#40 will be running four 40 minute rides from North Wales to below Gwynedd Valley and back on May 18. This will be the first time since 1985 that #40 will leave New Hope rails and the first steam powered excursions since October, 1991 when #2102 ran from Lansdale to Oreland and back. Track speed will be around 15-20 mph. Apparently SEPTA doesn’t mind occasional special excursions and steam. West Chester and New Hope ran diesel excursions before to Lansdale and back from their home stations. I wish they could have run north though over the freight only non electrified part like maybe to Telford and back. New Hope ran diesel rides before from Lansdale to Souderton. Penn Northeastern operates freight service to Telford, connecting with the East Penn to Quakertown. It’s a rare event, but not rare mileage as SEPTA runs on this line every day. Now North Wales to Quakertown through the tunnel with #40 would have been something.
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