I have a confession to make, I'm not a steam enthusiast in the way most railfans are steam enthusiasts. For steam people if something goes "chug chug", its an excuse to drive at unsafe speeds and elbow others out of the way to get that perfectly composed photo that looks like everyone else's perfectly composed photo. When I have been in the company of steam excursions it has been to ride the excursion to get both covered in cinders and get an open window view of the line and by extension its pieces of historic infrastructure. However when riding a RBMN #2102 excursion to Pittston in 2024 I was able to make note of the surviving CNJ searchlight signal locations on the former Conrail Lehigh Line. So since I was obviously going to have to come out again to photo these signals, why not do it in conjunction with a #2102 trip and generate some content that everybody can enjoy? So anyway here are photos from my first time being trackside for a man line steam excursion.
Like I said, my primary mission that day was to get photos of former Central RR of NJ searchlight signals between White Haven and Mountain Top. After the CNJ abandoned operations west (north) of Lehighton in the 1960's, the Lehigh Valley RR incorporated this section of the CNJ route due to its superior alignment and industrial connections. The CNJ vintage searchlights were distinctive for having a square "basket" like structure around each maintenance platform. Here we see the Milepost 146 southbound intermediate signal displaying an Approach indication for the holdout signal at CP-WHITE HAVEN. The former CNJ signals are normally dark, but will illuminate when a route has been established by the dispatcher.
At first I was confused why the Reading and Northern was running a southbound train within an hour of the northbound 2102 excursion. It turns out the signal was for the "regularly scheduled" Pittston to Mach Chunk diesel hauled excursion train featuring Reading and Northern 40th anniversary GP38-2 #2023, which I caught at the northbound Milepost 148 signal.
As expected the previously dark northbound signal popped up with a Clear signal indication for #2102. I could hear the engine approaching in the distance when what I will call the "traveling circus" of train chasers began to show up with their tripods. When #2105 did arrive it was applying all 5000 of its horsepower to muscle the 21 cars of the excursion train up the stiff grade. This spectacle was quite a bit more thrilling trackside and made it easy to understand what was motivating the traveling circus to chase these trains again and again.
The R&N's latest innovation in making money is open observation car #22 which offers a premium view to those lucky enough to grab one of the 30 tickets available for each departure. Not going to lie, but #22 is definitely on my radar for a future trip, even if it covers territory I have already traveled.
With the reactivation of Reading T-1 class 4-8-4 steam locomotive #2102, the Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern has been on a tear finding new places and ways to run main line steam excursions. In 2024, the RBMN used its August slot to take fans from its new "Regional Transportation Center" in Nesquehoning, PA to the Scranton-adjacent town of Pittston, PA in conjunction with its annual Tomato Festival. Seeing as how I had been looking to ride an excursion up the Lehigh Gorge to the Wyoming Valley, I booked tickets with a friend and set out from the Baltimore area at 5am for the RBMN's 9am departure. If you are interested in the video content, you can catch it here and if you want to browse the full set of photos you can find that here ( mirror ).
When industry consolidation closed the Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. factory in Nesquehoning, PA, the Reading and Northern seized the opportunity to purchase its sizable manufacturing campus for conversion into an omnibus rail operations base with shoppe facilities and administrative offices. A side effect of this purchase was a new location to stage rail excursions that was both closer to Scranton and wouldn't interfere with the popular Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railroad, which was already parking limited in the busy tourist town of Mauch Chunk.
To this end, RBMN owner Andy Muller built and christened the Nesquehoning Regional Transportation Center on the property with the official ribbon cutting taking place before the day's Iron Horse Ramble.
Also on hand for the event was the RBMN's black bear mascot and Andy's personal M5 light tank.
While I had ridden on this part of the RBMN Main Line as part of the 2102+425 ramble in 2022, I turned onto new route milage at JIM THORPE JCT, crossing the Lehigh River on the state funded bridge that finally connected the two halves of the RBMN Main Line between Reading and Pittston. Except for a few small gaps, this Main Line is equipped with CTC signaling and interlockings.
Although the day was overcast, the former Lehigh Valley Railroad path through the Gorge offered ample photo opportunities.
One legacy issue with the line is the near complete lack of signaled passing sidings in the 60 odd miles between Tamaqua and Mountain top. This makes trains having to pull into hand operated sidings and spur tracks the only way to achieve a meet. Here #2102 meets RBMN GP38-2 #2023 and the southbound Pittston to Mauch Chunk tourist train at the TANNERY siding.
#2102 crossing back to the west side of the Lehigh River at White Haven.
With 16+ cars and a steep grade to the Pocono summit at Mountain Top, the 5000hp T-1 class consumed a lot of water and has to stop to top up at the old CNJ yard at Mountain Top, which also hosts the RBMN Penobscott Station.
The yard is home to RBMN's locomotive deadline with freight units like SD50's #5033 and #5022, but also a pair of former SRNJ F3's cab units that used to work the Salem Branch before being stored at Windows Jct for over a decade.
