One of the Pocopson Township supervisors was kind enough to contact me after seeing my item in last week's column about the unpredictable traffic jams caused by the railroad cars shuffling back and forth across Route 926 at the Brandywine Creek. The problem is aggravated by the fact that the Route 52 bridge over the Brandywine is closed for repairs.
The supervisor, who asked to remain nameless, told me that the township is well aware of the situation. The supervisors have met with the railroad's owner, who explained that the siding behind Pocopson Hardware Store is the only place the entire length of the railroad where cars can be formed into trains.
And there is no set schedule for when the trains are formed; it just depends on when they have enough cars.
Nor can they make up the trains at nights or on weekends, because (1) it would be dangerous for the workers and (2) the railroad is a 9-to-5 operation.
The supervisors did ask the owner if he could avoid the back-and-forth shuffling during the start and end of the school day, and he said he'd "do the best he could."
Also, the supervisor told me, the hands of township and state officials are tied because the railroad is a federally regulated utility. The supervisor urged irate residents to contact their federal elected officials, because they are the only folks who have any clout in this situation.
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