Skip to main content

Big post this week...

Saturday, May 5 was the run of the "Hopper Jet" mixed train excursion.  Sponsored by the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley chapter, NRHS and hosted by the Reading & Northern RR, the trip covered some trackage not ridden by passengers since the 1990s.  

DSC_0651

Seen above, far left, is one of the former Lehigh Valley "Pups"  SW8s built specifically to handle the routines of coal mine traffic in this part of PA.  Most of the route would be former Reading Lines.  The red passenger cars are the executive fleet stored at the corporate offices in Port Clinton, PA.  On the right is the diesel shop.

DSC_0663

After a quick run south to Reading and a repositioning of the locomotives, the train returns north passing huge blocks of Anthracite in Port Clinton.  Reading used banjo signals well into the later years of operation,  An inactive banjo is passed by our train.

DSC_0672

The S curve in Atlas.  Three pups hauled 10 active service hoppers and a Reading caboose along with 4 coaches and 2 open air cars.

DSC_0679

Winding our way through the Tamaqua yard, where former Lehigh New England lines once met the Reading.

DSC_0703

Photo rugby time!  Each of the lines shown here in Mahanoy Junction were used for runbys during the stop.

DSC_0706

Only two units ran this time, the third being behind, keeping the coaches out of the way.

DSC_0710

The Reading & Northern operates on about 400 or so miles of track in Eastern PA, utilizing heritage lines of nearly every railroad that came through.  Hopper markings look very Reading-like while the diamond shaped herald touts the Road of Anthracite, a Lackawanna phrase.

DSC_0722

Blaschak coal loader in Mahanoy City, PA. The black hill behind it is a culm bank, waste coal that isn't commercially useful.  As time and technology change, the usefulness of waste coal changes, and energy can still be produced from it.

DSC_0732

A full-train rugby at Mahanoy City so the locomotives can be re-positioned out of the way of the riders.

That does it for me.  Next week, I am off on a chase of the Santa Fe 3751, so I will not be near a computer to update right away. As always, feel free to share your shots of the real world on this thread.

Attachments

Images (9)
  • DSC_0651
  • DSC_0663
  • DSC_0672
  • DSC_0679
  • DSC_0703
  • DSC_0706
  • DSC_0710
  • DSC_0722
  • DSC_0732
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Steam was a plenty in Wilmington, DE for W&W's Pufferbelly Days double header event.  Two round trips - 12:30 and 2:30 pm.  Weather was poor - nearly 100% overcast skies which just made for opportunities otherwise covered in shadow.

 

Skipping some of the more routine locations, here are two vrs quantity.  Lot's of new brush and foliage made some familiar shots a bit tighter then hoped as far as capturing both #98 and #58. 

 

/Mitch

WW 2X Woods TO

WW 2X Bridge Solo TO

WW2X Depot RF

Kids Party RF

Attachments

Images (4)
  • WW 2X Woods TO
  • WW 2X Bridge Solo TO
  • WW2X Depot RF
  • Kids Party RF
Isn't the shop on the far right also where 425 and 2102 live?
 
Originally Posted by Tim O'Malley:

DSC_0651

Seen above, far left, is one of the former Lehigh Valley "Pups"  SW8s built specifically to handle the routines of coal mine traffic in this part of PA.  Most of the route would be former Reading Lines.  The red passenger cars are the executive fleet stored at the corporate offices in Port Clinton, PA.  On the right is the diesel shop.

Originally Posted by CarGuyZM10:
Isn't the shop on the far right also where 425 and 2102 live?
 
Originally Posted by Tim O'Malley:

DSC_0651

#425 is likely undergoing restoration in the shop to the right, #2102 is behind the photographer, just past the grade crossing in a two stall roundhouse.  I would guess the second stall has former (Jim Thorpe) CP 4-6-0 #1098 parked along side it?  If, so, I wonder where #425 is to be kept?  As a side note, former (Jim Thorpe) CP 4-6-0 #972 is sitting at Strasburg, PA.

 

2102 Inside 703 TO

Looking through the window...

 

/Mitch

Attachments

Images (1)
  • 2102 Inside 703 TO

Great photos everyone!

 

Here is my favorite for the week:

 

 

Here is what I have selected for you: 

 

Leaving the light behind and entering the tunnel: 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/338466/

 

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=360842&nseq=9

 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/394083/

 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/328165/

 

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=359385&nseq=5

 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/396531/

 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/383751/

 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/88573/

 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/396928/

 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/396016/

 

Rare photo of an Alco in a railyard in Newark, NJ!: 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/169990/

 

“Big Emmas”: (see photo comment on site) 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/396619/

  

"Rail burn" photo with explanation in comments on site: 

This is called a "rail burn." It was particularly common in the days of steam power. A steam locomotive's weakest tractive effort point is when it is attempting to start a train. The rule of thumb is a steamer can keep any train rolling that it can start with. Since it has to overcome the inertia of a standing train, wheel slips sufficient to cause rail burns were frequent. 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/394882/

  

And my favorite - the light at the end of the tunnel: 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/393659/

 

Prairie

Last edited by Prairie
Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×