Moving the Westphal

Date:  May 24, 2017

Project:  Movement of former Central RR of NJ Blue Comet car No. 1172, Westphal, which later became the commuter subscription car Red Bank, from Winslow Junction to Kenvil by truck and by rail from Kenvil to Boonton Yard. 

Organizations: United Railroad Historical Society of NJ, owner of car (it had been leased to the Southern RR of NJ over 20 years ago); Lift made in South Jersey by Garton Crane of Vineland; Trucking from Winslow Jct. to Kenvil by Daily Express. Inc., Carlisle, PA (Len Yocum, owner/operator hauling the car and Andy Seipel owner/operator of second tractor/trailer hauling the trucks from the car); Lift at Kenvil done by JK Crane, next door to the unloading site in Kenvil; Move by rail from Kenvil to Boonton by Morristown & Erie Ry. (Note: Len Yocum has made many railcar moves: A DL&W subscription car from Boonton to Walkersville Southern RR in MD, and the annual moves of the "Thomas" steam locomotive to and from Phillipsburg. That's Len in the orange shirt in all three photos.) This move was managed by Steve Gerritsen who cut off the step boxes at Winslow Jct. for the movement and Steve also took the photos. Alan Bird, Larry Gross, Steve and McKelvey helped reinstall the step boxes and buffer plates at Kenvil.

Funding: For the move by highway with the two trucks was funded by Liberty Historic Railway.  Crane lifts were funded by the Central RR of NJ Historical Society.