On a cloud-covered August morning, the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad would host an excursion on the Lehigh Line spanning from Nesquehoning, PA to Pittston, PA. Leading this thrilling steam-powered trip would be none other than Reading & Northern #2102, a 4-8-4 Reading T-1 steam locomotive that has been the railroad's excursion star since returning in 2022. Between Penobscot, PA and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Regional Railroad Station in Pittston, PA diesel assistance would be added on the Northbound leg in order to aid in a short portion of downhill braking. Otherwise, the mighty T-Hog would thunder up the mountains with ease unassisted! With hundreds of enthusiasts trackside and aboard, we follow the legendary T-1 climbing up and down the Lehigh Line. Join us as we experience the splendor of mainline steam, power and sound in "The Lehigh Line Explorer" by Keystone Rail Productions!

History of Reading 2102:
Reading 2102 was constructed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1925 as a 2-8-0 class I-10sa consolidation and numbered as 2044. By the year 1945, the Reading Railroad was in need of more powerful and larger locomotives. Rebuilt in Reading's very own shops, the components of 30 of the I-10sa consolidations were utilized to construct new 4-8-4 "Northerns" classified as T-1s. These locomotives were designed with the modernity to be used to haul long, heavy freight trains and fast passenger trains for the Reading. They had a colorful yet brief career hauling long stringers of hoppers at speed along miles of track in mountainous regions. However, their career was relatively short, as the Reading's steam operations ended in 1956 and all T-1s were stored serviceable by 1958. The future looked dark for 2102 as she was used as a steam generator for a steel plant. A year later, new hope would emerge as four of these T-1s would be saved from the scrappers torch to be used as the power for the Reading's Iron Horse Rambles excursions that would begin in 1959 and end in 1964. The four locomotives saved for the excursions was 2100, 2101, 2124, and of course 2102. Once the Rambles ended, she remained active along the Northeast region of the US, operating under many new owners. In 1985, the 2102 was purchased by Andy Muller, the owner of the Blue Mountain & Reading Railroad. In 1991, she made her final run under steam and was stored dormant, waiting for her return to steam. In 2016, a new restoration effort began by the skilled crews in the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad steam shops. After 6 years, thousands of hours of work, and nearly 2.4 million dollars, the locomotive would finally operate under her own power and make her long awaited return to the high iron.

Locations:
0:00 Nesquehoning Tunnel
1:46 Tannery - Steam & Diesel Meet
3:34 Mountain Top, PA
4:51 Solomon's Gap
6:28 Pittston - Oak Street
7:11 Pittston - Arrival
8:27 Pittston - Wying the Train
9:49 Pittston - Wigwags
10:56 Pittston - Switching & Servicing
12:47 Pittston - Southbound
14:13 Solomon's Gap
15:11 Glen Summit

To learn more and support the Reading & Northern's Passenger operations, please visit:
https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/

Special Thanks To:
- Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad
- Reading & Northern Passenger Department
- Andy Muller
- The Crews of 2102
- The KRP Family

Filmed on Saturday, August 17, 2024

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