Reading Rambles 2022 - #2102 & #425 Steam Action!

Absolutely wonderful day yesterday! My son and I rode behind the double header from Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe and back, shooting many videos and pictures. We have been riding behind the 425 (and chasing her the day after( since 2012 and this has been THE best experience in all those years. We rode coach, as usual, so we could ride with open windows (as did everyone else in our car, 308, so we could drink in the full experience of the sites, sounds, and smell of two great steam locomotives.  In addition to those of us who rode yesterday, there were hundreds and hundreds lining the right of way along the route to Jim Thorpe and back. The double headed "run-by" in Jim Thorpe was the icing on the cake! A genuine "thank you" to the steam crews and to Andy Muller,  for this fantastic experience.

Andy, by the way, was riding along as well. His private car was being pulled at the end of the consist.  Now, to make plans of chasing the 2102 in October!

That was an impressive train they were pulling, I think the scrounged the countryside to find all the passenger cars!   What a great experience, really sorry I missed that one!

So glad, Bryce, that you were able to see a great train and have a great time yesterday. Arnold

Great experience and you did have beautiful weather for training.  

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

That was an impressive train they were pulling, I think the scrounged the countryside to find all the passenger cars!

I believe they own them all.

What a great experience, really sorry I missed that one!

Man just awesome, wish I could of witness it.

My wife in I were in the first dome car. Nineteen car train and ran, except when turned and lead back into Jim Thorpe, without the diesels. They own all the cars on the train, open widow coaches, domes, observations and etc. Word must have been out as trackside was packed with railfans. Will post my photos later. Here's some video shot at trackside. https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab...ch%3Fv%3D1tJlwgbwy5w

The Leihigh Gorge Scenic Train was lead by their repainted NS F-units also.

@Jersey Jerry posted:

Andy, by the way, was riding along as well. His private car was being pulled at the end of the consist.  Now, to make plans of chasing the 2102 in October!

Oh, I know he was, Andy was on his observation car waving at everyone! The R&N is his 1/1 scale layout

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

That was an impressive train they were pulling, I think the scrounged the countryside to find all the passenger cars!   What a great experience, really sorry I missed that one!

You are correct @Hot Water R&N/Andy owns them all. I have a few friends who work for the R&N, one said the next "big" task is painting all the cars the same color. That will truly be a sight to behold!

@Scotie posted:

My wife in I were in the first dome car. Nineteen car train and ran, except when turned and lead back into Jim Thorpe, without the diesels. They own all the cars on the train, open widow coaches, domes, observations and etc. Word must have been out as trackside was packed with railfans. Will post my photos later. Here's some video shot at trackside. https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab...ch%3Fv%3D1tJlwgbwy5w

The Leihigh Gorge Scenic Train was lead by their repainted NS F-units also.

If you saw a guy in a red Hawaiian shirt with aviators as the train went past that was yours truly! I got a video of the train as it passed Tamaqua Station Restaurant, I had a fantastic dinner and a brief but excellent show

I'll mostly likely make a YouTube out of all the pictures/videos I took

Bryce

Impressive. I wish I could have gotten up there this weekend!

Coming back to Reading Andy walked through the train chatting with passengers. He expressed a fondness for all the rail fans that support his trips. It's got to be amazing to be able to "play with your trains" full scale.

@oscaletrainslover got a shot of Tamaqua station, looks like I missed you..

The crowds were amazing.

Some photos I took on the trip. Being on the train and not just chasing it limits what you can shoot but I'd ride it again.

Stopped at the Clinton Station Diner on the way and ate in the car from the Blue Comet.

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Reading Outer Station and Boarding the train. We were in the burgundy painted full dome, formerly Milwaukee.

Underway and from the train

In Jim Thorpe. After turning the train they set up the engines for cab visits. Nice F's on the Gorge train.

Basically too many people to get good shots or lunch without waiting on a long line but we'd take the trip again and the chasers got some great ones.

Just received a "special alert" that the 2102 will be in revenue freight service on Friday, August 19th. "The locomotive will depart Port Clinton mid morning, heading to Tamaqua, Reading, and beyond!"  Looks like I'll be charging up the camcorder batteries and heading back out to Port Clinton. My son is on vacation this week, so he'll be doing the driving.  Another day of fun!

What a special, awesome day.  Thanks for sharing all the videos/media.