Lewes locomotive plan triggers yellow caution signal
A yellow caution signal is now up for the Lewes Junction Railroad and Bridge Association’s plan to reassemble and restore a historic steam locomotive at its display in Stango Park.
Lewes Assistant City Manager Janet Reeves provided an update on the project to the parks and recreation commission July 21.
She said the city was surprised to learn details of the plan that were spelled out in a news release from the LJRBA contractor, FMW Solutions, that was published in the Cape Gazette in June.
The contractor’s plan calls for the former Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive No. 60 to be disassembled at its current location at the Wilmington & Western Railroad. It would be transported to Lewes in three pieces, painted in primer. A crane would lift those pieces into place on the railroad track in Stango Park. A climate-controlled tent would be set up to encapsulate the train so it could be reassembled and painted on site.
LJRBA’s David Ludlow said the locomotive is expected to arrive in September. The reassembly and painting process is expected to take a few months.
FMW Solutions said in the news release the goal is to unveil the restored locomotive by mid-2026. It would join the red caboose and black coal tender already on display.
Reeves said the city met with the railroad group soon after the news release was published. She and City Manager Ellen Lorraine McCabe expressed concerns to LJRBA about the restoration work being done in the park. Reeves said she was not sure if the agreement between the city and LJRBA allows for such work.
Councilman Tim Ritzert, an ex officio commission member, said he shares the city’s apprehension.
“I’m concerned about the fact that we are doing what I would call industrial activity inside a public park. I think this is a very unusual ask of any group of the city to allow this,” Ritzert said.
Commissioner Christine Besche asked why the locomotive could not be painted elsewhere before being moved.
Reeves said, since it was being transported in three pieces, they would have to do touch-up painting here. She said it was a question of logistics, but that it could be painted pre-move.
“We’re still unraveling some answers from our contractors,” Ludlow said. “We’ll find workable solutions that meet everybody’s expectations.”
Ludlow said he does not think the city’s concerns will delay the locomotive’s arrival past September.
Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.
