22-08-13 PHOTOS: Fire Up 2102 With 425

I haven't been the biggest steam excursion enthusiast. Although broadly popular within the railfan community for all of the pomp and circumstance associated with steam locomotion, they tend to be limited to tourist/shortlines and their popularity means that any resulting content will be in no way unique and not as good as those with much more expensive camera equipment (or drones). However in 2021 I was given the opportunity to attend a CNJ 113 trip on Reading Blue Mountain and Northern trackage in the former Reading RR coal region and I had a standout experience given RBMN management's pro-railfan attitude even compared to steam tourist operations like Strasburg. When RBMN announced their new series of steam excursions for the 2022 season featuring rebuilt Reading T-1 class 4-8-4 #2102 I purchased a ticket for the August seating. This turned out to be particularly fortunate as RBMN later sweetened the deal by adding 4-6-2 #426 to the consist for a rare steam doubleheader. Anyway here are the photos ( mirror )from the August 2022 RBMN Iron Horse ramble with videos to follow in a later post.

Upon the advice of Kevin Painter I arrived early enough to get a parking spot and seated myself in former Reading MU car #308, located 4 cars back from the engines, when boarding opened just a few minutes later. As I was unable to secure myself a partner for the trip I could not leave the seat to get initial terminal photos at the North Reading passenger station.

The doubleheader increased the number of trackside photographers and train chasers and made for large crowds at every location with easy vehicle access such as the Main Street grade crossing in Leesport, PA.

For those riding behind, curves near the town of Berne allowed for our first view of the two leading engines.

Making a station stop at Port Clinton to pick up additional passengers.

I was excited about the trip as it would allow photos of some of the RBMN's recent CTC signals like these examples at mileposts 84, 87 and 91.

A double S-Curve near the old Atlas chemical plant was the official location for excursion passengers to get running photos of the engines.

Here we see the duo passing through South Tamaqua Yard.

Although a feature of the regularly scheduled RBMN steam and RDC excursions, I had never been across the Hometown viaduct north of Tamaqua. Built by the CNJ to connect with its corporate parent at Haucks, economic conditions including reductions in anthracite coal use prevented the planned second track from being constructed.

Passing the signal at JIM THORPE JCT, the excursion is approaching its layover/shore activity at the town of Mach Chunk. The RBMN recently completed a new bridge over the Lehigh River that allows through freights to run between Reading and Scranton without a reverse move. It also created a turning wye that can be used by steam locomotives, like 2102, that are too large for the old Mach Chunk turntable. JIM THORPE JCT also marks the northern end of the last gap in CTC coverage on the RBMN's hybrid main line.

RBMN SW1500 #1548 hanging out at Mach Chunk.

While the locomotives were bring turned, the passengers were released to go get lunch in downtown Mach Chunk. Naturally I chose Notch 8 craft house because I will absolutely reward a railfan bait name.

Since it was RBMN owner Andy Muller's birthday, he decreed that both #2102 and #425 would be available for free public cab tours!

RBMN #425 was a Baldwin catalogue 4-6-2 light Pacific built for the GM&O in 1928. It was restored for RBMN excursion service in 2007 and now serves as the standard power for the railroad's steam operations out of Tamaqua, North reading or Mach Chunk.

The star of the show, Reading T-1 class #2102, was "rebuilt" in 1945 from a 1925 vintage heavy 2-8-0 Consolidation due to wartime limitations on "new" locomotive production. Of the 30 produced, 4 are still in preservation and represent the apex of steam locomotive technology with boxpok drivers suitable for passenger operations, automatic stoking and a trailing truck booster. The increase in complexity can be seen in the larger amount of gauges and dials in the cab.

During the shore activity the RBMN maintained its usual Lehigh Gourge Scenic Railroad excursions with one departure allowing for Iron Horse Ramble passengers to also do a LGSR round trip if they so desired (and for the price of an extra ticket). The LGSR trains were being hauled by F9A #270 and F7B #275, recently acquired from NS.

After the cab tours the locomotives coupled onto the excursion train for the requisite photo run-by in front of the Mach Chunk CNJ station.

Unlike Amtrak, Andy Muller will never leave a potential customer behind and pulled out practically all of the RBMN's available coaching stock for the trip including a number of recent purchases still in San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad colors. I had previously encountered much of this equipment while passing through the town of Alamoosa, Colorado in 2021.

Of course Andy himself was present for the event, riding on RBMN #1's open observation platform.

Despite the use of two steam locomotives, some emergency hustle muscle was provided in the form of "Fast Freight Service" painted SD50's #5018 and #5019.

After the locomotives were serviced and the trainset turned, we were heading back through JIM THORPE JCT en-route to North Reading via Tamaqua.

The old Reading RR Tamaqua Station is now a restaurant, but the platform is still occasionally used for RBMN excursions like those associated with the Tamaqua Days festival.

View of #2102 with #425 at the Atlas S-curve heading south.

Crazy photo line at the Millers Rd crossing near Molino. Due to the position of the sun and unobstructed view, this was the last best opportunity the excursion train.

Unfortunately, due to #2102's size it cannot be turned on the turntable at the Port Clinton steam shopped and instead must by run 20 or so miles back north to the wye at Haucks, PA. Because of the steam crew's limited remaining duty time, #2102 and #425 were uncoupled at Port Clinton with the remainder of the run to be carried out by the protect engines.

Passing through the Port Clinton diesel shoppes we encountered a variety of RBMN power including an SW1500, SW8 and GP39RN.

Despite the lack of steam power, trackside attendance was still strong.

Back on the ground at North Reading, I only had time for a few quick shots to avoid getting blocked in by departing traffic. Due to maximum use of the lots it is not uncommon to experience prolonged wait times.

My final task for the event was getting some photos of the partly restored Reading passenger structure at Molino.

That's all for the still photography. Stand by for another post featuring all of my video content, including significant GoPro footage out the side of the train.