I can't lie, I would LOVE to see the 425 back in her original BMRN black and yellow livery (with of course Reading and Northern painted on the tender). Wouldnt mind seein the headlight back on top of the smokebox, too, but both steamers in a nice shiny black? I think that'd look real classy!
Thank you for the update, she'll be done when she's done... Taking it one step at a time, the steam team is doing a fantastic job doing their work, gotta be thorough for a job complete job well done.
@@RBMNI really enjoy seeing 2102 in operation, I hope to see 425 in person for my self some day, it would be a great moment. Keep up the great work and effort to restoring 425, and I’m excited for her return to service.
It’s good 2102 is sitting there with 425 watching it be reborn. I’d love to see 425 with the prr 3 chime whistle again. It’s the whistle I’ve always heard it have.
Not going to lie, but I do like the circle logo that 425 has, and I would like to see the 2102 having the same logo, but that's my two cent, you guys do a great job, and can't wait for the ticket announcement on Thursday.
I'm curious if there will be any mechanical modifications towards 425, such as a new lubrication system, maybe a new stoker, ect. Either way, its the railroads decision, and I'll be happy when she returns to service!
Reading & Northern has no affiliation with Pan-Am Railways, therefore that is not very likely. We are all waiting to see if it will have a new RBMN look when it is ready!
We are not setting a definitive timeline for #425's return, but as many have noted, we want to be sure it is in perfect working order before we roll it out.
Now that I’m thinking about all this, it makes me wonder. What kinda trains would pull when it comes back? I thought I heard 2102 would be taking over the Autumn Leaf trains, which is usually the only times in the year that the locomotive crosses the entire mainline for excursions, so I wasn’t sure what’s planned for its excursion future.
I've watched several videos of both 2102 and 425 during their early years when you guys were still the BM&R. When 2102 came back in 2022, you guys finally had two operational steam locomotives for the first time since 1991. Best of luck to you guys!
It was a long time. If you happened to witness or ride on our August 2022 Iron Horse Ramble, they operated together for the first time since the 1980s!
I sadly haven't, as I don't live in Pennsylvania, but I've seen videos of it. I believe it was the first time since about 1987 that they doubleheaded, which is crazy to think about.
I've been missing 425 ever since the last time I wrote her on November 5th 2022 I'm just glad to know she'll be back soon! Stay strong the blue diamond!
What do you think will happen? When might it return, any clues are much appreciated! What colors do you think it’ll be? Personally, I love it the way it is and would be devastated if they changed its look.
Our website will certainly feature the news once a return date is known. As for its appearance, railroad ownership gets to decide that. We are sure it will keep everyone guessing!
Since 2102 started back, I've been curious too wondering what happened to the Blue Queen #425. I thought it was just resting from all the excursions it ran.
Though I've yet to visit Pennsylvania, I'm looking forward to seeing the "Four and a Quarter " run again. And I would like to see 2102 in person as well. Both locos are on my top 20 list of favorite steam locomotives.
I have followed the 425 for a long time she is by far one of my favorite steam locomotives ever. I do have a question about the 425 if you could answer it when was she built? We miss you old friend but you are getting the attention that you need and we will soon hear your call once again! But until then get the rest that you need and get the work that you need done, we will see you soon! You got yourself a new subscriber!
@@RBMN I have two questions about the 2102. What’s her maximum boiler pressure and how long has she been with The RBMN? The railroad has done a beautiful job on her!
Thanks for the report Jamie! Right, "She'll be done when she's done." As the R&N's a working railroad I'd have to assume the 425's being rehabbed on a "time available" basis. She'll run again, she's too good to be left in a shed as a monument, her fans just have to be patient. You know, some might want 425 redone in a black paint job but personally I like the Blue Comet inspired paint scheme!
@@RBMN I've never done any work on the RR ,let alone steam engines ,but realize how much work the maintenance and upkeep is on them . Thank you to Andy and everyone involved in doing it ...
