SMS Rail Lines, operator of the Woodstown Central Railroad in Woodstown, NJ, has purchased FP7 #903 from the Philadelphia chapter of the NRHS (National Railroad Historical Society). The decision to sell the locomotive was announced in the chapter’s “Cinders” August 2023 newsletter.
#903 was built in 1950 for the Reading Railroad and later went to SEPTA in 1974. SEPTA ceased diesel locomotive operations in 1981, and #903 was purchased in 1983 by the Philedelphia Chapter. Sister #902 was purchased by the Lancaster chapter at the same time. These two locomotives were restored and started their new lives in preservation, which included being displayed/stored at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania at Strasburg, PA, pulling excursions, and eventually being stored out of service at Steamtown in Scranton, PA since 2010.
The original proposal from SMS asked for a 10-year lease on the locomotive. After considering several factors, including the lack of space for the chapter to store and work on the engine, the board returned with an offer for SMS to outright buy the locomotive. After meeting with SMS, the locomotive was officially sold to them for $10,000.
As of this writing, #903 is still at Steamtown. No timeline or date has been given for a move to NJ. A similar lease offer was extended to the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society for sister FP7 #902 and was accepted. The locomotive will join #903 in NJ but will continue to be owned by the Historical Society.
Updated October 3 , 2023 with details on #902’s lease.
Image by Richard Marchi on rrpicturearchives.net
Learn More
Philadelphia NRHS newsletter with details of the sale
Facebook announcement from the Woodstown Central