Big Sioux River begins to recede from low-lying area

On Sunday, March 21, 2010, the Big Sioux River began to recede along the east bank, a low-lying tree-line area which forms the western boundary of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. The attached photo to the left show the river level dropped close to six feet. The ground area of the tree line is now partially visible. Yesterday, the low-lying, tree line area was under water.

SHRA breaths sigh of relief as Big Sioux River nears flood stage

SHRA volunteers are breathing a sigh of relief with the cresting of the Big Sioux River this weekend. After a winter that dropped over 3 inches of rain on the complex during Thanksgiving weekend, and several snowstorms that left over 60 inches of snow and eight-foot snow drifts through out the property, volunteers were extremely worried about the effects of snow melt on the complex, and the snow melt north of Sioux City along the Big Sioux River.

On Saturday, the Big Sioux River spilled over its east bank into the lower-lying land areas of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. The depth of the spill over is about 3 feet and about 12 feet wide. To reach that point, the Big Sioux was running at around 99 ft through Sioux City. To reach the lower Ag-Rail Heritage Festival land area, the River would need to reach a stage of 103 feet and to reach the roundhouse and other buildings, the River level would need to be around 105 ft.

Over the past few weeks, several volunteers have diligently monitored the river levels and weather. With the Big Sioux River cresting Saturday, the volunteers were breathing a big sigh of relief as they gauaged the river level. A second wave of high river water levels is expected over the next two to three weeks as snow melt continues to feed the Big Sioux from the Dakotas and Minnesota.

The photo to the left shows the Big Sioux River running water through the area adjacent to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. A video is available at http://www.youtube.com/SHRA1355

Lt. Governor Judge will visit Sioux City on Monday to highlight Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District

Lt. Governor Judge will highlight infrastructure investment and job creation when the “Moving Iowa Forward” tour comes to Sioux City. The Lt. Governor will be highlighting the efforts to restore the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, which received more than $266,000 in I-JOBS funds. The event is open to the public.

Lt. Governor Judge's presentation will be on Monday, March 8, 2010 at 11:15 a.m. at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.

Due to the heavy snow melt run off, high snow piles and the forecasted inclement weather causing low-level flooding and water pooling, we will be unable to host the event at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District.

The IJOBS funding will finance the construction of a new exhibit center and the rehabilitation of the machine shop building at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. The new exhibit center will house displays on civil engineering and the large HO scale Nebraska Central Railroad model railroad exhibit. The machine shop building is the new home for the Corliss stationary steam engine salvaged from the KD Station – Swift Plant by volunteers of the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association. The Corliss engine will help educate visitors on the industrial applications of steam technology in the later 19th and early 20th Centuries.

New - Corliss Steam Engine Rescue Videos

Two new videos have been posted on our You Tube, click on the link to the left and check them out. One video is actually more of a slide show and was used during our public forums to inform the public on our goals and plans for rescuing the 1913 Corliss steam engine from the former Swift & Co. pork packing plant before the wrecking ball went to work. The second video show the actual removal and transportation of the Corliss engine.

Given a 30 day in which to accomplish this task many obstacles had to be overcome. With an engine that had been left to rust for nearly 40 years nothing came easy in the removal process. Trying to make sure parts were lubricated, cleaned, tagged and documented for the reassembly process has made this quite the project.

Now that all the components are at the roundhouse complex the rehabilitation of this historic steam engine will begin. The new home of the Corliss will be the former Blacksmith/Machine shop building located just south of the roundhouse. Construction on this building will begin in late spring to restore the outer envelope of this building and pour the concrete foundation to support the Corliss.

Check out the videos, you'll find them very interesting.

Spring Melt Forces 2 Week Closure of the Historict District

The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association will close the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District for the next two weeks (Friday, March 5th through Friday, March 19th) due to forecasted inclement weather and heavy snow melt runoff from the Loess Hills and Highway 12 right-of-way, as well as the snow piles within the complex.

The decision for closure was made based upon the deteriorating conditions of the dirt and gravel entrance drive, parking areas, and walk ways throughout the complex. The snow melts are creating hazardous conditions for motor vehicles and foot traffic.

With the snow melt and water run off beginning last week, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is experiencing water pooling and low-level flooding throughout the complex with the snow blocking the flow of water run-off to the Big Sioux River. In addition, the complex continues to have large piles of snow and snow drifts extending from the Highway 12 right-of-way, which sits about 12 feet above the complex, to the Big Sioux River.