Date of Visit: October 27, 2019

Berks County is synonymous with railroad history. The legendary Reading Railroad, once the largest corporation in the world and forever immortalized by Monopoly, operated more than 1,400 miles of track across Pennsylvania and neighboring states.

Though the Reading last ran in 1976, its legacy lives on in many of the scenic railroads that still run today.

The Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad (WK&S) operates on a small section of former Reading Company tracks that stretches north from the Berks County town of Kempton to the village of Wanamaker in Lehigh County. The Reading was still running but had already abandoned the tracks when the WK&S was formed in 1963.

Passengers board the train in Kempton, a small borough just a few miles from Route 78. The station complex features a collection of former Reading Railroad stations that have been moved the site. The main ticket office was formerly the Joanna station in southern Berks County. Here visitors can also shop for WK&S and other train merchandise and enjoy a snack from the refreshment stand.

Steam was the motive power of choice for many years along the WK&S, and there are long-term plans to bring steam back into service on the line, but today’s trains are pulled by a fleet of diesel locomotives.

A pair of former Reading Company passenger cars and an open-air flatbed car provide ample seating along the 40-minute journey. During our visit, we practically had an entire coach to ourselves. Though some events will fill up a lot more – and a lot faster – than others.

The ride heads north through the village of Trexler. To the east, the Hawk Mountain Range rises high in the distance. It’s an especially beautiful sight in the fall when the foliage paints the mountains in shades of red, yellow and orange.

There are a few other scenic spots along the ride, including a small bridge and some historic buildings, but there are more homes and farmhouses along the route than Instagram-worthy locales.

At the end of the line, the train scoots past the former Wanamaker Station before stopping for the engine to switch ends and pull the train back to Kempton.

Back at Kempton, there is still more to explore. The Schuylkill & Lehigh Model Railroad has an impressive setup in a restored train car behind the station. The layout features engines and cars painted in the colors of the Blue Mountain, Reading and Northern Railroad in scenes reminiscent of Pennsylvania’s Coal Region.

Parked on the same track as the model railroad is WK&S No. 2, one of several steam locomotives that once operated along the line. Today it sits on display and serves as a great photo opportunity.

Another unique experience available at the Kempton station are speeder car rides.

Speeder cars are small, gasoline powered railcars that seat one or two people and are used by railroads for routine track inspections. That’s also the primary purpose of the speeder car at the WK&S. During our visit, guests also had the opportunity to hop in for a quick ride through the train yard.

After riding one, it is easy to see why they call them speeder cars. While I’m sure it was going slower than the train, there is a much greater sensation of speed when you’re riding so close to the ground in such a small vehicle.

While it may not be the biggest or most popular passenger train ride in Pennsylvania, the WK&S has plenty to offer for families and hardcore railfans alike to make for a memorable day.