21-06-20 PHOTOS: Haucks

In the summer of 2021 the CNJ #113 fan trip was not the only exciting steam related rail event taking place in the former coal region north of Reading, PA. The Tamaqua, PA town festival was that weekend and the Reading and Northern was making its 4-6-2 Pacific engine #425 available for runs to the Hometowm viaduct and back. After meeting up again with Kevin P and one of his friends from out of towm, we set out to South Tamaqua Yard to catch the trainset being readied for service before proceeding to the junction at Haucks, PA where #425 would pass heading to and from its destination. You can view the full set of photos here ( mirror ).

We pulled in to the South Tamaqua Yard to find RBMN SD38 #2000 and GP39RN #2532 shunting the excursion trainset into one of the yard tracks where #425 would later couple to it.

RBMN #2000, along with sibling unit #2004, are two of just 103 non-Dash 2 SD38's built by EMD around 1970. The SD38 was the six axle version of the far more popular GP38, or a 2000hp non-turbocharged version of the more popular 3000hp SD40. Take your pick.

GP39RN #2532 is one of six former ATSF/BNSF GP30u's, which were themselves rebuilt EMD GP30's from the early 1960's. Known for their snazzy automotive styling from General Motors, the GP30's originally developed 2250hp with a turbocharged EMD 567D3 engine. The rebuilt rebuilt the engine with 645E power assemblies, raising the horsepower to 2500hp.

The excursion trainset consisted of a mix of former Reading/SEPTA "Blueliner" commuter MU cars painted in a light blue Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway scheme along with a number of former Lackawanna/NJT commuter MU trailer cars built in the early 20th century.

Freshly painted RBMN GP38-2 #2011 was on hand to provide protect power for the steam hauled excursion while former NS GP38-2 #2015 waited on a nearby engine storage track.

RBMN #425 soon arrived from downtown Tamaqua with a spare tender and water tanker behind a former Reading Blueliner being used as a shoving platform.

A former Gulf, Mobile and Ohio light Pacific, #425 is the RBMN's primary steam excursion asset. A number of moves were made to set out the tank car and couple to the trainset.

This special event was not about to interfere with RBMN's normal Sunday passenger operations consisting of the pair of RDC's running from North Reading to Mach Chunk, PA. With #425 and train safely in the South Tamaqua Yard, RBMN RDC's #9166 and #9167 passed by, sending out their own sets of smoke in homage to #425.

The RDC's would stop in Tamaqua to allow passengers from North Reading to connect to the steam excursion. This provided my group with enough time to scramble to the road crossing north of time where the Milepost 99 searchlight signal was lit up with a Clear indication.

The RDC's soon arrived, doing their best to provide real value to the passengers with their continued emulation of a steam locomotive.

Now on our way to Haucks, we almost caught up with the RDCs at Barnesville, before ultimately getting ahead of the RDC pair at the Grier Rd crossing past Mahanoy Jct. I was content to stay in my vehicle, but Kevin jumped out to get a better angle from the middle of the road.

HAUCKS is a former Reading Railroad interlocking location that was restored by the Reading and Northern in 2016 to support their increasing levels of freight passenger excursion traffic. It was previously the junction between the CNJ Nesquehoning Branch and the Reading Catawissa Branch with an additional connecting track to the southern portal of Mahanoy Tunnel. Here we can see the northbound signal is displaying a Clear indication for the expected excursion train.

In keeping with recent practice, the Reading and Northern has restored a number of vintage signals from its collection to active service. The US&S style TR signals are known for their three part, triangular pattern housing, while the two lamp horizontal mount was very popular with the Reading railroad. Both types are now very rare on Class 1 freight systems.

It wasn't long before the sounds of #425 began to reverberate throughout the valley and I managed to catch it and the rest of the train next to the southbound main track mast at HAUCKS.








I am unsure if #2011 was providing any significant help to #425's ascent of the grade, but in general the Reading and Northern is not one to "fake it".

The southbound signal at HAUCKS immediately displayed Clear as the train would reverse at a siding just past the hometown viaduct a few miles to the north Thanks to the downgrade #425 was given a rest and #2011 did any work needed to get the excursion back to town.

#425 passing the restored interlocking relay hut at HAUCKS. Note that the R&N has gone to the trouble to fabricate reproduction Reading style painted wooden interlocking signs.

Although now trailing, $425 has its headlight and green markers illuminated, allowing me to take the photo of the engine rounding the Haucks curve that I was previously unable to get.

At that point I was needing to get back on the road so I bid adieu to Kevin and his friend for the long drive back to Maryland. That's all for this extended Reading country adventure. Thanks again to Kevin P for scoring me the CNJ #113 open gondola tickets as well as acting as a knowledgeable local guide in finding all the equipment and photo locations.