After the Northern Central Railway contacted Convention Chairman John Goodman about their diesel not operating, arrangements were made to visit Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association in nearby Mechanicsburg instead because they own the only operating Pennsylvania Railroad steam engine, and this was the penultimate day of its operation for the season as it was going down for its 1,472 day rebuild.
I went to the bus loading area in front of the Hilton Hotel and Dan Meyer handed me a case of bottled water to put in Bus One. Once the two buses were full and those passengers had been checked off on a fresh manifest and, we departed for Williams Grove, taking Front Street to Interstate 81 then US Highway 11 to West Lisburn Road, then Williams Grove Road into the grounds and soon a representative led us to the bus unloading area where we all debussed.
A Brief HistoryIt was the Winter of 1958-59 when a group of people met to discuss forming a steam association. The basis of this idea came from their memories of using old-time farm machinery. They formed the Williams Grove Steam Engine Association with their purpose of preserving steam-powered equipment and to educate the public about the history of farming. The association uses steam engines for plowing, harvesting and sawing. It also has early gas engines and tractors plus a Pennsylvania Railroad steam engine. In 1959, Roy Richwine, Sr., owner of the 91 acres Williams Grove Amusement Park, invited the association to use his land which they then purchased.
Our Visit
Pennsylvania Railroad 0-6-0 643, ex. Pennsylvania Railroad Company 9684, nee Waynesburg & Washington Railroad Company 4, built by the railroad in 1901. By 1917, it was declared surplus and put up for sale. Central Iron and Steel Company of Harrisburg purchased the locomotive and worked for the next forty years, being re-numbered 5. The steel mill closed in 1959 and the engine sat until purchased by the Williams Grove group in 1961.
I walked over to the train with about 40 National Railway Historical Society members who boarded the first train, which was loading at this moment.
We took off from the station and now enjoy the ride.
The sign as you enter the grounds which states William Grove Historical Steam Engine Association since 1959.
The next sign states William Grove Historical Steam Engine since 1959 66th Annual - Show Dates August 24 through September 1, 2024.
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We ran to the end of the track, then reversed back to the station.
On the way back to the station we passed the William Grove Historical Steam Engine Association since 1959.
Another sign states - William Grove Historical Steam Engine since 1959 66th Annual.
NRHS members enjoying the ride at Williams Grove behind the only surviving Pennsylvania steam engine. I detrained for more pictures.
Maryland & Pennsylvania railroad 40 foot box car 727, built by Baltimore Steel in 1906.
Tide Water Oil Company one tank car 147, ex. Mobile 8177, nee Tide Water Oil Company 147, builder and year unknown.
Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association 65 ton switcher 52, nee Pennsylvania Power and Light 3347, built by Vulcan Iron Works in 1953. It was last in service at PP&L's Martins Creek location, then became surplus after that plant was converted from coal to natural gas. It is somewhat rare, since Vulcan Iron Works only constructed 54 diesel locomotives over 25 tons. 52 was purchased by the WGHSEA in December 2010 and is used as a backup for 43 and also will operate as primary passenger power on certain dates. 52 is available to be run by the general public as part of our Run-a-Locomotive program.
Pennsylvania Railroad 643 passed me on its next trip, after which I continued to explore the grounds.
Cumberland Valley Railroad Mechanicsburg station built in 1886. On April 2, 1831, the Pennsylvania Assembly passed an act to incorporate the Cumberland Valley Railroad, to run between Carlisle and Bridgeport (now Lemoyne). This was among the first railroad charters in the country. The company failed to raise the necessary capital, and was dormant until 1835. April 10, 1835, the charter was revised to run between Chambersburg and Bridgeport. Pennsylvania was the bread basket of the nation at the time, and including most of the Cumberland Valley piqued the interest of Philadelphia merchants, hoping to divert grain, whiskey and iron shipments from Baltimore to Philadelphia. Their support helped raise enough capital to begin construction, and August 19, 1837, the first excursion was run from Carlisle to White Hill, with horse drawn transportation across the Market Street Bridge to Harrisburg. By the end of 1837, the line was completed between Bridgeport and Chambersburg, home of corporate headquarters and primary maintenance facilities. Mechanicsburg had a fuel wood and water stop from the beginning, probably on the property where the freight station is now.
By late 1881, the CVRR was becoming more integrated with the PRR. Locomotives and cars were purchased to PRR specifications. Even passenger cars built in Chambersburg by the CVRR shops were built to PRR specifications. The PRR was buying additional CVRR stock, and it was apparent that a complete takeover was in the plans. In 1902, the CVRR became part of a PRR route to move coal from West Virginia to their dock in New Jersey serving the port of New York City. Passenger service was also extended into West Virginia. It is said that with these, in addition to normal business, trains passed through Mechanicsburg 24 times per day. There was as little as 20 minutes between some trains. With the smoke from the steam locomotives, and long, slow coal trains, this was extremely unpleasant for Cumberland Valley residents.
During World War I, operation of all US railroads was taken over by the US government. Still, the Pennsylvania Railroad completed its acquisition of the Cumberland Valley Railroad in 1919, and began to operate it in 1920, when control was returned to the owners. The Cumberland Valley Railroad became the Cumberland Valley Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Pennsylvania Railroad caboose Cumberland Valley Division, builder and year unknown.
William Grove 25DM 8, nee Pennsylvania Power and Light E129, built by the Whitcomb Locomotive Company in 1953. It was among the last locomotives built under the Whitcomb name. Whitcomb, long a division of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, ceased production of locomotives under their own name in December 1953. At one point, 8 was setup for radio control, although this system has long since been removed. E129 was purchased by the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association in the 1980's and renumbered to 8. It used mainly for switching and track work, but does see limited use in passenger service. From 2001-2006, 8 was our primary locomotive while our steam locomotive 643 was out of service. In the 1990's, the engine received an extensive rebuild that included the installation of a larger more powerful Cummins diesel engine that replaced the original Caterpillar.
Flat car, builder and year unknown.
Pennsylvania Railroad offset caboose 908904 built by the railroad in 1916.
William Grove Railroad flat car 103, builder and year unknown, with railroad wheels sets upon it.
Williams Grove derrick crane built by Ohio Locomotive Crane Company, year unknown.
The derrick's builder's plate.
A steam tractor came down the road.
The organization has a large "G" scale model railroad in one of their buildings. I returned outside but as it started to rain, took cover by where the bus was. Once the driver returned to where he dropped us off, I reboarded and waited for other members to return. Once Dan read all the names of the passengers on our bus, we took the longer way out of the park and were stopped by the next run of the train.
Once the train passed, we returned to the Hilton Hotel and the convention was over. Elizabeth had stayed behind to tear down the registration room and prepare the necessary reports. After my return, Elizabeth and I took Robin Bowers to the Front Street Diner for dinner then we started packing up our room and called it a night.
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