19-08-17 PHOTOS: West Chester Railroad

The West Chester Railroad is a tourist line that operates on the former PRR branch line that runs east from the current SEPTA R3 terminus in Elwyn, PA. SEPTA temporarily suspended service to West Chester in 1983. eventually leasing the portion past the quarry in Glen Mills to the WCRR for tourist operations. Today the WCRR operates out of Adam's Yard, a little to the south of the old Main Street station. The full set of photos can be found here (mirror).

The WCRR runs most of its trains out of the West Chester Main Street station, which previously served as the terminus of the electrified branch line until 1983. In addition to a small ticket shack, the WCRR has parked an old Plymouth gasoline mechanical industrial engine at the end of the track as an eye catching static display.

Although West Chester is a major town and county seat, passenger traffic was drawn away to the Exton stop on the surprisingly close by PRR Main Line, which provides a faster ride downtown with frequent express services during the peak. By comparison, trains on the curvy (40mph) West Chester branch would take over 30 minutes longer to get to Center City. This ultimately lead SEPTA to cut service back to Elwyn in 1986, with an expansion to Route 1 at Wawa set to open soon.

 The service suspension was listed as temporary, citing equipment shortages after the MP54s were retired, and a replacement shuttle bus continuing into the 1990s. Funds to rehabilitate the line never materialized and SEPTA pulled down the overhead wire in the late 90's or early 2000's, turning over operation to the WCRR.

Most of the WCRR coaching stock consists of former Reading "Blueliner" MU coaches which were modernized in the 1960's before being operated by SEPTA until 1990. Here we see Blueliner #9114 and #9124 sitting in Adams yard in a pre-rebuild Reading green paint scheme. 

Reliable power on the WCRR consists of former Penn Central GP38 #7006, painted in an Erie Lackawanna scheme.

Backup EMD power is in the form of former B&O GP9 #6499.

WCRR fan service power consists of MLW RS-18 #1803.

And the requisite end cab switcher is Alco S-2 #3.

Also present was former Penn Central table car #28209.

 The WCRR base is located adjacent to the former SEPTA West Chester University station.

Unfortunately I was only passing through and not there to actually ride an excursion, but I can leave that for another day, hopefully when SEPTA again allows them to run excursions onto the SEPTA network.

Next week tune in as I hit up the Baltimore and Ohio's Old Main Line and other DC area transit.