Then and Now on the Wilmington & Northern branch.

Last weekend, Kris and I went to inspect a location near Coatesville on the former Reading Company’s Wilmington & Northern Branch where my father photographed a Reading Iron Horse Ramble back in July 1963.

I’d often wondered where the 1960s photo had been exposed and now we know.

The good news is that the tracks are still in service, and Reading Company 4-8-4 2100 is still around and presently under restoration.

However, the old Wilmington & Northern Branch has been fragmented and the tracks end a little ways compass north of this location. The other downside to this investigation, as is obvious from the photos, is that the trees and undergrowth have largely obscured the view of the line from the road bridge.

Here’s the very same location last weekend. The trees have encroached rather significantly, which was a little dispointing. Exposed digitally using a Nikon Z7-II with 24-70mm lens.

This is a different angle than my father used 62 years ago, but provides a better comparison by showing more of the scene.

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