PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Reading & Northern (formally, the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad) has painted GP38-2 No. 2023 to commemorate the railroad’s 40th anniversary. R&N began as the Blue Mountain & Reading in 1983, operating a 13-mile former Conrail Branch, and has grown to a 400-mile route with some 300 employees and a healthy passenger excursion operation featuring former Reading Co. 4-8-4 No. 2102.
The anniversary diesel was built as Conrail No. 8214 and became Norfolk Southern’s No. 5359 when Conrail was divided between NS and CSX Transportation. Sold off in 2020, it became R&N’s No. 2016 before receiving its current paint scheme and number.
On May 27, 2023, the RBMN (Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad) is scheduled to start excursion service from their new Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Regional Railroad Station in Pittston to Jim Thorpe and back.
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Reading 4-8-4 No. 2102 steam locomotive has been restored to operating condition in April 2022.
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The EMD GP38-2 is an American four-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors, Electro-Motive Division. Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the GP38-2 was an upgraded version of the earlier GP38. Power is provided by an EMD 645E 16-cylinder engine, which generates 2,000 horsepower. 1,799 examples of this locomotive model were built for American railroads and industrial concerns.
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RBMN 2102 is marked up for a Reading-Jim Thorpe trip September 2, 2023. September 2, 1945 is the date the Empire of Japan formally surrendered to Allied Forces. 2102 wsa nearing completion in Reading Shops on that date.
I would be loath to refer to GP38-2’s as “American” since that term is often taken to mean USA only. GP38-2 units were built in both La Grange Ill. and London Ont. for customers in USA, Canada and Mexico, plus one unit for Saudi.
This railroad appears to be a very well run short line.