Belt Line Productions posted this on their cool YouTube channel ... for all to enjoy, and to know what the near future brings in beautiful Pennsylvania.
What a great sight!
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Looks good! Thanks for posting! 
Jim,
Thank you very much for posting this update on the 2102. She looks beautiful!
Very nice footage. I'll be there in a couple weeks.
We're looking forward to riding in August.
Exquisite appearance ! Including yellow marker lamps on the back of the coal bunker !
@mark s posted:Exquisite appearance ! Including yellow marker lamps on the back of the coal bunker !
That's where the Reading RR stored the marker lamps on their steam locomotives. When needed, the markers were then mounted in the brackets on the rear corners of the tender, or the front brackets on the smokebox, for running in reverse.
Western Maryland employed the same yellow marker lamps. Not surprising since it was Reading's acquisition of 4-8-4's that prompted WM in obtaining it's 4-8-4's in 1947. This was to facilitate fast freight movement to/from their interchange in Shippensburg, PA with the Reading.
From Scott Hartley's article in Trains ...
" Muller’s Reading & Northern handles growing volumes of anthracite traffic, and it’s quite likely that R&N No. 2102 will see its first revenue service working coal trains." ...
Wow! How cool is that? I will drive there just to see this thing pulling anthracite through the Pennsylvania countryside. 
Looks great, but what's the deal with that whistle? Why not a Reading 6-chime?
@BlueComet400 posted:Looks great, but what's the deal with that whistle?
That's the ORIGINAL whistle that the Reading T-1s carried. Please remember that the T-1s were actually constructed from older, huge boilered, 2-8-0 locomotives, which carried the same whistles.
Why not a Reading 6-chime?
Because THAT was a passenger locomotive whistle!
Thank you, Jack, for the explanation. The whistle may be accurate, but to me it just sounds wimpy on a loco that size.
@BlueComet400 posted:Thank you, Jack, for the explanation. The whistle may be accurate, but to me it just sounds wimpy on a loco that size.
Well, that's just your opinion. I spent virtually the entire trip in the combine/baggage car, coupled right behind T-1 #2124, on the very first Reading Iron Horse Ramble (1957), and will NEVER forger that great whistle, as we we returned , late, back into Philly after dark. Those Reading T-1 locomotives were loud performers at speed with a heavy load, and that famous Reading freight whistle was just the icing on the cake!
It's always great to be educated on things like this, which is one of the things I appreciate about this forum. I learn something every time I'm here. Thank you again, Jack.
I've never been a fan of those high-pitched, single-chime whistles. To me, it makes a beast of a locomotive, like the T-1, sound anemic. On the other hand, if we all liked the same thing, this hobby would be pretty boring. I guess that's why I'm best suited for tinplate where having things like the correct whistle doesn't come into play. Given my occupation as an insurance agent and my toy train hobby, I've been called a lot of names......but "rivet counter" isn't one of them!
@BlueComet400 posted:It's always great to be educated on things like this, which is one of the things I appreciate about this forum. I learn something every time I'm here. Thank you again, Jack.
I've never been a fan of those high-pitched, single-chime whistles. To me, it makes a beast of a locomotive, like the T-1, sound anemic. On the other hand, if we all liked the same thing, this hobby would be pretty boring. I guess that's why I'm best suited for tinplate where having things like the correct whistle doesn't come into play. Given my occupation as an insurance agent and my toy train hobby, I've been called a lot of names......but "rivet counter" isn't one of them!
OK, but you should be aware that many railroads in the coal mining regions of the eastern United States, used those high pitched whistles because they could be heard at great distances, in the hills & valleys of the mining regions. Railroads like the PRR, B&O, N&W, C&O, Reading, Western Maryland, etc., all tended to use those high pitched and/or "hooter", whistles since their sound carried much further than those melodious passenger whistles.
