The following is a nifty grab-bag of various Reading Company equipment that exists outside the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern.

The above photographs show Reading business car #10 located at the Strasburg Railroad. For many decades this car suffered the indignity of a yellow Strasburg paint scheme. Thankfully it's been returned to elegant Reading olive and gold. These pictures were taken around 2004.

These pictures from 2005 show American Freedom Train locomotive #1, formally Reading #2101, at the B&O Museum in Baltimore Maryland. Beginning in 1945, Reading out shopped 30 class T1, 4-8-4 Northerns numbered from 2100 to 2129. The new Northerns were rebuilt from 30 class I10sa 2-8-0 locomotives #2020-#2049. After retiring from it's intended freight career, #2101 participated in some of the Reading's famous Iron Horse Ramble" excursions. The locomotive went on to serve as American Freedom Train #1 and Chessie System #2101. When delivered to the B&O Museum, the locomotive was returned to it's AFT livery. But that was all many years ago and the locomotive is pretty shabby looking now. Four T1 locomotives survive today, #2100, #2101, #2102 and #2124.

Another pair of pictures from my 2005 trip to the B&O Museum, this time of CNJ #1000. The locomotive was a joint effort between GE (electrical equipment), Alco (car body and assembly) and Ingersoll-Rand (prime mover) and is considered America's first commercially successful diesel-electric locomotive. Of all the stuff at the B&O Museum, this is my favorite piece. I like it's cobbled together, pioneering look. Fortunately, this locomotive was not damaged by the roundhouse collapse in 2003. But it's viewing platform is gone, which is unfortunate because this locomotive has a most interesting interior. CNJ #1000 is here on my Reading page because the Reading had two of the same model. They were the Reading's first diesel locomotives #50 and #51 delivered in 1926 and 1928, respectively.

The following three pictures are from a 2008 stop at Strasburg. Reading #902 & #903 were found outside the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum. And the carcass of Reading #1187 was found outside the Strasburg shops. Rumor has it that the #1187 may someday be restored to service.

Okay, so this has nothing to do with the WK&S or the Reading Company, but it's still pretty cool! These next two pictures are from the late 1990s when my wife and I were making our way toward the Grand Canyon aboard the Southwest Chief. Our train was actually running AHEAD of schedule. That is until we T-boned a chemical toilet truck somewhere east of Albuquerque.