By Railfan & Railroad Staff

The only operating Central Railroad of New Jersey steam locomotive will lead a series of short excursions this weekend on the Reading & Northern.

CNJ 0-6-0 113 will headline the Minersville Community Day event on Saturday, May 18. During the day, the locomotive will lead a half dozen trips between the Minersville depot and the New Saint Nicholas Breaker. Trips will last between 30 and 45 minutes. Tickets are still available. 

The locomotive began life as a yard switcher on the CNJ in 1923. Like most CNJ steam locomotives, 113 was built with a wide, Wooten-type firebox to burn anthracite coal. In 1953, the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company purchased the locomotive for use at a colliery in Locust Summit, Pa. The 113 served there for seven years and became the last CNJ steam locomotive to operate in the steam era. After changing owners a few times, the late Robert Kimmel Sr. purchased it in 1986 and eventually moved it to its current home, where it was restored to operation.