WK&S 2007 Photo Freight Special
The 2007 TRAIN (Tourist Railway Association INC.) Convention was held from November 6th-11th in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad was the host railroad. But excursion trips were also scheduled for the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern, the Lehigh Gorge Scenic, the Wilmington & Western, the Pioneer Scenic and the East Broadtop railroads as well as the Rockhill Trolley Museum.
Early in the summer of 2007 the Middletown & Hummelstown asked if the WK&S would run a special trip as part of their hosting the 2007 TRAIN Convention. At first it was decided to simply run GE #7258 and a coach. WK&S would also arrange for a box lunch. But as November drew closer and interest from outside railroads grew, it was decided to run steam for the trip. Then, over the weekend before the trip, as more interest grew, it was decided to run anything that would run, including both GE #7258 and Whitcomb #602. Election Day 2007 dawned cloudy and rainy, but with three locomotives being prepared to run. Whitcomb #602 would head a train consisting of LNE flatcar #719 and LNE caboose #512. GE #7258 would head C&O boxcar #5504 and both Reading cabooses #92936 and #92830. Steam locomotive #65 would haul LNE gondola #10381 plus coaches #1494, #582 and #408. I am not aware of more then two trains ever operating at once on the WK&S. I can say with certainty that this is the first time in the history of the railroad to see the simultaneous operation of a passenger train and two freight trains.
The bus from Middletown arrived a little early as switching was going on. The visitors were shocked as they were expecting only one train, not three. Locomotive #65 shoved the passenger train south of the station while #602 and #7258 and their trains switched in unison in front of the group. #7258 ran back and forth on the passing siding, posing with #602 and #65. Then #602 ran up the line to Wanamaker, followed by #65 and her train. The trains met and passed at Wanamaker and then a photo stop was made at the Wanamaker station with both trains. #65 led #602 back to Kempton where a large group of TRAIN people got an impromptu Shop tour to inspect the railroad's newest locomotive, GE #734, which was up in the air with the trucks being reassembled. Rumor has it that the WK&S was the surprise highlight of the convention.
The trains had been mostly assembled over the preceding weekend. Tuesday morning focused on prepping the three locomotives for the day's event. #65 gathers steam by the coal dock as #602 and train warm up on the pit track.
#7258 and train warm up on the mainline.
#65 is run down to the water plug and the compressor is warmed up. Photo by Frank Clark.
#602 and train hold at the south end of the passing track as #65 is serviced back at the water plug. Photo by Frank Clark.
#602 shoves back to the water plug as #65 runs up the passing track to the crossover. #65 will cut in front of #7258 and couple to the rear of the awaiting passenger train. Photo by Frank Clark.
#65 and train shove down the main so #7258 and #602 can be repositioned. Photo by Frank Clark.
#7258 rolls down the hole track to clear the main. #602 takes the main and then #7258 is moved to the passing track. Photo by Frank Clark.
Ready to go! #7258 will remain at Kempton. But #602 is about to shove its train to Wanamaker followed by #65. Photo by Bob Harbinson Photography (www.bobharbison.com).
Fireman's view from #602 as the train is shoved north towards Wanamaker. The picture above shows the train approaching Trexler. Photo by Frank Clark.
Riding with #602 over Ontelaunee Creek. Photo by Frank Clark.
Approaching Wanamaker. Photo by Frank Clark.
#65's train followed #602 to Wanamaker. Here's a view from the train showing a farm scene located just south of Steinsville. Photo by Bob Harbinson Photography (www.bobharbison.com).
Approaching Wanamaker. Photo by Bob Harbinson Photography (www.bobharbison.com).
#65 uncouples as #602 waits at the north end of town. Photo by Bob Harbinson Photography (www.bobharbison.com).
A view from #602 as #65 runs around its train on the Wanamaker passing track. Photo by Frank Clark.
#65 couples up to the south end of the train as #602 rolls down the siding for another photo op. After a few more pictures, #65 will head back south to Kempton followed by #602. Photo by Bob Harbinson Photography (www.bobharbison.com).
#65 passing through Trexler on the way back to Kempton. Photo by Bob Harbinson Photography (www.bobharbison.com).
One more shot from #602 passing by Fuhrman's Grove on the way back to Kempton. Photo by Frank Clark.