The latest "ghost from the past" steam locomotive is now out and about, namely Lancaster & Chester Railway 2-8-0 40. Today she's better known as New Hope & Ivyland 40, but as of this past Saturday she is once again wearing her as-delivered (Baldwin, 1925) plain black paint job with gold L&C lettering.

L&C 40 debuted on chartered photo freight trip run by Carl Franz. 40 powered a 9-car mixed train consist that also debuted two of the line's newly acquired vintage tank cars. A rare 6-dome wine service tank car was in the spotlight as the first car in the consist. A classic steam era 3-dome tank car was the third car. The trip ran down the NH&I's ex-Reading New Hope Branch trackage to the Rushland (Pa) Trestle and return. A total of 35 photo runbys were made at 10 different locations. "L&C 40" sported a 6-inch 3-chime Crosby whistle, offering just the right mellow sound for a classic rural shortline freight locomotive.

Many thanks to the folks at the NH&I for an excellent well run trip. GM Paul Harlan did a fine job at keeping things running smoothly, as did all of the Train & Engine service people. Due to the long day we even had an engine crew change during the trip! The "2nd trick" crew included steam tourist line veterans Frank Vosepek (Morris County Central) and Chris Bost (Blue Mountain & Reading).

Photos of "L&C 40" are already appearing elsewhere on the net (such as at forums.railfan.net under the "tourist railroads & museums" section and then under the NH&I section). Paul Harlan noted that 40 probably will remain in her L&C livery until April before going back to the usual NH&I dress (there is another different photo freight charter before then).

...And while 40 wears her L&C lettering, I'll be wishing I had a dollar for everytime a New Hope tourist sees "Lancaster & Chester" and thinks it refers to the two nearby Pa counties instead of a South Carolina textile-hauling shortline!

Regards,
Jim Robinson

A growing SC textile (and now many other products) hauling shortline developing industrial parks along its expanding length. They also have a very good private varnish business operating on the side.

dave

How about a link to some of those pix?

Thanks Jim. Good to see you again. Have fun at Cass...

And for Matt, here's the link.

http://forums.railfan.net/forums.cgi?board=NHI