Wilmington Northern / Reading in Wilmington?

Tom Cornillie · **Posted:** Tue Jan 28, 2003 6:37 pm

Wilmington Northern / Reading in Wilmington?

The thread below about 0-6-0T #3 mentioned the Beech St. roundhouse of the Wilmington Northern / Reading. Where exactly was this facility located? What is at the site today? Are any buildings remaining? Does the site still have rail access? I would be really helpful if somebody could provide me with a street address or intersection so that I could investigate the area using aerial photos and Sanborn maps. I plan to post my findings.

Many thanks,
Tom Cornillie

rrhistorian@hotmail.com

rrhistorian@hotmail.com

Tom Gears · **Posted:** Wed Jan 29, 2003 7:48 am

The W&N roundhouse was located on lower Beech Street near NVF and Dupont. There are some excellent photos and information at the Library of Congress website. I advise you to download the tif versions. They are 20 megs each buit offer great detail, I have them all and can burn them to a CD. If you are near Wilmington I could share some of my W&N information with you. Let me know.

Also check out my websitte forgotendelaware.com for other cool mostly railroad stuff around Wilmington.

Tom Gears

HABS/HAER Wilmington and Northern Roundhouse Page
tom@forgottendelaware.com

Tom Cornillie · **Posted:** Wed Jan 29, 2003 2:33 pm

Hello Tom,

Thanks for your reply. The HAER documentation on the site is among the best in their that they have published; thanks for the link. In looking at a recent aerial photo of the site, most of the site is covered by a parking lot and new construction. It also appears as though the WN/RDG trackage in this area is also gone. However, it could also be hidden under vegetation. Does any of the WN/RDG survive below Elsmere Jct.? Was there a connection between the PRR main and the WN in Wilmington?

Thanks,
Tom Cornillie

rrhistorian@hotmail.com

Phil Mulligan · **Posted:** Wed Jan 29, 2003 6:03 pm

This is the small roundhouse West of (PRR direction) the PRR/PC/AMTK main that lasted until ConRail. In later years there was no turntable, just a couple of turnouts.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

Tom Gears · **Posted:** Wed Jan 29, 2003 8:12 pm

There was a turntable there in times of steam. West Yard had several turntables over the years. It is interesting to note that B&O steam was serviced at Beech Street as well. I have a lot of photos, maps, and documentation of that area. I would be happy to share with anyone who is interested.

Tom Gears

Forgotten Delaware
tom@forgottendelaware.com

K.R. Bell · **Posted:** Thu Jan 30, 2003 12:15 am

Interestingly, New Hope & Ivyland's ex-CNR 4-6-0 No. 1533 and ex-Cliffside 2-8-0 No. 40 were both stored here in the early 1960s before transfer to St. Clair, Pa. for boiler and tire work in the mid-60s.

> There was a turntable there in times of
> steam. West Yard had several turntables over
> the years. It is interesting to note that
> B&O steam was serviced at Beech Street
> as well. I have a lot of photos, maps, and
> documentation of that area. I would be happy
> to share with anyone who is interested.

> Tom Gears

http://rrmuseumpa.org

Phil Mulligan · **Posted:** Thu Jan 30, 2003 11:54 am

Would the B&O steam be the shifters that worked the harbor? I would guess they had their own place at Wilsmere for the big engines. Did B&O C-16a 96 and 99 (Dockside with tender)work in Wilmington?

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

Tom Gears · **Posted:** Thu Jan 30, 2003 12:49 pm

In my collection I have photos of B&O 0-4-0, 0-6-0, 0-8-0, and 4-6-0 types at Wilmington. I'll have to check which 0-4-0 is in the photograph. West Yard was one heck of a place at one time. I have a lot of material on this area, I am happy to share if anyone is interested.

Tom

Forgotten Delaware
tom@forgottendelaware.com

Tom Gears · **Posted:** Thu Jan 30, 2003 12:52 pm

Are there photos of these visitors while in Wilmington? Along the same lines I have seen photos of #1223 stored in Wilmington while the rest of the collection was at Northumberland. Do you have any information?

> Interestingly, New Hope & Ivyland's
> ex-CNR 4-6-0 No. 1533 and ex-Cliffside 2-8-0
> No. 40 were both stored here in the early
> 1960s before transfer to St. Clair, Pa. for
> boiler and tire work in the mid-60s.

tom@forgottendelaware.com

K.R. Bell · **Posted:** Thu Jan 30, 2003 8:15 pm

Actually 7002 was also stored in Wilmington for a time. I believe some images are in RRMPA's collections. As for 1533 and 40 I have seen none.

> Are there photos of these visitors while in
> Wilmington? Along the same lines I have seen
> photos of #1223 stored in Wilmington while
> the rest of the collection was at
> Northumberland. Do you have any information?

http://rrmuseumpa.org

Wilmington Northern / Reading in Wilmington?

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