Railroad Dike
Railroad Dike is an earth dam located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, built in 1901. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Railroad Dike
The primary purpose of Railroad Dike is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. It impounds the Chicopee River near Ludlow.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 50 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 185 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 664 square miles. Completed in 1901, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/20/2022.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Hampden |
| Nearest City | Ludlow |
| River/Stream | Chicopee River |
| Coordinates | 42.18110, -72.40690 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 50 ft |
| Year Completed | 1901 (125 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 185 acres |
| Drainage Area | 664 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/20/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00723 |
| Federal ID | MA00723S002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |