in buildings dated back to the early 1800s, eat and above all else... Enjoy the slow relaxing pace of the past! For more information on Historic Metamora, visit Metamora online at Metamora Indiana 1838 Canal Town - Tourist attractions, gift shops, antiques, lodging, food, events, festivals. Flagg Coal Company # 75 is a 40 ton saddle tank locomotive built by the Vulcan Iron Works of Wilkes Barre, PA in 1930. # 75 went into service in December of 1930 as # 2 for the Flagg Coal Company of Avoca, PA where it was used as a switch engine. In 1935 it was sold to the Solvay Process Co. in Jamesville, NY and renumbered 75. There, it was used to push 4-wheel hopper cars from the steam shovel to the crusher at the rock quarry. In the early 1950s the Solvay Process Co. disbanded their railroad operation in favor of trucking and in 1953, # 75 and twelve other locomotives were sold to Dr. Groman and his planned Rail City Museum in Sandy Pond, NY. There, the locomotive sat untouched until 1991 when John and Byron Gramling purchased it with the intent to restore it to operating condition. The father son duo painstakingly disassembled the locomotive, moved it to their shop in Ashley, Indiana and over the course of the following ten years returned it to service. For more information on # 75 visit the locomotive online at FlaggCoalCompany75.com . Established in 1972, the Whitewater Valley Railroad is a non profit railroad history organization. It is an operating railroad museum dedicated to the preservation of a historic branch line railroad, the restoration of railroad equipment, and to the conduct of railroad educational programs. The railroad is operated by volunteers and all proceeds from this event will be used to further the organization's mission. Come to Historic Downtown Metamora for this spectacular railroading event, and return to a time when the railroad moved the nation and the short line railroad was a small town's best friend. Call (765) 825-2054 for more information and reservations. Visit the Whitewater Valley Railroad's web site at Whitewater Valley Railroad - An Operating Railroad Museum
Flagg #75 was here in town a month or so ago at the Lebanon Mason & Monroe RR. Definitely a fun ride. I can't believe how much that little engine bounces around on the rail because of the short wheelbase. I thought it was coming off more than a couple times. It is nice to know that the little bugger was doing all the work, no diesel along to help like most "steam" excursions have been recently.