Since Andy Muller isn't made of brake shoes, a pair of "Fast Freight" painted SD50's (#5019 and #5018) are attached to the head end at Mountain Top so that the consist can enjoy the benefits of dynamic braking into the Wyoming Valley.
At Pittston the Ramble train was greeted by loads of railfans as well as local buses drafted into transporting the passengers to the town's Tomatoe Festival during the four hour layover. Even in his 70's, Andy Muller is a consummate businessman and we suspected that he had worked out some deal with the town to bring an extra 1500 or so odd captive tourists to their local event.
The festival was conceived in the 80's as a way to revive the local scene after the collapse of Anthracite coal mining. In addition to the typical carnival fare, the local "Old Forge" pizza style was also on offer.
The Pittston station, which sees regularly scheduled Lehigh Gorge tourist trains to Mauch Chunk, had also been styled as the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Regional Transportation Centre.
When we got back to the station #2102 was getting serviced, including an ash pan dump.
Pittston has been the base of RBMN's Scranton area operations for decades with the passenger service being the relative newcomer. GP30 rebuild #2533 and caboose #92817 were on hand for local operations.
Speaking of local operations, there was no way that Andy was going to let a steam passenger Ramble get in the way of normal freight operations. As a result GP30 rebuild #2534 and SD50M #5049 were out getting a single lumber car out for delivery.
#2102 returned from servicing triggering a pair of vintage grade crossing wigways. These electro-mechanical warning lights were once common, but have become pretty much extinct on the North American rail network in recent years.
#2102 proceeded out to Pittston yard to couple up to the Ramble consist before heading forward to platform the train.
Heading back up the grade, we eventually passed the returning Mauch Chunk weekend excursion train with GP38-2 #2015, waiting at CP--SOLOMONS GAP.
Passing Crestwood Road at Milepost 153 one can get a good feeling for the traveling circus of railfans that always accompany these mainline steam excursions.
Passing the intermediate White Haven station. The Poconos have lodging and attractions over a wide area so Andy Muller has added intermediate stops to attract ridership.
The Interstate 80 Lehigh River Bridge replacement project is under way.
People who pine for the days of steam and coal have probably never ridden a trip like this and don't realize how dirty coal is as a fuel.
#2102 after a hard day's work at Nesquehoning.
The parking situation still encourages one to hang out for a bit and get some additional photos. I'm not sure what role GP38-2 #2014 was going to play getting the Ramble train back to Port Clinton, but it looked nice sparkling in the twilight.
KME's main assembly building has been converted into a locomotive repair hall with new tracks being cut through the former parking lot.
Since I was continuing on to South Jersey, I wasn't in a position to get my steam excursion buddy home that day. Instead I put him on an NJT Atlantic City Line train at Cherry Hill, where he would connect to Amtrak via 30th St. The ACRL link was powered by GP40PH-2B #4204.
Well that's it for my big RBMN Main Line Steam excursion of 2024. Next time I'll be getting my steps in visiting some of the neat railfanning locations in Washington, DC.
Looks like its time to fire up Reading and Northern T-1 class 4-8-4 #2102 for another main line steam excursion in the anthracite coal region of eastern Pennsylvania. This year the August offering for the RBMN's Iron Horse Ramble was a round trip from the new Nesquehoning Regional Transportation Centre to the end of their Main Line in Pittston, PA such that the railfans could spend a few hours enjoying Pittston's annual Tomatoe Festival (which started in 1983 when the decline in coal mining required a rebranding). Because I still need some time to finish the photos I'll be starting things off with a video post.
Sitting on the left hand side of the train, which would face the Lehigh River on the outbound trip, I chose to focus on still photos due to the superior scenery and lighting. The exception to the aforementioned scenery was the part of the trip between Glen Okono and CP-M&H JCT, which is located on the east side of the Lehigh River. Also lacking signals to photograph, I turned my digital camera to its video mode.
Once back across to the east side of the Lehigh River I switched over to stills and allowed my travel buddy Ferrocastor to shoot phone video as he saw fit. The grades on this part of the trip had former Reading T-1 #2102 working hard as it used its full 5000hp to elevate the 19 car consist.
After arriving at Pittston and spending the better part of 4 hours eating Old Forge style Pizza and associated carnival food, it was time to return to the Nesquehoning Regional Transportation Centre. There we found #2102 getting some mid-run TLC from the crews including an ash pan wash.
The locomotive then ran lite up the north end of the yard to fetch the 19-car consist for the return trip south. Most of the standard fare coaches were former Reading "Blueliner" electric MU's built in the 1930's. If one wanted to pay more to not hear or feel the main line steam action, one could ride in one of the post-war "lightweight" cars towards the end.
Intending to capture most of the return trip on video I pulled out my trusty old GoPro and got to work. This first part covers the most dramatic part of the trip as T-1 #2102 attacks the stiff grade of the old LVRR Mountain Cutoff between Pittston and Mountain Top, PA. North of CP-LAUREL RUN the former Conrail Lehigh Line switches to the old Central RR of NJ Alignment to its yard at Mountain Top where we pause to take on water.
