Here is Part 2 of my May 2020 trip with Kevin Painter into the coal region of Eastern Pennsylvania to check out the recent improvements made to the Reading and Northern railroad that operates on the former Reading Railroads freight network in the region. You can find Part 1, which covers the North Reading terminal, Reading Railroad Heritage Museum and R&N Port Clinton yard freight engines, right here. Part 2 will cover passenger stock at Port Clinton, following the line up to Tamaqua and then catching the North Reading Fast Freight at East Mahanoy Junction. The entire set of photos can be found here ( mirror ).
Originally founded as a tourist operation on the former Pennsylvania Railroad Schuylkill Valley branch, the Reading and Northern has always had a strong commitment to passenger operations and current runs excursions out of its North Reading terminal as well as the former CNJ station in Mach Chunk, PA with the latter branded as the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railroad. Some of the LGSR equipment was in Port Clinton, including this ex-Reading Blueliner, converted into an unpowered coach.
Although they are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, the R&N has a pair of Budd RDC cars, that are a frequent and popular presence on the North Reading excursion runs.
Former Reading signal gantries, rescued from around the R&N network, currently stand empty, but will likely host live signals if the CTC project ever includes the Port Clinton yard.
New split block signals at Milepost 87 south of New Ringgold, on the way to Tamaqua.
The next major base of operations north of Port Clinton is South Tamaqua Yard. There we found R&N SD40-2's #3052 and #3056 hanging out next to caboose #92850.
The Reading and Northern also owns some ultra rare SD38's, one of which, #2003. was standing near Tamaqua Yard office. Only 50 of these were built for North American railroads with another 90 of the -2 variety.
Also in the yard was R&N SD50 #5049. The R&N recently acquired more SD50s from CSX.
CP-TAMAQUA has gotten the same treatment as CP-MULLER with a salvaged US&S H-form bracket mast. We can see the main track is displaying a Clear signal indication for some upcoming movement. The junction is with a short branch that serves a number of coal pits in the Lansford Valley.
The old Reading the Tamaqua station is today a restaurant and ice cream shoppe. The R&N conducts operations out of a new building across the main drag, while a vintage crossing tower carries the station signs
The Tamaqua station area also had a pair of cabeese, PPLX #4093, an old Heisler fireless industrial locomotive that last worked for Pennsylvania Power and Light, and an Atlas industrial switcher.
North of town the Milepost 99 intermediate signal utilized salvaged searchlight signals, an indication of the R&N's commitment to authenticity.
The exposed structure of the empty trackway on this bridge over the Little Schuylkill River is a testament to the extreme weight of the Reading's steam locomotives and the loaded coal cars they hauled to points south.
The Reading and Northern is also well known for its system of Fast Freight's, regularly scheduled freight trains with sufficient power to allow them to maintain track speed for most of their run. Kevin and I happened to catch the famous North Reading Fast Freight with SD40-2's #3055, #3054 and #3050, as it muscled its way up the hill through CP-EAST MAHANOY JCT, where the old Reading main line continued on the straight route to the Mahanoy tunnel and, eventually, Williamsport.
CP-EAST MAHANOY JCT was also given the searchlight treatment.
This newly painted RBMN box car touts the fact that the railroad has cleared the low bar of being America's largest anthracite coal carrier. The North Reading Fast Freight will continue its run to Pittston yard in the Scranton area via former Lehigh Valley and CNJ routes that the R&N has cobbled together into a regional corridor.
At this point ran out of time and had to put visits to CP-HAUCKS and the High Bridge on hold. Thanks again to Kevin for the guided tour of coal country. I hope to be back again both to cover the missed locations and to eventually ride one of the better Reading and Northern passenger excursions.
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