23-12-23 PHOTOS: Woodstown Central

For many years South Jersey's SMS Lines (which I have to assume stands for Switching Management Service) has been playing the part of a smaller "Class 3" version of the larger Reading and Northern right down to the Reading theming. Run by railfans and for railfans, SMS Lines is best known for being the last home of Baldwin locomotives in daily service, going as far as to raid museums for parts donors to keep its fleet operational. SMS has expanded to handle the switching at an industrial park near Albany and, most recently, took over the contract to run the Salem County portion of the old PRSL Salem Branch between Swedesboro and Salem, after the line was substantially reconstructed. With the line in good condition, SMS decided to jump into the tourist train market with 2024 being the first year in full operation running between stations in Woodstown and Swedesboro under the name "Woodstown Central". Seeing as I would be driving in that general vicinity on my way home for the holidays, I got a ticket to see what all the fuss was about ( mirror ).

With its 0-6-0 steam locomotive #9 still under construction, GP38-3 #2003 was the star of the show. About a decade ago SMS purchased the unit and sent it to Albany before realizing it was actually one of the 10 GP38's purchased by the PRSL in its final years in operation. By 2024 SMS was finally able to get #2003 back to home rails and put it to work on the new tourist service.

The service consisted of a caboose, a coach and a table car, all of of which were former Reading in origin.

A station, passing siding and parking lot were constructed from scratch in a farm field south of Woodstown proper.

When I purchased the ticket only table car seating was left. The service features reserved tables and food service. I unfortunately failed to fully grasp that a special holiday train actually meant a Santa train oriented towards the kids.

Fortunately the staff was nice enough to offer me the chance to get photos and video of the #2003 run-around at Swedesboro. While there is technically a station at Swedesboro, it currently consists of a set of stairs to serve the brewery train service running to Swedesboro Brewing, which I would have much preferred.

The whole trip took about an hour followed by another run-around at Woodstown Station to ready the train for another departure. With only 2 days before Christmas the Santa service was in high demand!

After my ride I proceeded to drive myself back to the other end of the line at Swedesboro to catch #2003 on the following train changing ends via the new Swedesboro siding.

My friend had been nice enough to tag along thanks to a low cost night owl Amtrak fare. After hitting the brewery and getting dinner, I sent him on his way to 30th St via the NJT Atlantic City Line case of GP40PH-2 #4207 and cab car #6045.



Since ACRL trains meet at the Pennsauken Transportation Center I was able to get to the Utica Ave crossing to catch the matching southbound.



The next day I was in Berlin, NJ and happened to catch a northbound Atlantic City Line train with NJT GP40PH-2B #4206 with Comet V cab car #6025 at the milepost 15 intermediate signal.

 

Well that's all for my first trip on the Woodstown Central. I will certainly be back for their steam excursions with #9.