21-06-19 PHOTOS: Fire Up 113

With all the talk about Reading steam locomotive #2102, it's easy to forget that there is another significant operational steam engine right up the street. Former Central Railroad of New Jersey B-7 class 0-6-0 switching locomotive might not sound like much, but in addition to being only one of two preserved CNJ steam locomotives, it is also one of the most powerful 0-6-0's ever built. In June of 2021, the Railway Restoration Project 113 organized an excursion to benefit one of their long time engineers who suffering from a chromic medical condition. Run out of their base in Minersville, PA, the excursion would travel about 20 miles to the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern shoppe complex at Port Clinton before returning. Informal South Jersey railfan Kevin Painter obtained my ticket in one of the open gondola cars. I was able to take both still photography ( mirror ) and videos of the trip with the videos appearing in a following post.

As is usual for these events, I met up with Kevin at the Reading and Northern's North Reading station. The R&N would be operating its regularly scheduled RDC excursion from the station later in the day #9168 was waiting south of the station platform.

A pair of R&N MP15DC's were also on hand to pick up and interchange from Norfolk Southern.

As the #113 trip was scheduled for later in the morning, we had time to stop by the Temple, PA station to check on SW8 #800.

At the North Reading yard, a trio of power was waiting to power the North Reading Fast Freight just as soon as the consist could be assembled. The lashup includes SD40-2's #3057 and #3059 and SD50-2 #5019 in the new Fast Freight paint scheme.

The ticket included a meal afterwards so the Minersville station platform was packed with both railfans and portable tents. The engine's full time home was the spur track on the left.

CNJ #113 pulled in with the excursion train on the advertised after getting ready in the green room north of the station.

Although most of the excursion train consisted of former Reading and Lackawanna commuter cars, my first class ticket got me into one of two open air gondola cars, borrowed from the Lehigh Gorge operation, set immediately behind #113.

As a signal fan and regular Amtrak rider, I was not expecting the large crowds that turn out for live steam special excursions, most of witch had video cameras on tripods.

Pulling through the Port Clinton complex, former NS Executive F Units #270 and #275 were on hand to greet us. Unfortunately the COVID cancelled August 2020 F unit excursion to Scranton has not yet been rescheduled.

At Port Clinton I saw an old frieng that had seen better days. I had once chased SRNJ F7A #727 along the Salem Branch in the 1990's while I was in high school. Today the locomotive is owned by R&N who will hopefully restore it.

After pulling onto the siding track south of Port Clinton, #113 uncoupled and ran several miles south to MULLER interlocking to then reverse back on the main track to get serviced and turned at the R&N's steam locomotive facility. Don't let the engine's small size fool you. The B-7 class was designed for moving heavy anthracite coal trains at New York area export terminals and develops over 43,000 pounds of tractive effort. #113 had no problems pulling the 7 excursion cars and the GP38-2 protect engine at speeds up to 25mph.

At this point the diesel protect engine pulled the excursion cars back through the Port Clinton terminal area and up to the adjacent steam shoppe. The usual mix of SD40-2, SD50-2, MP15DC and GP30 power was sitting on the R&N diesel shoppe tracks.

Of course while everyone else was gawking at #113 as it was being turned, I had my eye on this classic 1990's Buick Roadmonster.

As the excursion train embarked upon a variety of switching moves to set the open gons once again behind the #113, we passed the R&N wheel shoppe with SD40-2 #3050 outside and #3055 inside.

Aside from delivering the excursion trainset to Minersville and then bringing it back at the end of the day, the complex switching moves needed to reverse the orientation of the trainset was pretty much all the work the crew of R&N GP38-2 #2011 had to do that day.

As #2011 tried to get the cars in the right order, #113 took on water from a hose after its little spin on the turntable.

While the fireman takes a breather, #113 stares at a Clear signal indication at CP-CLINT before pulling forward onto the R&N Main Line to clear a switch. The R&N has outfitted much of its system with CTC signaling to better support its varied freight and passenger operations and currently CP-CLINT marks the resumption of Rule 261 operation out of the Port Clinton terminal area.

Reading and Northern's Port Clinton turntable is both cute and effective, but will be unable to support turning the big 4-8-4 #2102.

Installed years ago for seemingly aesthetic value, the vintage signal bridges around the Port Clinton station have been reactivated as CP-PULPIT, named for the nearby Pulpit Rock. Because the track between CP-PULPIT and CP-CLINT is still un-signaled, all trains proceed through under a restricting indication, however turned signal heads indicate future plans to interlock the entire complex.

Because the outbound trip had all been downhill and clear weather had turned into a light drizzle, returning to Minersville would be in steam locomotive "hard mode". However, despite a few wheel slips out of Port Clinton, #113 managed it just fine.

This was my first time on one of these excursions and I was unprepared for the amount of cinders that would fall on me and my kit. I now see who the Lackawanna's use of cinder free anthracite was a major marketing point.

Passing the station at Schuylkill Haven, which itself is equipped as an excursion endpoint.

Passing Reading and Northern Cressona yard power SD40-2 #3058.

After the excursion returned to Minersville there was a rush to the food table so I didn't get any photos of the post-service switching. The GP38-2 protect enfine took the passenger trainset back to Port Clinton while CNJ #113 pulled onto its spur track at the Minersville station to cool down.

CNJ #113's builder's and owner's plate.  The locomotive was constructed by Alco Schenectady in 1923.

The Minersville Station itself had been wonderfully restored inside.

After the excursion, Kevin drove me by the Reading Railroad History Museum to check up on some of the projects there. DC #9192 was hanging out in the backlot.

Kevin even lit up Reading Business Car #15 for some twilight photos.

The sun had set by the time I got back to North Reading station. RBMN RDC #9166 was at the platform for the next day's excursion service.

The Reading and Northern's use of lit targets on hand throw switch stands is a nice touch at night.

The last stop of at day was at CP-BLANDON to see if anything was pulled up for a NS freight on the Reading Line. A Medium Approach was displayed for track #2 westbound, but there was no sign of any impending train movement.

Well that ends day one of my weekend in Reading country. Check back for a special Video post with all the GoPro footage.