1936 floods

[NW Mailing List]

The flood of March 1936 was indeed caused by a severe winter followed by 
unusual warm temperatures and heavy rain in March.  Ice floes as much as a 
foot thick and the high water caused severe damage along the Potomac.  Water 
was 42 feet above normal at Shepherdstown, where the highway bridge was 
destroyed.   B&O was badly damaged, but their Harpers Ferry bridges 
survived.  N&W was on high ground north of Front Royal, but it looks like it 
suffered where the tracks ran close to the Shenandoah south of there.  Until 
a temporary ferry was placed in operation at Shepherdstown, N&W was the only 
way other than boat to cross there.  The nearest highway bridge to survive 
was upstream at Williamsport, MD.  That stretched the 4 mile trip to 
Sharpsburg, MD to 36 miles.

--Rick Morrison

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: "N&W Historical Society" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 2:20 PM
Subject: 1936 floods



>

> May 22, 2009

>

> Good afternoon, all:

>

> Three Railway Express Agency delayed service and embargo notices appear at 

> http://www.railwaymailservicelibrary.org/ebay/flood'36.pdf  It appears 

> that the flood damage was extensive over a very large geographic area 

> during mid-March 1936.  This is too early for hurricane season.  It is 

> also too late for a fast thaw of accumulated snow.  Does anyone have 

> information why the N&W Shenandoah Division as far north as White Post was 

> affected?

>

> Thank you,

>

> Frank

> ________________________________________

> NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org

> To change your subscription go to

> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list

> Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at

> http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/

>