Reading & Northern: #2102 and #425 Doubleheader 8-13-2022. On August 13th, 2022, we made our way up to the Mountains of Pennsylvania back to the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad. We got word that there was going to be a doubleheader with their recently restored Reading T1 #2102, and their Pacific #425. We could not pass up this opportunity to see this historic occasion. This was the first time these two locomotives double headed since 1988.
This is the railroad highlight of 2022!
*Due to the massive amounts of traffic, we were able to get the train at four locations going each direction. Which according to a few others, they said we did good. Plus, we got the shots we wanted and made the most of a crowded situation. In other words, I had a blast.
The excursion had 2102 leading 425 on one of R&N's named "Iron Horse Rambles" excursions from Reading to Jim Thorpe and back.
2102 was built in 1925 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works originally as an "I10SA" 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type locomotive for the Reading and was numbered 2044. She mostly hauled freight trains until 1945, when she and thirty of her sisters were brought into the Reading shops. All three received an extreme rebuild from 2-8-0 "Consolidation" locomotives to 4-8-4 "Northern" locomotives, and all received larger six axle tenders. All of the locomotives were renumbered from 2100-2129 (2044 becoming 2102) and were reclassified as "T-1's" (some liked to call them T-Hogs). 2102 would haul freight drags until it was retired and sold to Carpenter Steel Corp. in 1956 as a steam doner for the plant. After a fire damaged the locomotive, it was sold back to the Reading for excursion service. 2102 was overhauled in 1962 and placed on the Reading's "Iron Horse Rambles" trips as a farewell to steam. She replaced 2124 which was sold to Steamtown (where it resides today). After the Iron Horse Rambles excursions were finished in 1964, 2102 would spend the next two decades hauling many excursions. Including: The C&O Greenbrier trips to Cass and Durbin West Virginia (yes where Cass Scenic Railroad and Durbin and Greenbrier are), the Delaware & Hudson trips (masqueraded as D&H 302), and almost made it around Horseshoe Curve (GTW 4070 and 2102 were double heading and on the curve 4070 suffered a failure and shut the line down. Conrail at the time put a steam ban on their rails for a while after that). Then in 1985, 2102 was sold to Andy Muller who owned the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern. 2102 would then tour the Northeast until it was retired once again in October of 1991. In 2016, Reading & Northern announced they will restore the 2102 to operation again. The work was completed in Spring of 2022, and 2102 is now back in excursion service once more.
*2102 was painted back into its Iron Horse Rambles appearance.
*2102 has two mounts for whistles, which the two are: Reading 6 chime, Reading hooter
425 was built in 1928 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works as a 4-6-2 light "Pacific" type locomotive for the Gulf Mobile & Northern railroad. 425 would primarily haul passenger trains on the GM&N between both New Orleans and/or Mobile Alabama to Jackson Tennessee. In 1940, the GM&N was reorganized into the Gulf Mobile & Ohio railroad and 425 was renumbered to 580. 580 was retired in 1950. In 1961, Paulson Spence purchased the locomotive and ran it on his Louisiana Eastern railroad as number 4. However, after the passing of Mr. Spence, the LER shut down. While 4's sister was scrapped, 4 was purchased by Malcom Ottinger for the Valley Forge Scenic Railroad. While on the Valley Forge, she was renumbered back to 425. In 1970, Brian Woodcock purchased 425 and moved it to the Wilmington & Western Railroad while never operated. In 1983, Andrew Muller Jr. purchased the locomotive to operate on his Reading Blue Mountain & Northern railroad. She would operate between 1983 and 1995 pulling many excursions until she was retired. She would have a major overhaul in 2007 and would operate many excursions on the RBM&N. Including a brief visit to the Steamtown National Historic Site.
425 has gone through many paint schemes/cosmetic overhauls over the last 39 years:
- black with upper headlight (1980's)
- blue with upper headlight (1990's)
- bright blue with center headlight (2008-2013)
- a 4-year period of gradual change
- the current USRA blue scheme with center headlight (2017-now)
*425 has a Rambles plaque under the smokebox
*The whistle 425 has is Andy Mullers Reading 6 chime (the same one she used back in 2008)
Enjoy thunder in the Pennsylvania hills with the Reading & Northern doubleheader!