by Robert L. Sartain/photos as noted
Love those SMS Baldwins in South Jersey? You’ll love their cab units too! SMS Lines’ shop forces have made mechanical improvements and cosmetic repairs to former Reading FP7 902, and gave it a shiny new paint job. The cab unit returned to passenger service for the first time in fifteen years on National Train Day, May 10, 2025. The 902 and GP38-3 2003 provided the power at each end of the Woodstown Central Railroad’s “Scenic Rambler” excursion, running the full 16-mile length of the Woodstown Central between Swedesboro and Mannington, New Jersey. Look for sister Reading FP7 903 to return to service later this year!
ABOVE: The 11:00 a.m. trip from Woodstown crosses the scenic causeway over Fenwick Creek with Reading 902 leading north out of Salem on its inaugural run, May 10, 2025. —Aerial photo by Dale W. Woodland
ABOVE: Reading 902 leads the Woodstown Central Railroad Scenic Rambler excursion south past the Mannington Mills facility on its maiden run on National Train Day, May 10, 2025. This was also the first Woodstown Central passenger trip with open-air gondola L&NE 0367. —Bill Monaghan photo