West Chester Railroad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Chester Railroad |
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| Locale | Chester/Delaware counties, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Terminus | West Chester, Pennsylvania |
| Commercial operations | |
| Built by | West Chester & Philadelphia Railroad |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Reporting mark | WCRL |
| Length | 7.7 mi (12.4 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | November 1858 |
| 1858 | West Chester & Philadelphia Railroad begins |
| Closed | September 1986 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1997 | West Chester Railroad began operating |
| Headquarters | West Chester, Pennsylvania |
| West Chester Railroad |
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The West Chester Railroad is a special train line that offers fun rides for visitors! It's like a museum on wheels. This railroad travels between West Chester, Pennsylvania and Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. These towns are in Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania.
The train travels about 7.7 miles (12.4 km) on old tracks. These tracks used to belong to the famous Pennsylvania Railroad. A group called the West Chester Railroad Heritage Association runs the trains. This group is non-profit, meaning they use their money to keep the railroad going. Everyone who works on the railroad is a volunteer!
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Meet the West Chester Railroad Trains
The West Chester Railroad has many different types of trains and cars. Some are used to pull the passenger cars. Others are for carrying things or for special events. Here's a look at some of the cool equipment they have.
Diesel Locomotives
These are the powerful engines that pull the trains. They run on diesel fuel.
| Number | Model | Built | Manufacturer | Notes | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 |
ALCO S-2 | 1949 | American Locomotive Company | This engine used to work for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. It was later traded to the West Chester Railroad. |  |
| 1803 | MLW RS-18U | 1960 | Montreal Locomotive Works | This locomotive was originally built for the Canadian Pacific Railway. |  |
| 4213 | ALCO C424 | 1965 | Montreal Locomotive Works | This engine also used to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway. | |
| 4230 | ALCO C424 | 1965 | Montreal Locomotive Works | Another engine from the Canadian Pacific Railway. |  |
| 6499 | EMD GP9 | 1957 | Electro-Motive Division | This train used to be part of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It was repainted to look like a Pennsylvania Railroad train. | |
| 7706 | EMD GP38 | 1969 | Electro-Motive Division | This engine was donated to the West Chester Railroad in 2012. It used to work for Penn Central. |
Passenger and Other Cars
These cars are where people ride, or they are used for special purposes.
| Number | Type of Car | Built | Manufacturer | Notes | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9107 |
"Blueliner" Dining Car | 1932 | Harlan & Hollingsworth/Reading Company | This car was once a powered train car. Now, it's a special dining car for parties and groups. | |
| 9109 | "Blueliner" Coach | 1932 | Harlan & Hollingsworth/Reading Company | This car was also a powered train car. It's now used as a regular passenger coach. | |
| 9114 | "Blueliner" Coach | 1931 | Harlan & Hollingsworth/Reading Company | Another former powered car, now a passenger coach. It has a horn for safety when moving backward. | |
| 9117 | "Blueliner" Coach | 1931 | Harlan & Hollingsworth/Reading Company | This car is also a passenger coach and has a horn for reverse moves. | |
| 9124 | "Blueliner" Coach | 1932 | Harlan & Hollingsworth/Reading Company | This car is a passenger coach and also has a horn for safety. | |
| 9275 "Pete Small" | Baggage Car | This car used to carry luggage. Now, it's used for snacks, power, and tools. | |||
| 20331 | Caboose | 1952 | St. Louis Car Company | This caboose used to be a ticket office! Now it's used for work trains and storage. | |
| 28209 |
Dining Car | 1947 | Budd Company | This car was once a dining car. It's now used as an office in the train yard. | |
| : Out of service |
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Other Special Equipment
The railroad also has other unique vehicles for different tasks.
| Number | Model | Built | Manufacturer | Notes | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Switcher | 1940s | Plymouth Locomotive Works | This small engine helps move cars around the yard. It's on display at the station. | |
| 657 |
50' Box Car | This car is used to store things. | |||
| 658 | Flat Car | This car is used to carry Christmas trees and for other work. | |||
| M1234 | Fairmont A4-D | 1978 | Fairmont Railway Motors | This is a small, fast vehicle used by railroad workers. It used to belong to the United States Army. |
Future Plans for the Railroad
People have thought about using the West Chester Railroad for more than just fun rides.
Commuter Train Study
In 2018, a study looked into bringing back regular train service. This would allow people to travel from West Chester to Philadelphia for work or school.
The train service stopped in 1986 because not many people were riding it. But since then, more people have moved to the area. They need more ways to get around.
For regular commuter trains, the tracks would need big improvements. Also, all stations would need to be easy for everyone to use, including people with disabilities. Right now, the trains can only go 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) because the tracks are old.
The study found that it's possible to bring back the trains. However, they didn't expect enough people to ride them to get special government money for the project. So, for now, the West Chester Railroad remains a fun tourist attraction!
