Woodstown Central steam locomotive sidelined

WOODSTOWN, N.J. — Woodstown Central Railroad steam locomotive No. 9, an Alco 0-6-0, suffered an overheated journal on its central axle during the 12 p.m. excursion on April 18. The railroad’s mechanical team determined the damage was beyond in-house repair capabilities at its South Woodstown, N.J., shop. The wheelset has been removed for repairs at another shop. There is no current indication when No. 9 will return to service, however, the railroad is hopeful that the repairs will be completed quickly for a return to service this summer.

No. 9 was built in 1942 for the U.S. Army in 1942, working first at Fort Dix, N.J., and at Fort Eustis, Va., as No. 4023 and later, at Fort Eustis, as No. 616. Retired there in 1958, it was sold to Virginia Blue Ridge Railway in Piney River, Va., and became its No. 9, pulling that railroad’s last steam-powered train starting on Aug. 1, 1963.

After Virginia Blue Ridge dieselized, it stored No. 9 in operating condition until 1966, when it was sold to the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad (now the New Hope Railroad), in New Hope, Pa. The locomotive ran occasionally in the 1960s and from 1976 to 1981. Operational restoration began in 1992, but was not completed. The locomotive was disassembled when acquired by SMS Rail, the Woodstown Central parent, which began an overhaul in 2009. It was first test-fired in 2021 [see “SMS 0-6-0 returns to steam,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 10, 2021].

With No. 9 out of service, the Woodstown Central plans to substitute another classic locomotive — ex-Reading Co. EMD FP7 No. 902.

“Our dedicated crew has worked diligently to ensure the return of another true classic in our roster. We’re proud to bring this piece of history back to the rails for enthusiasts and fans alike. Welcome to Woodstown Central [No.] 902,” stated the railroad on its Facebook page.

SMS Rail Service, working with the Reading Co. Technical & Historical Society, have completed several months of mechanical improvements, cosmetic repairs and applied fresh paint to the locomotive built in May 1950.

No. 902 will debut on National Train Day — Saturday, May 10 — leading the Woodstown Central Scenic Rambler, a 32-mile, 2-hour excursion between Swedesboro and Mannington, N.J. The Rambler departs at 1 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the railroad’s website.

The railroad indicates that later in 2025 No. 902 will be joined by sister FP7 No. 903. The locomotives were part of a six-unit Reading Co. order with road number 900-905. They were used to  replace steam locomotives on passenger trains such as the Crusader and Wall Street between Philadelphia and Jersey City. The 129-ton, 1,500 hp units came equipped with steam boilers and a top speed of 89 mph.

The Woodstown Central Railroad, operating from Woodstown in southern New Jersey, is a division of the SMS Rail Lines group. Its track runs on a portion of the Salem Branch between its namesake town and Swedesboro, N.J. The line is former Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Line territory, which can trace its roots to the West Jersey Railroad in 1853. The Woodstown Central is a relatively new tourist line having begun operations on Nov. 5, 2022.