Refreshing to see a rebuilt steam locomotive that is actually capable of pulling a train without the constant assistance of a diesel. It speaks highly of the crew that rebuilt it and the crew that is operating it. Congratulations to the Reading & Northern for a job well done.
Its much easier to skip the "protection diesel" when you own the railroad.
Can't wait for my trip behind her this August.
I see they have her all buttoned up with all the the covers and shrouds in place. She is looking and sounding great! The train was 50 (loaded?) hopper cars to simulate the load expected to be pulled during the upcoming excursions. Looking forward to seeing a nd riding behind her later this year!
Edit: I confirmed today (4/27/22) that the hopper cars are indeed empties.
Chris
LVHR
@lehighline posted:I see they have her all buttoned up with all the the covers and shrouds in place. She is looking and sounding great! The train was 50 (loaded?) hopper cars to simulate the load expected to be pulled during the upcoming excursions. Looking forward to seeing a nd riding behind her later this year!
Chris
LVHR
Do believe they are empty, which should put the consist at around 1500 tons, about right for a good string of passenger cars. Would be one big passenger train at 5,000 tons!
The R&N is definitely a standout operation with few peers. Mr. Muller gets to relax at the throttle of his T-1 knocking down signals on his well run railroad while the CEOs of Class 1s are sweating it out before the big STB BBQ session.
I'll be enjoying a face full of cinders behind it in May!
Looks and sounds absolutely astounding,
It isn't going to be around long though, if they use it to pull freight.
That's the lesson I learned from the cult of Ed Dickens.
That, and stand back the magic distance of 25' from the track.
@Nick Chillianis posted:It isn't going to be around long though, if they use it to pull freight.
That's the lesson I learned from the cult of Ed Dickens.
I thought the lesson was, it shouldn't be pulling , period.
@Nick Chillianis posted:Looks and sounds absolutely astounding,
Yes. There is one outstanding YouTube video of the 2102 departing with the 50 empty hoppers. Not much whistle, and NO darned crossing signal bells!!!!!
It isn't going to be around long though, if they use it to pull freight.
You would be surprised at how well pulling any sort of tonnage actually to extend the life of the firebox and superheater units. Light weight passenger and/or excursion service, can be REALLY hard on the firebox.
That's the lesson I learned from the cult of Ed Dickens.
Right! Like he knows.
That, and stand back the magic distance of 25' from the track.
Guest posted:
Very nice video.
1) It did NOT "almost stall"! She kept accelerating throughout the sequence.
2) That was NOT an "insane" wheel slip, as it was inside that overpass with moisture on the rails. The Engineer did an EXCELLENT job of recovering that slip!
3) Also looks like the booster may be engage.
4) More hype from a video photographer posting to YouTube!
Don't know what happened to his video, but now it has been reposted.
Digging in on Hometown Hill courtesy of GT Railfan
Couldn't embed it from my phone. Had to jump on my computer.
And I agree HW, buzzwords for clicks but the video itself is excellent.
Hot Water wrote "You would be surprised at how well pulling any sort of tonnage actually to extend the life of the firebox and superheater units. Light weight passenger and/or excursion service, can be REALLY hard on the firebox."
I wouldn't be surprised at all. Though I've never maintained or run one I've made a study of steam locomotion for at least 55 years. Learned a bunch from you guys in the dirty coveralls.
Guess I didn't press the sarcasm button on my keyboard hard enough. 
Re: Hometown Hill vid - Rejoice dear hearts!! We have heard the celestial music of the T1!!! Now that's how I like to remember them. Working hard with super loud exhaust and accelerating in spite of it all. WOW!!!
@feltonhill posted:Re: Hometown Hill vid - Rejoice dear hearts!! We have heard the celestial music of the T1!!! Now that's how I like to remember them. Working hard with super loud exhaust and accelerating in spite of it all. WOW!!!
