Jersey Central 0-6-0 Makes First Public Appearance Under Steam


RAILROAD RESTORATION PROJECT 113’s big Jer- sey Central 0-6-0 No. 113 made its official “first run” on September 28, 2013, as it backed about eight miles down the Reading & Northern from its home in Minersville to Schuylkill Haven, Penn., where it was put on display at the borough’s annual community day celebration (above). Also in town that day was R&N Pacific No. 425, which made three round trips to Port Clinton and return. No. 113 dou- bleheaded into town ahead of the 4-6-2 when the R&N train first arrived that morning. One of the R&N excur- sions is shown crossing the bridge over the Schuylkill at Auburn westbound in the afternoon (right). In place of the simple rectangular number plate No. 113 wore in its last days, the chunky switcher sported a colorful brass Ameri- can Locomotive Co. plate. CNJ Nos. 111-115 were delivered with plates like these in 1923, when they also bore Gothic “CRR OF NJ” tender lettering and Roman numerals on the cab. In the latter days of CNJ steam, the rectangular plates were used with the Miss Liberty herald on the tender. After its retirement by the CNJ, the locomotive was sold to the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron in 1953 and worked at Lo- cust Summit, Penn., until 1960. It ended up on the Wilmington & Western in Delaware and was acquired by the late Robert E. Kimmel and his son Robert Jr., who moved it to a siding next to the Minersville station in 1991. Working outdoors with nothing more than a blue tarp for a “shop,” the Kimmels and a dedicated team of volunteers slowly


22 NOVEMBER 2013 • RAILFAN.COM


and patiently picked away at the project until it was finished. Last year No. 113 made a couple of short test runs, but this was its first publicly-announced move, and its longest so far. Once everything is known to be working properly, the boiler will be insulated and covered with a steel jacket. And yes . . . it still burns anthracite.


TWO PHOTOS: MITCH GOLDMAN


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