PORT CLINTON, Pa. – The Reading & Northern Railroad has set dates for its popular “Iron Horse Rambles” with former Reading 4-8-4 No. 2102. Trips will operate from Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe, Pa. on July 1, Aug. 13, and Sept. 2. Tickets for the Rambles go on sale May 1 at 9:00 a.m. Seating options range from standard coach to lounge observation car with prices ranging from $99.00 to $210.00 depending on the accommodation. The 2023 season marks the second year of the Rambles and the return of No. 2102 to service after more than three decades of inactivity.
No. 2102 is one of four survivors out of a fleet of 30 T-1s that Reading built in 1945-47 for fast freight service. Using parts supplied by Baldwin, the Reading recycled the boilers and other parts of 30 1920s-built Class I-10sa 2-8-0 engines. Replaced by diesels in 1956, the T-1s were retired and scrapped except for those kept for the famous “Iron Horse Rambles” operated by Reading from to 1959 to 1964. No. 2102 was acquired by Reading & Northern founder Andy Muller in 1986. Another T-1, No. 2100, is under restoration in Ohio.
In addition to steam-powered trains, R&N diesel powered excursions will begin operation out of Reading Outer Station April 29. While in past years trips operated to Jim Thorpe, beginning this year the railroad is offering trips to Pottsville, Pa. Pottsville trains will operate April 29, June 17, July 29, Aug. 19, and Sept. 16.
Reading to Jim Thorpe excursions begin May 6 and continue every Saturday and Sunday (plus holidays) through Sept. 30. Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs) will be utilized on the Jim Thorpe route. During the winter, work was performed on the RDCs including motors being replaced, and one RDC received a new transmission.
For more information go to www.rbmnrr.com.
My favorite 2102 trip- February 5&6, 1972 Baltimore to Hagerstown on the Western Maryland in the snow and sub- freezing temps. If you see photos of that trip they are amazing.
611 and 2102 are remarkably similar. Both have 27″x32″ cylinders and 70″ drivers. 611 has 300 psi BP while 2102 has 240 psi BP. 2102 has a booster enhine on the rear axle of the trailing truck giving 611 80,000 lbs tractive effort and 2102 79,400lbs TE. The N&W J was the most powerful 4-8-4 and the T-1 second.
That said, 611 was built as an express passenger engine while 2102 was intended for fast freight. 611 was measured at 100 mph on a 10-18-1959 N&W fantrip while the best I measured a T-1 was 75 mph on RDG’s New York Branch pulling several Iron Horse Rambles.
As I write this 611 and 2102 are less than 100 rail miles apart and each is marked up for passenger trips; 2102 as above and 611 the last two weekends of May on the Strasburg.