We got a lot of rain from what was Hurricane Frances. At the house we had 12" and many areas across the mountains got up to 18" and in some spots less. The Norfolk Southern yard in Asheville is partially underwater, may not be now but was earlier. Some of the tracks were washed out in McDowell county and the French Broad River hasn’t crested yet in Madision County, so more damage may be on the way for the NS line to Tennessee.
Sorry about this picture being so small, it’s the only one I’ve been able to find. You can see the crossing gates just barely above water to the center left of the picture. This is Biltmore Village where the NS yard is just south of Asheville and the floodwaters from the Swannanoa River were at 6 feet earlier today in the town, but have receded some.
I travel to this area every spring/early summer. I have been to the Biltmore Estate many
times. We stay in Cherokee NC and this past May when we were there, it flooded from
a storm that was not nearly as bad as these recent ones… I can only imagine what it looks
like along the Murphy Branch of the Southern RY.
Meanwhile back at home… The CSX tracks that run along Escambia Bay here in Pensacola are washed out, Or at least this is what I have heard. I have not had the time to go look for myself. Dave
