I was track side for this excursion and remember it well. We chased the train from Allentown to Jim Thorpe and got a lot of nice pictures. That day 2102 wore two whistles, passenger and its original freight hooter. I liked the passenger whistle better. I heard about the disastrous water in the tender and difficult direction change in Allentown. Too bad no one thought about the possibility of getting bad water from a local fire department. I'm sure no one will make that mistake again. Andy Muller had recently purchased a large amount of former DL&W electric MU trailing cars for his passenger fleet. It was nice to see them so beautifully refurbished. I rode the DL&W Electrics many time on the Morristown Line between Dover & Hoboken. I'm glad many of them found good homes elsewhere. Thanks for posting.
Jim Mulligan? Don't you mean Andy Muller? He bought the 2102 in 1986 from the Ohio group that brought it to Reading in August 1985. He bought the ex-EL trailers from NJ Transit in 1984. This wasn't really a BM&R excursion, but rather a Reading Tech excursion as well as the runs to Harrisburg and Philly. The 2102 can't touch any of the ex-Reading ex-Conrail lines owned by NS now.
@@robkrasinski6217 This was 7 years ago. I knew a guy named Jim Mulligan at the time and for some reason got names mixed up. Of course I meant Andy Muller. I know where the passenger cars came from. I never knew were Muller got 2102 from, but I'm glad he did. Obviously it went to a good home. BTW, I met Andy Muller during the May 28 excursion.
I was on this trip. What a long day it turned out to be. The chemical in the water from the fire company that turn the '02 into a rolling bubble bath is called SLIP. It is added to fire truck to increase the flow of water from the pump and hoses. And from what I understand the towerman/operator at Allentown lost his job over the turn around debacle.
That was a once in a lifetime opportunity to ride steam into Conrail's Allentown Yard. BM&R repeated the trips in fall 1987, and 1988 to various destinations over Conrail. I know a man from Bethlehem who was on this train, he rode in one of the Reading coaches with the silver roofs. #2102 hasn't turned a wheel under its own power since Oct 1991 when it pulled special trips from Lansdale to Glenside on SEPTA. A month before, it pulled trips from Emmaus to Pennsburg, I was on that train.
At 0:06 the whistle for the disaster trip is a Buffalo Creek and Gauley 3-chime whistle which the 425 weared in July 2008, June 2010, and in December 2014
Great vid, nothing barks like a T-1. I hope someday Mr Muller will have enough excurison traffic to warrent the expense of bringing her back to life. 425 or 2102, doesn't matter because any steam is better then none.
That is a Hancock Long-Bell 3-Chime whistle, often referred to as a "steamboat" whistle and is the same model as used on the Daylight, but not her whistle. This whistle is not the kind used on the Reading 2102 and her sisters during their regular Reading careers, They carried a single note Reading freight whistle which you can hear on my other 2102 video here on TH-cam
When was the last time a live steam train passed through Allentown, PA? It had to be 1988 because the 765 pulled two trips to Temple in July, 1988 from Bound Brook, NJ and BM&R did some trips as well to Jim Thorpe, Philly, Harrisburg, Gettysburg, all with 2102, Horseshoe Curve PRR diesels, Tamaqua Reading diesels all trips went over Conrail lines, most are Norfolk Southern now except the Tamaqua line which now belongs to the Reading and Northern. Was there any steam through Atown in the 90's?
There is no way that is Palmerton. I was standing on the 9th Street bridge, which I thought was in North Catty, but apparently it's in Northampton. The shot after it is taken from the Rt. 873 overpass at Lehigh Gap, after which I turned around and started back for my home in Queens, NY. I didn't go as far as Palmerton that day,
The only way steam will go through Allentown now is if it's an NS steam special like the 765 is doing now in Harrisburg or a 21st Century steam excursion through the TVRM with 630 or 4501.
Two whistles? Do you know what whistles they were? How can you have two whistles mounted at the same time? How does the engineer switch between them? Were there two whistle cords, lol? I understand Conrail wan't too happy with this excursion, plus the stall on the return past Emmaus near the PA turnpike bridge, Conrail had to send diesels probably from Allentown to rescue the train and take it back to Temple. But, Conrail let BM&R run more excursions in fall 87 and 88 before the plug was pulled.
You just answered your own question RWK. although the last steamer to go through but not under steam was the Royal hudson. that was sent out to Calf. to be restored. Len.
