Iron Horse Rambles 2022

Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern

Using former Reading Railroad Class T-1 Locomotive #2102
after several years and 2.4 million dollars of restoration

These are mp4 video files via Ye Olde Photographer's iPhone 13 Pro.
(You will need some bandwidth!)

We begin with a "chase" on May 28th
And a more extensive effort on August 13th which was double-headed!
These are followed by onboard views on the July 2nd trip.

Click your browser Back Arrow to get back to this page after a video runs.

iP11397 May 28th Ramble
#2102 thunders northward through Leesport, PA with 19 passenger cars in tow. 		iP11724 Aug 13 - Leesport
4-8-4 #2102 leads 4-6-2 #425 through Leesport, viewed from in front of the American Hotel. 		iP11727 Aug 13 - So. Tamaqua
Working seriously upgrade along Route 443 between New Ringgold and South Tamaqua. 		iP11729 Aug 13 - Nesquehoning
The Ramble approaches Nesquehoning along Route 54 past an industrial complex.
iP11475 July 2nd Ramble
#2102 pounds northward through Leesport, PA with 18 passenger cars in tow. The photographer is in the 6th car. 		iP11478 Approaching Hamburg
Passing by a concrete supply and on to pass under the Route 61 bridge and a trestlewest of Hamburg. 		iP11480 North of Hamburg
Chugging along between Hamburg and Port Clinton where more passengers will board. (And an audio glimpse of the freight whistle.) 		iP11485 Departing Port Clinton
Winding our way through the RBM&N headquarters complex.
iP11486 Along the Little Schuylkill
North of Port Clinton and heading toward Tamaqua. 		iP11497 Curving thru Clearing
iP11498 The Chasers
The cycle was in New Ringgold(?) the Mustang might be near Nesquehoning 		iP11499 Climbing
Up through the Tamaqua area
iP11505 Tamaqua Tunnel
Originally bored in 1854 to provide a route for anthracite coal. In this direction the tunnel is upgrade and windows and doors are shut to keep smoke and steam on the outside. 		iP11510 Chugging Upgrade
Traveling between Tamaqua and Hometown requires gaining significant elevation.
Note wheels slipping around 1:03! 		iP11522 Hometown High Bridge
The steel truss iteration of this bridge was constructed by the Central RR of NJ in 1931. Currently one of the two tracks has been removed. 		iP Scenic Railway Departs
The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway trips are sightseeing excursions operated by the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern, They are typically timed to permit excursion riders a chance to check out the scenic gorge.
iP11548 Departing Jim Thorpe
In the opening frames the stack blower is on, pulling a strong draft to build up the fire to get the steam necessary to start this long train. 		iP11557 Nesquehoning thru Reynolds
This sequence includes another trip over the Hometown High Bridge. 		iP11565 Port Clinton & South
We moved slowly through the sizable facilities of the RBM&N headquarters at Port Clinton and dropped off two carloads of our fellow travelers. We ended back where we began at the Reading Outer Station found at Route 61 (Pottsville Pike) and Bellevue Road. 		iiP11731 Valve Gear Demo
Returning from catching the August 13th Ramble at Nesquehoning we visited Minersville. There is a 1913 vintage station and a 1923 built Central RR of NJ 0-6-0 switcher from ALCo. Some maintenance was being done using compressed air instead of steam. This short clip shows a bit of reverse gear motion (plus actual motion over track).