Published September 28. 2023 11:56AM
By LOU WHEELAND
Special to The Press
Following several years of rehabilitation at Ironton Auto Body, the Dragon Cement Company Plymouth Engine was relocated Aug. 16 to the North Whitehall Township Complex and trail head of the Ironton Rail-Trail.
The rehabilitation work was performed by employees of the Ironton Auto Body under the supervision of owner Butch Kumernitsky.
The engine, built by the Plymouth Locomotive Works, Plymouth, Ohio, in 1955, was used by the Dragon Cement Company, Northampton, until the plant closed in 1983.
When the rehabilitation was completed and it stopped raining in the Lehigh Valley, Kumernitsky’s crew used their heavy towing and lifting equipment to move the engine to the complex.
North Whitehall Township Public Works employees were on hand to help with relocating the engine and attend to the grounds at the complex.
PRESS PHOTOS BY LOU WHEELAND The completely restored Dragon Cement Company Plymouth Locomotive Works Engine can be seen at the North Whitehall Township Municipal Complex, 3256 Levans Road, Coplay.
The completely restored interior of Dragon Cement Company Plymouth Locomotive Works Engine can be seen at the North Whitehall Township Municipal Complex.
A replica pump car accompanies the completely restored Dragon Cement Company Plymouth Locomotive Works Engine. Total reconstruction time for the Plymouth Engine was 120 hours.
The mostly restored Dragon Cement Company Plymouth Locomotive Works Engine was moved Aug. 16 from Ironton Auto Body to the North Whitehall Township Municipal Complex, 3256 Levans Road, Coplay.
Chris Hartranft, Ironton Body Works, was responsible for directing the equipment used to locate the mostly restored Dragon Cement Company Plymouth Locomotive Works Engine from Ironton Auto Body to the North Whitehall Township Municipal Complex.
Burch Kumernitsky, owner of Ironton Auto Body, guides his crane operator in placing the mostly restored Dragon Cement Company Plymouth Locomotive Works Engine onto the tracks at the North Whitehall Municipal Complex. PRESS PHOTOS BY LOU WHEELAND
Ray Deutsch, board member of Ironton Rail-Trail Oversight Commission, stands near the mostly restored Dragon Cement Co. Plymouth Locomotive Works Engine that was relocated Aug. 16 from Ironton Auto Body to the North Whitehall Township Municipal Complex.
North Whitehall Public Works employees Dave Crilly, Jake Wieder, Clint Schock, Brian Rex, Rick Holtzman, director of Public Works, Randy Cope, township manager, Will Snyder, Brian Neas and Ryan Eisenhard, and Ray Deutsch, board member, Ironton Rail-Trail Oversight Commission were instrumental in installing the tracks needed to accommodate the restored Dragon Cement Company Plymouth Locomotive Works Engine.
Employees of Ironton Auto Body David Newcomer, Rich Moser, Jeff Gross, Stan Stanek, Eric Kumernitsky, Denise Stanek, Lily Stanek, Dennis DeLong, Jay Gross, owner Butch Kumernitsky, Austin Sheckler, Mark Bailey, Chris Hartranft, Yari Diaz, Garry Jacoby, Matt Santee and Casey Greenly were instrumental in restoring and relocating the mostly restored Dragon Cement Company Plymouth Locomotive Works Engine from Ironton Auto Body to the North Whitehall Municipal Complex, 3256 Levans Road, Coplay, on Aug. 16.