That's a rare shot of the Basin St. crossing. In 1993 the crossings were replaced by bridges and the road lowered due to pressure from the City because of delays to auto traffic.1965: Operator-Reading Co., at-grade crossings. 1985: Operator-Conrail, at-grade crossings. 2012: Operator-Norfolk Southern, bridge overpasses.
The 2102 is coming back! RBMN hopes to have it in service this fall or next year. They are almost done with the restoration work, then they will probably paint it with Reading and Northern replacing BM&R on the tender. Although it will probably never run on the ex-Reading or CNJ lines again (owned by NS now) because they ended their recent steam program and NS doesn't like friction bearings and open window coaches. It will probably stay on RBMN tracks.
Gee RWK, I thought you knew everything. at least you think you do. The 2102 had two whistle , One the Reading Freight hooter and the Reading passenger 6 chime. Len.
This year 765 is going to Allentown! August 8 and 9. Boarding might be Bethlehem. Musikfest is that weekend so Bethlehem will be crowded. Trips go to Pittston and Jim Thorpe and return. Too bad no trips toward Reading or NJ. These are Norfolk Southern steam program trips with Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. Tickets go on sale June 1.
Jimbo2317 is wrong on the location of Northamton , The location is at Palmerton,PA. . I know the former CNJ in side and out. plus if you look at Palmerton,PA. through google earth you also can see where this is. Len.
I was track side for this excursion and remember it well. We chased the train from Allentown to Jim Thorpe and got a lot of nice pictures. That day 2102 wore two whistles, passenger and its original freight hooter. I liked the passenger whistle better. I heard about the disastrous water in the tender and difficult direction change in Allentown. Too bad no one thought about the possibility of getting bad water from a local fire department. I'm sure no one will make that mistake again. Andy Muller had recently purchased a large amount of former DL&W electric MU trailing cars for his passenger fleet. It was nice to see them so beautifully refurbished. I rode the DL&W Electrics many time on the Morristown Line between Dover & Hoboken. I'm glad many of them found good homes elsewhere. Thanks for posting.
Jim Mulligan? Don't you mean Andy Muller? He bought the 2102 in 1986 from the Ohio group that brought it to Reading in August 1985. He bought the ex-EL trailers from NJ Transit in 1984. This wasn't really a BM&R excursion, but rather a Reading Tech excursion as well as the runs to Harrisburg and Philly. The 2102 can't touch any of the ex-Reading ex-Conrail lines owned by NS now.
@@robkrasinski6217 This was 7 years ago. I knew a guy named Jim Mulligan at the time and for some reason got names mixed up. Of course I meant Andy Muller. I know where the passenger cars came from. I never knew were Muller got 2102 from, but I'm glad he did. Obviously it went to a good home. BTW, I met Andy Muller during the May 28 excursion.
Fantastic video.👍🤠🇺🇸
What whistle is 2102 wearing in the beginning of the video???
Was a B&O 3 Chime whistle, the same one that #425 wore many years ago
I was on this trip. What a long day it turned out to be. The chemical in the water from the fire company that turn the '02 into a rolling bubble bath is called SLIP. It is added to fire truck to increase the flow of water from the pump and hoses. And from what I understand the towerman/operator at Allentown lost his job over the turn around debacle.
That was a once in a lifetime opportunity to ride steam into Conrail's Allentown Yard. BM&R repeated the trips in fall 1987, and 1988 to various destinations over Conrail. I know a man from Bethlehem who was on this train, he rode in one of the Reading coaches with the silver roofs. #2102 hasn't turned a wheel under its own power since Oct 1991 when it pulled special trips from Lansdale to Glenside on SEPTA. A month before, it pulled trips from Emmaus to Pennsburg, I was on that train.
At 0:06 the whistle for the disaster trip is a Buffalo Creek and Gauley 3-chime whistle which the 425 weared in July 2008, June 2010, and in December 2014
I don't think it's a BC&G 3 Chime whistle, it's actually a B&O 3 Chime whistle
@@SuperFoxyRailwayProduction6702 Yeah. Your right.
Great video, the black and white gave it a sense of yesterday
In 2000 the C&O 614 was towed to Reading . from Kerney, NJ.
9-22-2020, this trip took place on this day 35 years ago, about 11 years before I was even born, and I’m still watching. Anyone else?
