The Reading and Northern "Blue Tornado" #425: Schuylkill Haven Borough Days

Fantastic!  2102 can't be far behind.  Will make every effort to see both before I pass over to the other side.

Neat stuff!

Peter

I didn't know that RBMN has a turntable. Very interesting.

Lee Fritz

One of my all time favorite steam engines. However, I liked her better in black with the high headlight. Maybe if the headlight was lowered a little like an S.P. engine it would look better. Just my opinion. 

thanks for sharing!

Lee, the R&N has two turntables one in Port Clinton (where the pictures were taken) and one in Jim Thorpe. Always neat to see a steam locomotive on a turntable.

Francine, 2102's restoration is moving right along. She should be done by the end of next year or so.

Great pictures! What times were they in Schuylkill Haven?

EDIT: "They" being 425 et all.

PAUL ROMANO posted:

One of my all time favorite steam engines. However, I liked her better in black with the high headlight. Maybe if the headlight was lowered a little like an S.P. engine it would look better. Just my opinion. 

I agree, she'd look a lot better in black.  That shade of blue just doesn't look "right" to me on that engine.  Other than that, she's a sweet-sounding and nice-looking machine.

I vote for blue! A magnificent paint scheme!

Personally, I don't care what color they paint it.  They own it.

However, I am delighted that they are running it, and I would never have thought that an engine from a truly obscure regional railroad like GM&N would survive and thrive in this era.  To me, it's all good.

spwills posted:

Great pictures! What times were they in Schuylkill Haven?

EDIT: "They" being 425 et all.

They were had trips departing from Schuylkill Haven to Port Clinton at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm.

The paint scheme is an "acquired" taste IMO. The blue shade she has on now is more of a "midnight blue" which is much better over the "baby blue" paint scheme she had from 2009-2013(4). I find her to be very handsome and the mere fact she is being run at full throttle or close to it at all times to allow us railfans to witness true "mainline" steam is incredible! The R&N guys know how to do steam excursions well!

I was on the 1pm excursion.  Smooth sailing on the R&N, as always.  I also had a chance to check out the 113, seems like a great bunch of guys and one BIG 0-6-0!