Select References Relating to the
Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern
If you're interested in learning more about the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern, you can try hunting down some of the books and references listed below.
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"Does This Train Go Up Hawk Mountain?", by Wally Ely, 2002.
This short book offers a concise history of the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern with a lot of great color photos. The book can be found at the WK&S Gift Shop. Rails 'N Shafts may be another potential source.
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"Wanamaker Kempton & Southern Steam Railroad", by William S. Young, 1965.
This eight page booklet was sold in the WK&S gift shop around 1965 and is an adaption of the May 1965 SL&RT magazine article noted below. The booklet also includes a map of the railroad.
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"Number Two's Dream", by Wally Ely, 1965.
This is an illustrated children's booklet about how Porter steam locomotive #2 came to the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern.
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"The Wilmington & Columbia Division of the Reading Railroad: The Schuylkill & Lehigh Branch", by Benjamin L. Bernhart, 1994.
The WK&S exists on a portion of track once known as the Schuylkill & Lehigh Branch of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. This short book offers a concise history of the Schuylkill & Lehigh. The book may be tough to find, however. Try a railroad memorabilia swap meet. Or try searching the Internet or eBay.
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"The Route of the Berksy", also by Benjamin L. Bernhart, 1999?.
This short book offers a look at life along the towns served by the Schuylkill & Lehigh with many good photos. The book may be tough to find, however. Try a railroad memorabilia swap meet. Or try searching the Internet or eBay.
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"Reading Railroad Station Pictorial, Lines P - Z", also by Benjamin L. Bernhart, 1999.
This book includes a chapter about stations along Schuylkill & Lehigh. The book may be tough to find, however. Try a railroad memorabilia swap meet. Or try searching the Internet or eBay.
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"The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire, Volumes 1 & 2", by James L. Holton, 1989 & 1992.
These two books are long and intense. They're a comprehensive history of the entire Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. You'll learn how the Schuylkill & Lehigh was integrated with the rest of the Philadelphia & Reading system. Try searching the Internet, eBay or Amazon.
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"Trains of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country", by John D. Denny, Jr., 1967.
A 60 page book covering railroads big and small around southeast Pennsylvania. Includes a two page spread about the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern. A fun collectible, but not really worth it just for the WK&S info.
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Kempton and Albany Township: A Photographic History, 1999.
This book has some railroad related items, but it's more generally geared toward the local history of Kempton and surrounding Albany Township. However, the historical photographs are excellent. The book was from the Albany Township Historical Society and may no longer be available.
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Kempton Centennial 1874-1974
A large comprehensive book from 1974 filled with stories of past and present life in Kempton and surrounding Albany Township. There are some railroad items and lots of local pictures from Kempton and surrounding towns. Consider yourself lucky if you ever find this obscure book.
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"For Profit but without Profit", by Michael Burkhart.
Two page article about the history and present operations of the WK&S from the July 2011 issue of Trains magazine.
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"Lehigh & New England's Composite Gondolas", by Eric Neubauer.
Description and technical drawings for the LNE's 10298 series composite gondolas including WK&S numbers 10381 & 10390 from the October 1994 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman magazine.
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"Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern".
An extensive article from the May-June 1991 issue of Locomotive & Railway Preservation magazine primarily about the restoration of Whitcomb locomotive #602 and Reading caboose #92830.
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"Erie-Lackawanna Non-Vestibule Steel Coach - Pullman 1914", by Walter Olevsky.
Description and technical drawings for the Lackawanna's "Boonton" coaches such as WK&S coach #582 from the June 1969 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman magazine.
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"The First Steel Coaches - Class PBh", by John Green and Rick Bates.
Extensive article and technical drawings for the Reading's PBh coaches such as WK&S coaches #1474 and #1494 from the Vol. 45 No. 3&4 of 2023 issue of The Bee Line magazine.
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"Where the Conductors are Bilingual", by William S. Young.
Short article about the "new" WK&S railroad from the August 1964 issue of Trains magazine.
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"Steam Locomotive & Railroad Tradition", #15-16, May 1965, by William S. Young.
This obscure magazine issue will be near impossible to find. If you're lucky enough to get your hands on a copy you'll find an outstanding history of the first two years of operation of the WK&S. There's also an article about the Bonhomie & Hattiesburg Southern Railroad, prior owner of WK&S locomotive #250.
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"Vignettes of the Reading Company, Volume 1".
From Clear Block Productions, INC., the end of this video shows the last run of the Berksy in 1949 including brief clips of Trexler and Kempton.
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"Tracks Ahead, Series 9".
Episode 902 shows an overview of the WK&S from 2012 and episode 908 shows a WK&S Murder Mystery train.
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Dan Christ Art Gallery
Check out Dan's "Historical Series" for some prints of how Kempton and Trexler appeared in the past. They're both excellent.
Dan's "Train Track Series" is also of interest and features Reading steam locomotives and scenery similar to that found along the WK&S.