Hello All

Just wanted to take a moment commend the volunteers at the Wanamaker Kempton and Southern in PA for a job well done.

After the "big storm" a good friend and I decided to make the trek from Scranton down to Kempton. It had been a while since I saw the WK&S in action and figured it would be my last chance for a few months at least.

For an all volunteer outfit with limited means the WK&S had it's bases covered. Their parking lot was cleared down to the dirt, the sidewalks were cleared and sanded as well. Steam heat kept the cars warm and I think I saw some staff members helping a soccer mom bush her car out of a snow bank on the way in.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the WK&S its a short run, just a few miles out and back with four cars and a tank engine. No connection to the outside world, no mainline aspirations, heavy pacifics or E8's in the back shop. They just have a small, down home operation and they do it very, very well.

I was struck by the friendliness of the staff, reasonable prices in the gift shop (I still went away $20 dollars lighter) and the cleanliness of the restrooms. I even got a bottle of coke for 75 cents in a real glass bottle from the refreshment stand!

I know a few guys from the WK&S frequent this board and just wanted to say you folks do a great job all around!

Dave Crosby


bing@epix.net

The used book shelf there and the used rolling stock outside has made my wallet lighter also. Agreed on all points.

Wonder how given there are no advantages to their location, scenery, etc they manage to do so well and continue to grow?

Might be some good lessons for more of us.

dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

Hello

Yes there is some formula to it I suppose. If I recall correctly the WK&S did fall upon hard times in the 70's.

It seems a good solid manage ment plan and some equipment evaluation were done at some point. I know the RR has divested itself of some equipment over the years, most notably the #250 2-6-2 (sigh, I'd love to have that running nearby...) but they seemed to be all good moves in the long run.

There are a number of impressions I got that may contribute to the line's continued success...

Small manageable facilities. Stations, locomotives and even the line itself are all on the smaller side.

They have all the ammenties. Even on the weekend of a snowstorm everything was open. Station, gift shop and outdoor refreshment stand.

Everything is cleaned and manicured, grass, coaches, stations are all well kept. While there are a few un restored cars, there is no junkyard per say at the WK&S. Also, nice restrooms!

A simple, frequently updated website. As the weekend storm approached, the website continued to give updates.

The railroad isn't a "rip off". No exorbitant parking fee, reasonable fare and cheap, good food. I even got a reproduction "PEZ" sign for a few bucks.

Again the railroad just goes a few miles, to the same place, with the same train as it has for 30+ years. They must be doing something right and I think a few of the above impressions I got contribute to the road's continued existence.

Just my thoughts

bing@epix.net

> Again the railroad just goes a few miles, to
> the same place, with the same train as it
> has for 30+ years. They must be doing
> something right and I think a few of the
> above impressions I got contribute to the
> road's continued existence.

Part of the formula that works for the WK&S is the same thing that makes many British excursion lines work stupendously: the factors above, plus knowing how to make the most of what is there.

By virtue of its circumstances, The WK&S will never:
*fantasize about running Reading 2102 there, along with its attendant expenses;
*operate with a steamer that can't be looked after by relatively modest steam crews (compared with mainline steam);
*be entertaining outside interlopers like private cars;
*be saddled with more infrastructure than can be handled by comparatively-unskilled volunteers (station agent, signal-thrower, lawnmower, gardener, and tea-brewer, all in one!).

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

Thanks for the nice comments. They are appreciated by those of us who made those trips possible. For the record, we carried around 1,900 people over the weekend. Down a bit from prior years but we attribute that to the weather. Those that did ride didn't complain.

Rob Piligian
WK&S Volunteer

http://kemptontrain.com
rpsurv@nni.com