WENDELL — Around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, a crack about an eighth of an inch wide, was visible in a steel rail at Pan Am Southern’s railway crossing on Wendell Depot Road.
An hour later, the crack was no longer visible as the shifting or expanding steel closed the gap.
The shifting section of rail, which also seemed unusually flattened, is a concern for Wendell’s road commissioners, including Phil Delorey, the town’s building official.
Delorey said the rail is surrounded by pot holes and damaged road, and he worries about the possibility of train derailment or damage to crossing motor vehicles if this condition is not repaired.
According to an email from Pan Am Railways Chief Engineer of Design and Construction Ted Krug, the company is “willing to work with Wendell to replace the crossing,” located next to the Millers River.
“We propose an exchange of services type arrangement, where we would build a new track panel and install it, along with new rubber rail seal material, and the town would take care of the road closure, removal of existing pavement, and installation of new pavement,” Krug said.
“We have a track crew and a tamper currently working in the area, so we could perform this work with relatively short notice if the town is agreeable to this proposal,” he added.
However, Delorey said he has made multiple calls to Pan Am since last fall, and has been repeatedly told that the town should bear the cost of fixing the rail.
Without further assessment, it is unknown how much the repairs would cost, regardless of who pays, Delorey said, and fixing the damaged road surrounding the crossing is pointless until the rail repairs are made, as the road may have to be ripped up anyway.
According to Krug, the road, which is the main point of entry from Wendell into Orange, would have to be closed for two days for repairs.
Delorey said around two or three trains travel over the section each day.
The next step will be discussing the matter with the town’s highway department, Delorey said, before further talks with Pan Am.
“It’s deplorable and dangerous,” Delorey said. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”