Reading & Northern:

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   / @stevensainerailfanproductions   Reading & Northern: #425 Mountain Top 7-9-2022.

On the weekend after Independence Day, we traveled up to the Anthracite country of Pennsylvania to chase one of the loudest steam locomotives in the United States: Reading & Northern #425. On July 9th, R&N scheduled their semiannual (seeing as the trips haven't run since 2019) Mountain Top excursions from Mountain Top (hence the name) to Jim Thorpe PA.

425 was built in 1928 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works as a 4-6-2 light "Pacific" type locomotive for the Gulf Mobile & Northern railroad. 425 would primarily haul passenger trains on the GM&N between both New Orleans and/or Mobile Alabama to Jackson Tennessee. In 1940, the GM&N was reorganized into the Gulf Mobile & Ohio railroad and 425 was renumbered to 580. 580 was retired in 1950. In 1961, Paulson Spence purchased the locomotive and ran it on his Louisiana Eastern railroad as number 4. However, after the passing of Mr. Spence, the LER shut down. While 4's sister was scrapped, 4 was purchased by Malcom Ottinger for the Valley Forge Scenic Railroad. While on the Valley Forge, she was renumbered back to 425. In 1970, Brian Woodcock purchased 425 and moved it to the Wilmington & Western Railroad while never operated. In 1983, Andrew Muller Jr. purchased the locomotive to operate on his Reading Blue Mountain & Northern railroad. She would operate between 1983 and 1995 pulling many excursions until she was retired. She would have a major overhaul in 2007 and would operate many excursions on the RBM&N. Including a brief visit to the Steamtown National Historic Site.

425 has gone through many paint schemes/cosmetic overhauls over the last 39 years:
black with upper headlight (1980's)
blue with upper headlight (1990's)
bright blue with center headlight (2008-2013)
a 4-year period of gradual change
the current USRA blue scheme with center headlight (2017-now)

*The whistle on the locomotive was a Southern Pacific 6 chime (supposedly off of GS-4 #4450)

*The main reason we wanted to see the 425 was because we know it's about to go out of service for its FRA 15-year 1472-day inspection. Since we had only limited time left with the 425, it was a no brainer to go out and chase it once again (also, no, I don't think I'll be able to chase her in November for her final Fall foliage excursions unfortunately due to lack of time available). I feel very fortunate to have seen her operate the few times I did.