Wanamaker Kempton & Southern: 60 Years of the Hawk Mountain Line-September 9, 2023

Despite Viscose Company 0-4-0T no. 6 being absent awaiting an FRA inspection, the Wanamaker Kempton & Southern Railroad continued to run trains during their 60th Anniversary event. Two consists were used on this hot and humid Saturday: the main excursion train consisting of 4 coaches, a gondola, and a caboose, and a bobber caboose.

WK&S GE Centercabs 734 (65-tonner) and 7258 (44-tonner) were in charge of todays trains, with 734 on the main excursion consist and 7258 hauling the Lehigh & New England bobber.

After the 4pm train, threatening storm clouds rolled into the area, bringing lots of rain, thunder and lightning. Due to these conditions, the very last train of the celebration did not include special photo run-bys or fireworks. Despite these conditions, the WK&S 60th anniversary was definitely one for the history books.

WK&S History:
The original WK&S date back to 1870 with the formation and charter of the Berks County Railroad, who constructed the line. After the railroad's bankruptcy, the Reading Company acquired the line, naming it the Schuylkill and Lehigh Line. Because of the branch's rural agricultural setting away from the Reading's coal hauling business on the rest of the system, the line was affectionately nicknamed the "Slow & Lonesome" by Reading Company crews.

Through the steady decline of the coal hauling railroads in the northeast during the 1960s, the Reading began to abandon lines that were no longer profitable in order to cut costs, the "Slow & Lonesome" line being one of them. In 1963, a group of volunteers purchased 3 miles of the branch between Kempton and Wanamaker for $65,000 and formed the "Wanamaker Kempton & Southern, Inc." with its sole purpose to preserve the old railroad lines history.

Since 1963, WK&S has operated tourist trains on the 3 mile stretch of track with both steam and diesel locomotives. WK&S currently has one operable steam locomotive, 0-6-0T no. 65, which is currently awaiting funding to be rebuilt. For more information on how to donate money towards 65 or see the WK&S operating schedule, go to: https://kemptontrain.com/

Timestamps:
0:00 Trexler (7258 NB)
1:14 Wanamaker Depot
3:04 734 NB
4:40 Levans
5:52 Wanamaker Depot
7:11 Levans (7258 SB)
9:00 734 SB
10:15 Levans
11:42 Trexler
Check out the people we chased with:
‪@keeperofsteamstudios6654‬
‪@SteelandSteamProductions‬
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Events:
Sunday September 10 - Everett Railroad Steam into the Cove
Saturday November 11 - East Broad Top Railroad Charter

Events/dates are subject to change.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credits:
Executive Directors: thehnw1223 and trainboy105
Producers: thehnw1223 and trainboy105
Video Editing/Revisions: thehnw1223
Photo & Video Credit: thehnw1223

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Videos are not to be reuploaded/reposted/redistributed without permission from our team. All content reuploaded/reposted/redistributed without our permission will be taken down in accordance with international copyright laws and policies. Please contact us if you would like to use segments of our videos for projects or other video purposes.

Copyright © 2023 East Penn Railfan Productions and The Flying W. Ranch Studios.
All Rights Reserved.
---------------------------------------­----------------------------------------­--------------------------
Instagram: @eastpennrailfanproductions
Twitter: @EastPennRFPro