MINERSVILLE, Pa. — Central Railroad of New Jersey No. 113 was under steam for a night photo session on Oct. 21 – rescheduled from the original Oct. 14 date due to weather. The heavy 0-6-0 switcher is in its centennial year, having been built in June 1923 by the American Locomotive Company in Schenectady, N.Y.
Hosted by Railway Restoration Project 113, the nonprofit organization that owns the locomotive, the session took place at the former Philadelphia & Reading Railroad station in Minersville, Pa. which serves as No. 113’s home base. Organization and professional lighting were provided by Steve Barry Photography. “It went quite well,” said Robert E. Kimmel Jr., president of the organization. “The locomotive worked great, and the participants enjoyed it.
“That seemed to be the highlight for the night.”
Much like the static fire up for the Railroad Historians of the Lehigh Valley and Lehigh Valley Chapter NRHS on April 15 [See “CNJ No. 113’s Saturday steam up greets visitors…” Trains News Wire, April 17, 2023], the night photo session provided an opportunity to survey the maintenance work completed over the summer, according to Kimmel. The work itself will transition into preparation for the annual Santa Train excursions out of the Minersville station on Dec. 9 and 10. No. 113 is scheduled to operate 1-hour round trips on the Reading & Northern Railroad, departing each day at 10:30 a.m., 1:00 and 3:30 p.m.
“General maintenance will include changing the grease out of the grease cellars, loading the tender with coal, and lubricating the running gear,” Kimmel explained. “Unless something crops up between now and then, everything is set at this point.”
Visit the Railway Restoration Project 113 website for more information and tickets for the Santa Train.
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