Taping for "Tracks Ahead"
A film crew from the PBS produced "Tracks Ahead" visited the WK&S on Saturday and Sunday August 25-26, 2012. Update: After several years of budget and technical delays, Season 9 of "Tracks Ahead" was finally ready to go for the spring of 2015. Look for WK&S features in episodes 902 and 908.
The railroad went all out to put on a big show for the cameras. The regular schedule was handled by a long mixed train comprising four coaches, an open car and caboose powered by locomotive #734. Meets and passes were staged using a second freight train consisting of a pair of gondolas, the box car and LNE caboose #512. The freight was powered by #602 on Saturday and by #7258 on Sunday. Additionally there was a three-coach Murder Mystery train run Friday evening and Saturday evening. It was a busy weekend for sure.
I ran the scheduled passenger trains both days as well as the two Murder Mystery trains. And they interviewed me late Sunday. Perhaps I made the final cut.
PBS production crew interviewing train crew and passengers.
For both Saturday and Sunday the regular schedule was handled by a six car train powered by locomotive #734. The train included all four coaches, open car #10381 and caboose #92936. The caboose was just out of the shop following a two year exterior restoration and a fresh coat of paint.
Big six car train rolls toward Kempton station for the first scheduled run of the day. I like this picture. Click for larger image. Photo by Larry Fisher.
Caboose #92936 showing off a fresh coat of paint.
Locomotive #734 has run-around the train at Wanamaker. Photo by Larry Fisher.
Passengers on the open car wait for the train to depart Wanamakers. Photo by Frank Lyter.
Number 734 back in Kempton about to couple up for another northbound trip. Photo by Larry Fisher.
Several meets and passes were planned. A second freight train was assembled including box car #5504, LNE gondolas #729 & #730 and LNE caboose #512. The train was powered by #602 on Saturday. One of the goals for the camera crew was a staged meet at Wanamaker. The southbound passenger train stopped at Wanamaker station. As conductor and engineer took orders from the station agent, the northbound freight train rumbled up the main and took the siding.
Locomotive #602 and train pull out of the hole track at Kempton. Photo by Frank Lyter.
A picture from LNE caboose #512 as the train travels northbound through Trexler. Photo by Frank Lyter.
With the passenger train paused at Wanamaker for orders, the northbound freight rumbles into town and takes the siding.
The passenger train will depart south as soon as the freight clears the main.
The passenger train has left town and the freight is stopped on the siding. Photo by Frank Lyter.
Having rearranged its train at Wanamaker, #602 heads back south and rolls into Kempton yard. Photo by Larry Fisher.
Southbound freight pulling into Kempton station. Photo by Larry Fisher.
Number 602 and freight at Kempton station. Photo by Frank Lyter.
Sunday's freight train was powered by #7258 and focused on a staged pass at Kempton. As the scheduled southbound passenger train stopped at the station, the southbound freight ran on the passing track and took the main.
Number 7258 and #734 team up for some morning yard work. Photo by Larry Fisher.
Switching freight on the hole track. Photo by Larry Fisher.
Number 7258 idling on the passing track. Photo by Frank Lyter.
Above and below, with the passenger train stopped at the station, the freight train rolls around on the siding and continues south on the main.