2008 - 2012 "The Mack #4 locomotive has now been saved"
Mack locomotives #4 & #5 were let to become rusty derlict peices of historic railway equipment by the former owners. Today the new owners have saved and reconditioned one of these rare Mack Truck, Inc. locomotives.
When it seemed that both Mack locomotives #4 & #5 we're destined to see the flames of a cutting torch and become scrap iron by the WK&S / Hawk Mountain Line, a private family not a railway museum stepped in to save one of these pieces of America's Industrial Railroading Heritage. After JC McHugh convinced his wife Ann to purchased the locomotives his father Jimmy stated, "let's send a truck and trailer up to Kempton and bring the Mack locomotive #4 to it's new home."
The Mack locomotive #4 & #5 carbody's were removed from the WK&S location in Kempton, PA several months ahead of when they were scheduled to depart. The WK&S during the last week of May 2008 had scheduled to move it's newly acquired dirlect 2-6-2 tender locomotive from Kentucky with volunteer labor and two donated tractor trailers along with a leased truck with special winch that would be connected to a special lowbed trailer that had ramps & rails to transport the tender. The WK&S problem was that the contracted leased truck that was to transport the tender was in an accident and was no longer available. The WK&S called JC McHugh in a panic and asked if the McHugh family would consider helping out the volunteer group. Ann & JC McHugh donated a tractor with special winch to transport the tender from Harden, KY to Kempton, PA free of charge to the WK&S.
The last remaining boxcab locomotive of this GE-Mack type was preserved by Jimmy, Ann, & J.C. McHugh in July 2008. During the purchase transaction with the former owners, JC McHugh stated that one of these old Mack locomotives would be cosmetically restored before December 31, 2008.
The two old Mack #4 & #5 locomotives for decades while they resided at Kempton PA under the care of the WK&S,had this group stripped them of valueable component parts, and then let them to become nothing more than scrap heaps. Most people are amazed that the cosmetic restoration was completed so quickly after Mack locomotive #4 arrived at it's new owners. In just 2 months time under the care of JC McHugh, Mack #4 had been restored, and was no longer ready for the flames of the scrappers cutting torch.
Click on the four smaller photographs below to take you to those photo various galleries.
Photographs are the property of JC McHugh collection
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The Mack's first public debut since being refurbished in July 2008. The H.E.C.A. show located in Brownsville, PA ( south of Pittsburgh, PA ) was held in August 2008.
The Mack featured in the North Penn Reporter.
The Mack revisited the East Broad Top in October 2008, This was the last place #4 ever worked in revenue service.
The Mack #4 showcased at the Macungie Truck Show May 2009.
The McHugh family donated tractor / trailer has delivered the old 2-6-2 steam locomotive tender from Hardin KY to the town of Kempton PA.
After the 2-6-2 steam locomotive tender was ramped off to the trailer. The first Mack locomotive was pushed onto the transport trailer, and then delivered to the McHugh plant.
