Silent stone sentinel, some-time span,
sitting splitting stream, some 600 seasons,
seven score summers, seven score snows,
slowly surrendering, senescent slide,
someday soon, slipping seaward…
This painting 36 Miles of Trouble includes an ancient railroad trestle abutment that sits in the West River. 36 Miles of Trouble was the nickname for the old West River Railroad. This railroad was incorporated in 1850 and ran up the West River Valley for 80 years. The line was built at the height of railroad fever in America.
Ten years after it was built the civil war was over and the western frontier was opened for settlement. This caused the depopulation of Vermont. In 1850 the population of Windham county was 29,062 and by 1930 it was 26,015. The hill farms disappeared and the forest returned. It was not a recipe for growth.
The railroad was always underfunded and accident prone, hence it’s nickname. derailment, rock slides, trestle collapses, and days stuck in blizzards between stations doomed it to failure. By the 1930s it was no more. You can see historical footage and photos in this episode of Forgotton Rails, including this abutment in use.
If you wish to purchase this painting please contact me.
Poem and image copyright 2013 Roger Vincent Jasaitis
Roger Vincent Jasaitis 
Thanks for a bit of history…. lovely painting as usual. It doesn’t look like a troubled sort of scene but I can imagine the rough winters and the reforestation. I forwarded it to Stephanie.
I love your poem and your painting, Roger. Thank you for these glimpses of serenity on a day when I am trying to overcome my sadness about the verdict in the trial for the Trayvon Martin killing… Ginger