Between her and her stablemate, 425, there are no "low talkers". (Seinfeld reference)
@feltonhill posted:Re: Hometown Hill vid - Rejoice dear hearts!! We have heard the celestial music of the T1!!! Now that's how I like to remember them. Working hard with super loud exhaust and accelerating in spite of it all. WOW!!!
Indeed! Leaning into it with the booster on, throttle near or on the roof, rocking back and forth in step with the power pulses. Wonderful to see in this age of sterility, especially for a younger fellow like myself who missed the heyday of steam excursions in the 70s/80s/90s.
@P&Sfan posted:Indeed! Leaning into it with the booster on, throttle near or on the roof, rocking back and forth in step with the power pulses. Wonderful to see in this age of sterility, especially for a younger fellow like myself who missed the heyday of steam excursions in the 70s/80s/90s.
Well, as an Old Fart, I rode the very first Reading Railroad "Iron Horse Ramble" with #2124 in September or October 1959. Nothing like a working Reading T1 at track speed with a heavy excursion passenger train, running late back to Philadelphia.
And soon the East Broad Top RR, too. Pennsylvania has some cool railroading going on.
Sounds like 2102 is running very well.
At least when it'll be pulling an excursion train we'll all know the diesel behind it is is HEP for passenger equipment, and not to push it around.
@Lou1985 posted:Sounds like 2102 is running very well.
At least when it'll be pulling an excursion train we'll all know the diesel behind it is is HEP for passenger equipment, and not to push it around.
I'm not aware that the Reading and Northern uses a diesel with HEP behind any of their two steam locomotives.
@Hot Water posted:Well, as an Old Fart, I rode the very first Reading Railroad "Iron Horse Ramble" with #2124 in September or October 1959. Nothing like a working Reading T1 at track speed with a heavy excursion passenger train, running late back to Philadelphia.
I'm grateful to be able to read first hand accounts of the "glory days" from old heads such as yourself, Wes, Rich, etc. The railroad historical record is full of hard facts and figures but not nearly enough accounts of "the who and the how" of days past.
@P&Sfan posted:I'm grateful to be able to read first hand accounts of the "glory days" from old heads such as yourself, Wes, Rich, etc. The railroad historical record is full of hard facts and figures but not nearly enough accounts of "the who and the how" of days past.
Sure there are. You just have to know where to look.
@CNJ Jim posted:And soon the East Broad Top RR, too. Pennsylvania has some cool railroading going on.
Indeed, along with the ongoing restoration of 1361 and the proximity to the WMSR and Cass, it's a great place for a railfan to live.
I'd highly recommend a visit to the EBT, the pictures are cool but the real thing is even better. And the group behind it all is top notch.
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@Hot Water posted:Sure there are. You just have to know where to look.
I welcome any leads you may have!
In my spare time I peruse TO, RYPN, etc and find some gold nuggets here and there. I'm a member of a few historical societies which are always a good source but compared to aviation and maritime history it always seemed interviews and first hand accounts are a bit lighter on the rail side.
@Brian Smith, thank you for posting both those videos. Even with empties, seeing a freight steam locomotive doing what is what designed to do in 2022 is fantastic. Hats off to Andy Mueller and the whole crew at the R&N.
As a teen-aged steam nut, followed the initiation of the Reading Steam Rambles in Fall 1959 with great enthusiasm. Never rode one - lived too far away/Chicago suburbs - but did ride behind 2102 in 1968. She came to Chicago for some Grand Trunk Western trips out of Dearborn Street Station. We left for South Bend, came around the broad curves at 26th Street, and 2102 charged the hefty grade heading south from the Pennsylvania RR Chicago River bridge. Unexpectedly the train stopped - - and sat - - and sat. Then it was announced that the trip had been annulled due to mechanical problems with the engine. We limped ignominiously back to Dearborn Street and crestfallen fans disembarked.
Glad to see #2102 re-invigorated !
here is a link to some of the testing run from the RR working with Pennsy Productions.
