Jersey Central Business Car #98
Jersey Central business car #98. This car was part of the original stable of equipment acquired by the WK&S. During the 1960s car #98 was used as a static display as part of an ill-fated historical museum. This collection of "museum" equipment was located on the back track behind Kempton Station and also included 0-4-0 Cooke locomotive #3, B&O coach #X4111, P&R coach #1055 and LNE caboose #512. During the 1970s car #98 was used in active service as an extra-fare car or a party/charter car and was renamed "The Golden Hawk". Apparently there was one particular group that held their annul company picnic at the WK&S and would always charter The Golden Hawk. This would have been the car's last stand at the WK&S. Through out most of the '80s and '90s and into the new millennium, #98 was out of service and left as a victim of weather and vandals. Starting in 2003 and continuing in 2004, #98 under went a partial cosmetic restoration. The car was not re-lettered, but it did receive some body patching, a new roof coating and a new coat of olive paint. Finally, in 2004 a deal was struck to send #98 to Minersville, Pennsylvania. The car will become part of the Railway Restoration Project 113. Project 113 is the CNJ 0-6-0 steam locomotive under restoration by Bobby Kimmel. In exchange for #98, the WK&S received a 1956 General Electric 65-ton center-cab #4. #98 finally left the property on January 3, 2007.
This picture was probably taken soon after the arrival of #98 at the WK&S. Note the roof trusses in the foreground. These were for a planned engine house to be located south of Kempton station, but they ended up being used for a building at the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad.
Here #98 has been moved to the back track and is coupled to the B&O coach. The drumhead reads "WK&S RAIL ROAD MUSEUM".
During the 1970s car #98 was used in active service as an extra-fare car or a party/charter car. In this shot the car has been lettered WANAMAKER KEMPTON & SOUTHERN and renamed "THE GOLDEN HAWK".
The picture above and the two below show restoration-in-progress shots during 2004. Photo by Keith Dorn.
Photo by Keith Dorn.
CNJ Business Car #98 was traded for GE locomotive #4 . Here they are together before #98 leaves for Minersville.
Another shot of the two, this time with #98 sporting its old platform skirt.
January 3, 2007 marked the final move of #98 on the WK&S. The car is shoved into Kempton for removal to Minersville. Photo by Jesse Dorn.
Photo by Jesse Dorn.
Photo by Jesse Dorn.
Photo by Jesse Dorn.
Photo by Jesse Dorn.
Photo by Jesse Dorn.