@@RBMNif I had my druthers about me, I’d keep her in blue, give her her high headlight and numberplate back, but keep the swinging bell between the domes on the boiler. Nothing against the pneumatic Pennsy Bell, I just like the swinging one more. Kinda a “Best Of Both Worlds”. Whatever ya’ll will do, she will look great regardless. 🤘
The firebox steel pitting from corrosion jumped out to me, it likely looks worse than it is, UT will settle that. Curious how many test points and how they document each UT grid patch. Excuse me but I have been beat over the head with corrosion assessments on my compressor station yard piping this past week! This is serious business, Certainly the four and a quarter takes less cubic dollars to overhaul versus the 02. Considering the massive investment they put into the 02 on this last round, you wonder if it’s next 1472 will not be quite as costly. Wow the 02 looks like a well preserved classic car! Hope I can get up there again to before I leave this world.
Our fine steam shop crew will go over #425 coupler to coupler to ensure that everything is in proper working order before it goes back into service. It is certainly smaller than #2102!
It's a combination of footage from December 2022, June 2023, and most from January 2024. Since it had been a while since we checked in on her, I wanted to include this broad range in one video to get everyone up to date.
@@joelbiallas2520 no worries and thanks! The footage I got in June was never enough to make a full video from; it was just extra stuff I got when I was there to do a video on 2102. So you didn't miss anything at all in terms of updates. Thanks for watching!
I can say reading and norther 425 a blue color is me favorite locomotive if me ever see with poland no have locomotive :( And good work me really happy to see again reading and northen 425 and me interesing of this is hi back 2025. GOOD WORK
RBMN does such an excellent job taking care of their steam engines. I am so excited to see the 425 when it’s all done after overhaul. Well done to the RBMN for doing such good work on her
We take meticulous care of our steam engines; hence we are not setting a timeline on when #425 will be ready. We will post the news immediately on our website when the work is done!
These are just my two cents but I think R&N should bring back the old 2008 scheme, I like the dark blue but idk, sometimes I miss the Blue Comet inspired scheme she used to have when I was a kid. I know there's also been a lot of talk about going back to the older 90s BM&R/GM&N look, possibly with the modern dark blue scheme, but to me she was most iconic in the 2008-2014 era when she was strutting around in the all-blue undercarriage with a matching set of blue cars. Here's an idea; there's still a half a dozen or so "unmarked" cars on the roster, why not bring back the RBMN blue for whenever those cars get repainted? 425 back in her 2008 livery, a handful of matching cars, and heres another crazy idea: re-intrudoce the blue Lehigh Gorge scheme for one of the Geeps. Now R&N essentially has two matching trainsets that represent two different but equally important eras of growth for the railroad(the 1980s/90s with 2102, and the 2000s/2010s with 425) and all it required was a little blue paint. Again, just my two cents..
Not sure what #425 will come out of the shop looking like at this point, but all of the cars will eventually be red to make the fleet more uniform. On longer excursions we often have cars that normally appear on the LGSR in the consist.
this is bullshit SRC would have it done in a year. i want lots of time with 2102 so u have what Ohio central didn`t have with 6325 & 1293. plus we need more american units runnin`
Reading & Northern is a very busy freight railroad and unfortunately that means sometimes projects like #425 become secondary. But rest assured it will be back up and running soon!
Actually this appears to be moving along VERY well, remember the 02 thog was in slumber then slow overhaul for 30 years! The four and a quarter is likely much more economical to run and operate. They have incentive to get it back quickly. To slower to parts burn on both locomotives. I am still glad they are ruining the 02 like they stole it. Chest thumping stack talk puts more butts in seats IMHO.
@@Railfan705RBMN is a busy railroad and doing a restoration on a steamer takes time and plus they gotta replace certain parts and get those parts delivered or made then they need to put it back together and that takes time so just be patient 425 will be back soon and the diesel trips are always fun to
@@Railfan705I really hope you realize that 1472 rebuilds will take like 1-2 years to complete but it possibly could take 3 years, for Example East broad top I believe took 3 years to completely rebuild EBT 16, and Strasburg I assume can get 90 done by 2025. But then again RBMN is more busy with freight work so 425 will be done when it’s done, So just please relax about it and at least be happy we have 2102.
