Although weather has slowed the project, the train ride to Nowhere is at least back on track, thanks to $292,000 in federal stimulus money.

The Midland Railway’s excursion tours from Baldwin City to Norwood, also known as Nowhere, are now available, but the complete trip to Ottawa won’t be running until late August.

A project that started in January to replace seven wooden trestles is halfway complete.

“When that work is completed, Midland’s trestles will be in the best condition in decades and prepared for many years of safe train operations in the future,” said Mike Fox, president of Midland Railway.

The trip from Baldwin City to Ottawa started in 2004, but had to be curtailed in 2007 because defects were discovered in a trestle near Sand Creek Road in Franklin County. With the sponsorship of the Franklin County Commission, Midland applied for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to repair it and the six other trestles. The Kansas Department of Transportation approved the $292,000 grant.

Clayton Railroad Construction of West Union, Ohio, was awarded the bid. The company completed the trestle repair, restoring service to Norwood in late June. Excursion tours to Nowhere resumed on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

However, heavy rain — including 4 inches last week — has slowed completion of the round-trip line to Ottawa for another month.