For her second operating season during the summer of 2023, Reading & Northern's famed T-1 #2102 returns with the legendary series of "Iron Horse Rambles" excursions. After spending the winter undergoing routine maintenance and repairs, the locomotive returns to take on the rugged mountains and lush forests of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Departing Reading Outer Station, the excursion travels to Jim Thorpe and returns on a breathtaking September day. Passengers on board and those trackside are treated to the fantastic sight and sound of one of the nation's most impressive steam locomotives roaring through Pennsylvanian Coal Country. With no diesel assistance, the 2102 is able to work at her full potential, fighting the grades with a sizable train behind. Please sit back, relax and join us as we follow Reading & Northern 2102 in "The Roaring Reading Rambler" by Keystone Rail Productions!
History of Reading 2102:
Reading 2102 was constructed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1925 as a 2-8-0 class I-10sa consolidation and numbered as 2044. By the year 1945, the Reading Railroad was in need of more powerful and larger locomotives. Rebuilt in Reading's very own shops, the components of 30 of the I-10sa consolidations were utilized to construct new 4-8-4 "Northerns" classified as T-1s. These locomotives were designed with the modernity to be used to haul long, heavy freight trains and fast passenger trains for the Reading. They had a colorful yet brief career hauling long stringers of hoppers at speed along miles of track in mountainous regions. However, their career was relatively short, as the Reading's steam operations ended in 1956 and all T-1s were stored serviceable by 1958. The future looked dark for 2102 as she was used as a steam generator for a steel plant. A year later, new hope would emerge as four of these T-1s would be saved from the scrappers torch to be used as the power for the Reading's Iron Horse Rambles excursions that would begin in 1959 and end in 1964. The four locomotives saved for the excursions was 2100, 2101, 2124, and of course 2102. Once the Rambles ended, she remained active along the Northeast region of the US, operating under many new owners. In 1985, the 2102 was purchased by Andy Muller, the owner of the Blue Mountain & Reading Railroad. In 1991, she made her final run under steam and was stored dormant, waiting for her return to steam. In 2016, a new restoration effort began by the skilled crews in the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad steam shops. After 6 years, thousands of hours of work, and nearly 2.4 million dollars, the locomotive would finally operate under her own power and make her long awaited return to the high iron.
Locations:
0:00 North Reading
1:00 Mohrsville
2:11 Molino
3:07 Reynolds
3:59 Hometown
4:56 Jim Thorpe Junction - Arrival
7:34 Jim Thorpe Junction - Wyeing the Train
11:00 CP Coal - R&N F-Units
11:58 Panther Creek
13:06 Hometown
13:47 Zehners
14:42 Miller's Crossing
15:35 Hamburg
16:27 North Reading - Outer Station
To learn more and support the Reading & Northern's Passenger operations, please visit:
www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/
Special Thanks To:
- Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad
- Reading & Northern Passenger Department
- Andy Muller
- The Crews of 2102
- The KRP Family
Filmed on Saturday, September 2, 2023
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28 июн 2024
