![Steam locomotive pulling hopper cars](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/TRN_2102_hoppers_01_Cupper.jpg)
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Reading & Northern accumulated more break-in mileage for its former Reading Co. T-1 steam locomotive No. 2102 on a short freight movement Friday (May 20, 2022), ferrying 100 empty coal hoppers to be delivered to an anthracite shipper near Tamaqua, Pa. It was a follow-up to the April 26 break-in run with 50 empty hoppers from North Reading, Pa., to Jim Thorpe, Pa., which is a prelude to a sold-out May 28 passenger excursion over the same route.
No. 2102 coupled on to the 100-car train at R&N’s headquarters and steam shop at Port Clinton and moved them 20 miles to Tamaqua. There, it cut off while two SD40-2s pulled the train north and shoved it eastward on the former Lehigh & New England Railroad to LNE’s Arlington Yard to be spotted for loading. Running tender-first, No. 2102 then returned to Port Clinton pulling 50 hoppers loaded with anthracite and destined for delivery to Norfolk Southern at North Reading.
![Steam locomotive and hopper cars seen from across field, passing barn](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/TRN_2102_Hoppers_2_Cupper.jpg)
“Plandampf”
With the price of diesel fuel going through the roof, it would be interesting to see what kind of operating economics that the R&N is seeing from using 2102 on a revenue movement.
Amazing! Pulling 50 loaded coal hoppers must have been a train of over 5,000 tons! Apparently, this was without helpers.
A 4-8-4 pulling revenue freight in the 21st Century. Sublimely epic!