Locomotive #250

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Baldwin 2-6-2 steam locomotive #250, built in 1926, is long gone from the WK&S. The WK&S acquired locomotive #250 late in 1963 from the Bonhomie & Hattiesburg Southern Railroad in Mississippi. The locomotive arrived in time to pull some trains before the end of the 1963 operating season. The B&HS was the original and sole owner of the locomotive up to that time. On its way to the WK&S, #250 rode a ship between Louisiana and New Jersey. Relatively speaking, #250 was a small engine. Yet it proved too big, expensive and complex for the diminutive WK&S. The locomotive was a popular attraction and an impressive sight, but was sold off when a cash strapped WK&S faced financial reorganization in the early 1970's. Locomotive #250 was the last piece of equipment to have left the WK&S by rail. The track south of N. Albany was scrapped soon thereafter. After leaving the WK&S, #250 went to the Strasburg Railroad for re-tubing and then to the Wolfeboro Railroad in New Hampshire. The locomotive's next owner was the Hobo Railroad also in New Hampshire. The locomotive currently resides at Edaville USA in Carver, Massachusetts. The locomotive has been cosmetically restored, but as far as I know, hasn't run since leaving the Wolfeboro Railroad. The image above was captured from an old black and white postcard. The scene depicts WK&S #250 storming south over the Ontelaunee Creek bridge. This location is about midway between Kempton and Wanamakers.

From 1963 up to about 1965 the tender had two thin stripes and a paint patch over "Bonhomie & Hattiesburg Southern". I don't know if the patch was added before or after the locomotive arrived at the WK&S. Around 1965 the tender was repainted. The stripes were gone and "WK&S" was applied in giant yellow letters. The look was anything but subtle.

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Probably a Baldwin builder's photo from 1926.

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Locomotive #250 and train pulling into Kempton. Note that the locomotive is not lettered for the WK&S but "Bonhomie & Hattiesburg Southern" has been painted over.

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Smoking it up near the "yard limit" sign at the north end of the Kempton passing track.

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Laying over on the passing track at Wanamaker. During the early years of WK&S operations locomotives were stored and watered at Wanamaker.

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Again at Wanamaker, #250 runs around its train. A crude photo, but note the piping arrangement to the right for filling the locomotive with water pumped from nearby Ontelaunee Creek.

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This 1965 photo shows #250 on the Kempton passing track. Photo contributed by Alan McCleaf.

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Number 250 on the Wanamaker passing track during that same day in 1965. Note the red sand dome lids and the eagle under the headlight. Photo contributed by Alan McCleaf.

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A color photo showing #250 now with "WK&S" painted on the tender.

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This photo was captioned "last day old company". This was the last day that the WK&S operated before temporarily closing for fanatical reorganization. It's also the last day that #250 steamed at the WK&S. The photo shows the train approaching the cut between Steinsville and the Ontelaunee Creek Bridge. Photo by Bernie Perch.

The following three pictures are from the summer of 1970. The WK&S has just reopened after a year and a half of inactivity. The railroad is back, but #250 won't steam again for the WK&S. The locomotive is out of service and sits on the main line south of Kempton station. Note that the locomotive has been stripped; probably to prevent theft. Also note the top edge of some cross ties in front of the locomotive. In 1970 this marked the southern extent of WK&S territory.

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summer 1970.

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summer 1970.

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summer 1970.

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A picture of #250 on static display in blue and silver taken around 1996. Photo by Derek Wilkinson.

Locomotive #250 currently resides at Edaville USA (formally the Edaville Railroad) in Carver, Massachusetts. According to what I've read on the Internet, Edaville has muddled through a lot of turmoil over the past few decades. But at least as of 2013 the organization appears to be on the upswing with a renovated amusement park and narrow gauge railroad. Below is a picture I found on the Internet. Old #250 looks to have received some attention along with the rest of the facilities. Note the eagle is back on the smokebox, but it looks to be a poor facsimile. I wonder where the original eagle may be. It's easy to imagine that the piece has long since dissapeared.

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#250 at Edaville USA.

The photo at the top of this page shows #250 storming over Ontelaunee Creek toward Kempton. It may have been taken late in 1963. This is probably the most widely distributed image in the history of the WK&S railroad. The image has appeared on postcards, brochures, souvenirs, newspaper articles and elsewhere. The image is actually a collection of staged photographs that are nearly identical. Look close. There are subtle differences.

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Sleeve for a souvenir record.

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Image from the 1964 brochure.

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An original print. Click for larger image.

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Postcard. This image is identical to the print shown above. It was manipulated to include a tender logo. "WK&S" was eventually painted on the tender, but it never looked exactly as this postcard depicts.

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Image from a newspaper article.

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8 x 10 lithograph.

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Newspaper ad.