All topped up with water, #2102 and friends depart Mountain Top under the old CNJ signal bridge and proceed to the community of White Haven, PA where the Lehigh Line shifts back to the former Lehigh Valley RR alignment. Note the square CNJ mileposts.
Back in the scenic Lehigh Gorge I get to face the cliffs and forests due to the RAMB spinning the entire trainset at Pittston. This video covers the former Conrail Lehigh Line from White Haven to CP-M&H JCT.
Crossing the river I get to pair my earlier video with its opposite facing towards the Lehigh River and the parallel CNJ bike trail located between the river and the LVRR. The video finishes up with our train taking the sweeping curve of the brand new bridge to connect the northern and southern ends of the Reading and Northern Main Line.
From this point on I already had video coverage of #2102 hauling a similar Ramble back in 2022 so I shut down the studio to enjoy the final few miles into the Nesquehoning RTC. Tune in next week for the equally exciting and informative still photos from this trip.
In the second part of my 2022 Reading #2102 / RBMN #425 double header Iron Horse Ramble I will be covering my audio/video content from the trip. For those who missed it, Part 1 with the still photos can be found here. This was the 3rd of 4 inaugural #2102 fantrips put on by the Reading and Northern and the only one not associated with a major holiday, instead celebrating RBMN owner Andy Muller's birthday. On the outbound leg of the trip between North Reading and Mach Chunk via Port Clinton and Tamaqua I used my still camera in video mode while on the return I used a fixed lens GoPro. Between the runs I also got a few additional videos of the goings on at Mach Chunk.
I'll kick things off with a "best of" compilation of video taken out of the right hand side window of Lackawanna MU car #308, 4 cars back behind Reading and Northern #2102 and #425. The video clips include:
Departure from North Reading Yard past the NRFF painted SD50 protect engines and railfan viewing platform at Tuckahoe Road.
Arrival at and departure from Port Clinton including both PULPIT and CLINT controlled points.
Passage through New Ringgold, PA.
Passage through South Tamaqua and the south end of the Tamaqua Yard.
Passage through the north end of Tanaqua Yard and downtown Tamaqua, PA.
Passage through East Mahanoy Jct
Passage through Nesquehoning, PA.
Arrival at CNJ Mach Chunk (Jim Thorpe) station.
Climbing out of the Lehigh Valley on the former CNJ Nesquehoning Branch.
As you can see the number of chasers was absolutely insane with all of the associated car pacing and stepladders.
Here we see Reading and Northern T-1 #2102 and Pacific #425 reverse the long August 13th Iron Horse Ramble train after discharging passengers at the Jim Thorpe Station for a 4 hour intermission between the outbound and return legs of the excursion. The 18 car trainset would be turned on the wye formed by the recently constructed bridge over the Lehigh River allowing a direct connection between the former CNJ Nesquehoning Branch and the former Conrail Lehigh Line.
Reading and Northern T-1 #2102 and Pacific #425 move from their cab tour positions just north of the Jim Thorpe station to be recouped to the August 13th Iron Horse Ramble train that had been parked to the south of the station just prior to the photo run-by. The cab tours were part of the activities available during the 4 hour intermission.
Here Reading and Northern T-1 #2102 and Pacific #425 perform the requisite photo run-by at the former CNJ Mach Chunk passenger station at the conclusion of the intermission.
The first GoPro video covers the return portion of the ride between the famous Hometown Viaduct and the Milepost 102 intermediate signal. As with the previous side window videos the camera was held outside of the #308 Lackawanna MU, 4 cars back from the locomotive on the right hand side. This video includes views into the Little Schuylkill River valley some 130 feet below Hometown Viaduct and the interlockings at HAUCKS and EAST MAHANOY JCT. The RBMN signal department made use of period correct searchlight and color light signals on what was the first segment of restored CTC signaling between North Reading and Jim Thorpe Jct.
The second GoPro video covers the action from just before the Tamaqua Tunnel, through downtown Tamaqua and through South Tamaqua Yard to the curve at the coal yard. Note the milepost 99 searchlit intermediate signal as well as TAMAQUA and EQUILATERAL interlockings.
The third GoPro video video captures the route from the photogenic S-curve at Copperhead Chemical in Atlas through the town of New Ringgold to the Milepost 87 intermediate signal. New Ringgold was a popular photo location for train chasers as PA state highway 895 provided a straight shot to catch the train again near Molino.
The final GoPro video begins right before the small town of Drehersville and continued through Molino to the RBMN steam servicing facility at Port Clinton where #2101 and #425 were pulled off to be wyed. Note the monster photo line set up on a small farm road a bit before passing the surviving Reading Railroad passenger shelter at Molino.
Well I hope you enjoyed all of the photos and videos from this trip. Next time I'll be back with coverage of SEPTA's opening day service to the new Wawa, PA station.
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.
