Reading and Northern 2102: Echoes of Nostalgia on Autumn Scenes

Описание: On October 19th, 2024, I once again found myself trackside on the Reading and Northern Railroad to chase the famous T-1 4-8-4 #2102 as it traversed the traditional scenic route from Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe and returned. This trip was one of three Fall Foliage Excursions being led by the mighty locomotive, and being the middle of October meant I was treated to near-peak fall foliage!

Having now chased three seasons worth of these excursions with 2102, I decided to give myself a challenge on this chase. This was to catch 2102 at all-new locations or all-new angles at locations where I had previously filmed the locomotive during past fall seasons. Overall I was very successful, capturing 2102 at over ten new locations! Additionally, during the wye reverse moves this year I shot 2102 from the famous hill by Jim Thorpe Jct, instead of across the river at River Jct. as I had during both chases last year.

To further make these excursions unique, 2102 featured a new voice for the first time since her completed restoration in 2022. This was none other than a Reading 6 chime owned by a longtime employee of the Reading and Northern, Steve Gilbert. Steve retired at the end of the railroad's fall season, and as a nice send-off for his 40 years of work with the R&N, the guys on the steam crew decided to swap out 2102's traditional 6-chime for Steve's. 2102 had worn his whistle during some of its excursions throughout the 1980s, however, it was the first time they would be reunited in her new service life. For those who remembered those excursions, it was most definitely a nostalgic experience to hear it echoing through Blue Mountain again.

Steve has contributed a lot to the R&N over the years, as well as to helping to save the 2102 from being scrapped. A big thank you to all he has done, and I wish him an enjoyable retirement!

Without further ado, please enjoy this all-new and unique chase of 2102 through the beautiful autumn scenery of northeast Pennsylvania!

0:00 Intro
0:25 Early Morning Prep at the Port Clinton Steam Shop
3:47 Deadhead departure for Reading Outer Station
4:57 Arrival at Outer Station
7:45 9am Departure for Port Clinton and Jim Thorpe
11:11 West Hamburg, PA
12:20 Port Clinton Departure
14:40 Hecla, PA
15:47 Zehners
16:58 Cresting the grade at Haucks
19:08 Nesquehoning Tunnel
20:32 Wye-maneuvers at Jim Thorpe Jct. (LGSR passes across the river)
27:19 Southbound through Nesquehoning
28:57 Climbing the last of Hometown Hill to Marian Ave
31:12 Spruce St. Tamaqua, PA
32:38 Drifting through Millers Crossing
33:45 Whistling through Leesport, PA
35:26 Outro

Music in this video:
Song: Tropic Fuse
Artist: French Fuse
Licensed to YouTube by: YouTube Audio Library