Kutztown RR/Branch (Pa.) Bites the Dust?

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Fri Apr 05, 2013 10:38 pm

A local of the area reports at TrainOrders.com that the Kutztown RR, a former Reading branch from Topton to Kutztown, Pa. owned since 2000 by the borough of Kutztown, has seen its last revenue freight run.

Freight has been run over the years by Conrail, then Anthracite Railway, Blue Mt. and Reading, and since 1993 by East Penn Railways.

As with other branches East Penn has operated, there were some excursions over the line in recent years, with a 44-tonner handling them between 1996 and 2000. More importantly, one or two ex-LIRR cars, a caboose, and a 44-tonner (ex-NY Docks 55), as well as possibly an ex-Guilford Geep and a former PB&NE SW900 MAY be "up for grabs," depending on exact ownership. East Penn could just switch them over to one of their other operating branches if they own them.

Photo selection: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/Locopi ... x?id=27000

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Fri Apr 05, 2013 10:55 pm

One of my Pennsylvania cohorts replies:

"As far as I know, the 50-ton GE (ex-New York Dock) was scrapped 2-3 years ago. Except for the ex-PBNE SW, the other equipment is all privately owned and just stored there."

junior · **Posted:** Fri Apr 05, 2013 10:56 pm

Ya beat me to it....

Wonder if this will become another Rail-Trail?

Excursion trains never seemed to take off on this route....

It should be noted that the "East Penn" that took over operations in 93 and ran excursions on this and other routes it operated, is not the same corporate structure/identity that is the East Penn of today.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Fri Apr 05, 2013 11:16 pm

My friend in Pa. doubts that the line will be scrapped. He (being in a position to know more than the average railfan) reports:

Quote:

There is a lot of taxpayer money tied up in that 4.1 miles. Also, Trinity Industries, which owns the Kutztown Foundry, is/was shipping quite a few carloads of scrap steel inbound and finished couplers outbound. They might decide to operate it as an industrial line for their own account. To my knowledge, there is no other business on the line.

Preston J. McEvoy · **Posted:** Fri Apr 05, 2013 11:54 pm

The Geep is most certainly of Guilford/MEC lineage. It is not on the Kutztown branch though.

junior · **Posted:** Sat Apr 06, 2013 4:49 am

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

My friend in Pa. doubts that the line will be scrapped. He (being in a position to know more than the average railfan) reports:

Quote:

There is a lot of taxpayer money tied up in that 4.1 miles. Also, Trinity Industries, which owns the Kutztown Foundry, is/was shipping quite a few carloads of scrap steel inbound and finished couplers outbound. They might decide to operate it as an industrial line for their own account. To my knowledge, there is no other business on the line.

Trinity Industries is the company that is shutting down the operations of the Kutztown Foundry.

McConway & Torley, which purchased Kutztown Foundary back in the 80's, was purchased by Trinity in the late 90s. They down-sized the company back in 2007, laying off about 50% of its then workforce.

So, if the indeed one and only shipper on the line is closing come May, what does your "in the know" friend see happening that will keep shipments moving over a line to a closed company?

G. W. Laepple · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1182

Since the Borough of Kutztown owns the real estate and track outright, it will be their decision to scrap the railroad. They purchased it some years ago to be sure it remained intact. Since siting and permitting a new foundry operation anywhere in this country may be a difficult task these days, perhaps some other firm may acquire the McConway/Trinity property and continue operations.

wesp · **Posted:** Sat Apr 06, 2013 8:17 am

This was the branch line where Ed Blossom once maintained his shop and residence.

Wesley

RSwinnerton · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:32 pm **Posts:** 198

Quick reply, yes, this is the former Ed Blossom location.

Longer reply, the railroad is safe. The boro of Kutztown has no plans to take up track. East Penn may or may not stay, but time will tell that. The former Blossom building is now leased by Central Penn Railcar and is getting track built over the next few weeks. CPR plans to stay put. It's also the home of the CRHS's camp car (CR 62610). I know more but cannot divulge it because of my business relationship with parties involved. I can say the line is safe though.

Russ

jrevans · **Posted:** Tue Apr 16, 2013 4:48 am

RSwinnerton wrote:

Longer reply, the railroad is safe. The boro of Kutztown has no plans to take up track. East Penn may or may not stay, but time will tell that. The former Blossom building is now leased by Central Penn Railcar and is getting track built over the next few weeks. CPR plans to stay put. It's also the home of the CRHS's camp car (CR 62610). I know more but cannot divulge it because of my business relationship with parties involved. I can say the line is safe though.
Russ

Thanks for the positive update Russ. I'm not far from the line but have never seen it run.

The "new" East Penn (post Nolan ownership) seems quick to abandon, as seen on the Colebrookdale/Boyertown Branch and the Chester Valley line in Bridgeport....

I work at a company that uses East Penn rail services, and our shipping clerk told me that he misses the business side of the old "East Penn" railways.