Colebrookdale RR to Get New Car, Steam Engine

Once a Pullman sleeping car, the 'Lake Girard' will soon be plying the tracks of the Colebrookdale Railroad.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the good folks at the Colebrookdale Railroad.

The volunteers and donors of the Colebrookdale Railroad will welcome two additional piece of railroad history to Boyertown this Tuesday and Wednesday.

A new open car will arrive from Duncansville, PA, and unlike the Railroad’s other coaches, will arrive not on rail but rather by truck.

Huge rubber-tired dollies will take a 174,000-lb railroad car on a journey on Pennsylvania’s highways ending at the Colebrookdale’s railyard on Third Street. The funds to move the car were donated by Robert Hart, Sr.

“We are thrilled to welcome the car into the fleet,” said Nathaniel Guest, Executive Director of the Railroad. Guest estimates the work needed to fit out the car will cost about $25,000. 

“It’s not going to require as much work as the other cars, since it’s an open car, but all the same we’d welcome donations and sponsors so we can have it in service for our busy season at the end of the year,” he said.

(You can donate on the railroad's web site by clicking here.)

The new car was originally a Pullman sleeping car built in 1924. Later in life it became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad and was assigned as number8663 the "Lake Girard". 

Like our current heavyweight, this antique car is heavy. Records show standard Pullman sleeping cars weighing 174,000 pounds. With some minor restoration work, the new car will be ready for service.

This 1942 Porter 0-6-0 engine will require much restoration

before it can begin to run on the Colebrookdale.

Also arriving Wednesday, a new old steam engine making its return to its Pennsylvania birthplace.

Project 02, owners of the locomotive, will be restoring it to operation. 

A 1942 Porter 0-6-0 tank engine built by the Porter Locomotive Works in Pittsburgh, the locomotive is privately owned but will reside on the Colebrookdale Railroad. 

“We’re excited to bring it home,” said Preston McEvoy of Project 02. “It will not be operating for some time as most steam locomotive restorations take years,” McEvoy said.