She looked even prettier as she headed the freedom train in 1976, I know I was on it when she stopped at Valley Forge Pa. 👍🤠🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
You might be thinking of her sister the 2101
Great vid, nothing barks like a T-1. I hope someday Mr Muller will have enough excurison traffic to warrent the expense of bringing her back to life. 425 or 2102, doesn't matter because any steam is better then none.
Moparmadman69 425’s been back about 3 years before the original comment. 2102 is nearing compleation.
That is a Hancock Long-Bell 3-Chime whistle, often referred to as a "steamboat" whistle and is the same model as used on the Daylight, but not her whistle.
This whistle is not the kind used on the Reading 2102 and her sisters during their regular Reading careers, They carried a single note Reading freight whistle which you can hear on my other 2102 video here on TH-cam
When was the last time a live steam train passed through Allentown, PA? It had to be 1988 because the 765 pulled two trips to Temple in July, 1988 from Bound Brook, NJ and BM&R did some trips as well to Jim Thorpe, Philly, Harrisburg, Gettysburg, all with 2102, Horseshoe Curve PRR diesels, Tamaqua Reading diesels all trips went over Conrail lines, most are Norfolk Southern now except the Tamaqua line which now belongs to the Reading and Northern. Was there any steam through Atown in the 90's?
Love the video!!
There is no way that is Palmerton. I was standing on the 9th Street bridge, which I thought was in North Catty, but apparently it's in Northampton.
The shot after it is taken from the Rt. 873 overpass at Lehigh Gap, after which I turned around and started back for my home in Queens, NY.
I didn't go as far as Palmerton that day,
i wish i was riding behind Reading 2102 in 1985!
Same! Too bad I was born in the wrong decade!
The only way steam will go through Allentown now is if it's an NS steam special like the 765 is doing now in Harrisburg or a 21st Century steam excursion through the TVRM with 630 or 4501.
@ 4:44 that dog was about to be "Puppy Chow"
Two whistles? Do you know what whistles they were? How can you have two whistles mounted at the same time? How does the engineer switch between them? Were there two whistle cords, lol? I understand Conrail wan't too happy with this excursion, plus the stall on the return past Emmaus near the PA turnpike bridge, Conrail had to send diesels probably from Allentown to rescue the train and take it back to Temple. But, Conrail let BM&R run more excursions in fall 87 and 88 before the plug was pulled.
You just answered your own question RWK. although the last steamer to go through but not under steam was the Royal hudson. that was sent out to Calf. to be restored.
Len.
That's a rare shot of the Basin St. crossing. In 1993 the crossings were replaced by bridges and the road lowered due to pressure from the City because of delays to auto traffic.1965: Operator-Reading Co., at-grade crossings. 1985: Operator-Conrail, at-grade crossings. 2012: Operator-Norfolk Southern, bridge overpasses.
The 2102 is coming back! RBMN hopes to have it in service this fall or next year. They are almost done with the restoration work, then they will probably paint it with Reading and Northern replacing BM&R on the tender. Although it will probably never run on the ex-Reading or CNJ lines again (owned by NS now) because they ended their recent steam program and NS doesn't like friction bearings and open window coaches. It will probably stay on RBMN tracks.
Now it runs on the ex-Reading through Tamaqua and ex-CNJ through Nesquehoning.
That was very close, but the engine's whistle was loud enough to scare it away, thankfully...
Gee RWK, I thought you knew everything. at least you think you do. The 2102 had two whistle , One the Reading Freight hooter and the Reading passenger 6 chime.
Len.
This year 765 is going to Allentown! August 8 and 9. Boarding might be Bethlehem. Musikfest is that weekend so Bethlehem will be crowded. Trips go to Pittston and Jim Thorpe and return. Too bad no trips toward Reading or NJ. These are Norfolk Southern steam program trips with Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. Tickets go on sale June 1.
i love that locomotive
Jimbo2317 is wrong on the location of Northamton , The location is at Palmerton,PA. . I know the former CNJ in side and out. plus if you look at Palmerton,PA. through google earth you also can see where this is.
Len.
@jimbo2317 Thank you. I appreciate the correction. A lot of my descriptions are from memory as I was piss-poor about taking contemporaneous notes.
Did this train go through Hellertown PA or Bethlehem
Is that the whistle from the daylight at about 2:30??? Very nice video!!!
Ya but how did it get to the Saucone Yard without going through Bethlehem PA
No, they just went from Temple,PA. to Jim Thorpe .
Len.
Yep. I know. I was just curious if it was the 4449's whistle. It sounds JUST like it! Again, very nice video!