Reading & Northern open house pictures from 09/14/2003

On Sunday, September 14, 2003, I attended the Reading & Northern's open house in Port Clinton, PA. It was a celebration event for their 20th anniversary and it was wonderful. The employees and volunteers were excellent with all areas, taking time to talk with railfans and people who have never seen a train before. There were free trains rides (15 minutes toward Schuykill Haven) and lots of displays and activities. The rain even stayed away, although it looked like it wouldn't.

A big draw for me, was a chance to finally see the R&N steam locomotives. The R&N owns a 4-6-2 #425 and a 4-8-4 #2102. I never had a chance to see them run, since I moved to Eastern PA at the end of their excursion life, but it was still nice to see them. Also in storage at Port Clinton, is Ross Rowland's impressive C&O 614, another 4-8-4.

Hats off to the wonderful people at R&N who know how to run a railroad!

Here is a link to the Reading and Northern Railroad's Webpage.

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The 2102

The 2102 is together, but I'm not somebody who knows enough about steam locomotives to judge its state. The tender is definitely in need of some work as the pictures show. The cab windows in front of the fireman and engineer are smashed. Externally she appeared to be fine though. And I hear that she definitely needs some boiler work, but hey, she's in good hands.

2102_drivers.jpg A look at the drivers on the engineer's side of the 2102. Full size image is 99 kB	2102_engineers_side_controls.jpg A look at the controls on the engineer's side of the 2102. Full size image is 107 kB	2102_firemans_side_controls.jpg The gauges and controls on the conductors side of the 2102. The forward looking window is cracked pretty badly. Full size image is 111 kB
2102_front.jpg A front view of the 2102. Full size image is 95 kB	2102_front_right.jpg Here's 2102 from the front of the engineer's side. Full size image is 65 kB	2102_inside_tender.jpg Inside the tender of the 2102. Needs a little work.... Full size image is 111 kB
2102_inside_the_firebox.jpg A look inside the firebox of the 2102. Yes, that's a soda can on the left. Full size image is 68 kB	2102_left_side.jpg The fireman's side of the 2102 on a short train. Full size image is 79 kB	2102_looking_out_engineers.jpg Looking out the side window of the engineer's side of the 2102. Full size image is 58 kB
2102_looking_out_firemans.jpg Looking out the side window of the fireman's side of the 2102. Full size image is 47 kB	2102_profile.jpg Classic side profile of a T-1. Full size image is 132 kB	2102_roof_level_controls.jpg Here are some controls up at roof level. I see Stoker, dyname, injector steam and others. Full size image is 98 kB

The 425

The 425, still painted blue, is in the car shops, being worked on. All of the flues and boiler tubes have been removed and they are in the process of restoring her for operation (when they find the time to work on her).

425_aux_tender.jpg A blurry shot of the 425's auxilary tender. Full size image is 48 kB	425_front.jpg Looking into the empty smokebox of the 425. Full size image is 71 kB
425_rear.jpg Looking into the empty firebox of the 425. Full size image is 58 kB	425_side.jpg A look at the fireman's side of the 425. Full size image is 68 kB

The 614

The 614 looks sad, sad, sad. Especially knowing that she was the one to most recently run. Her main rods from the connecting rod to the drive wheels were removed. The paint on her jacketing is peeling off, and small plant life is growing on her. A tarp would definitely help the situation. I sure wish that somebody would buy this fine locomotive and let her stretch her legs again!

614_left.jpg The fireman's side of the 614. Full size image is 106 kB	614_right_side_rear.jpg A look a the engineer's side of the 614. Funky but effective door assembly. Full size image is 92 kB	614_steamdome.jpg I'll buy a few cans of Krylon if they let me pull out the plants growing on the side of the locomotive. :-( Full size image is 47 kB
614_stoker.jpg Tender separated from the locomotive. The stoker is ready for action. Full size image is 158 kB	614_tender_to_aux_tender_connection.jpg Here's the connection between the 614's tender and it's auxilary tender. Full size image is 138 kB	614_valvegear.jpg Hey, we're missing some parts here..... Full size image is 116 kB
614_far_left_rear.jpg A far look at the 614. Full size image is 96 kB	614_front.jpg The front of the 614 (of course into the sun). Full size image is 83 kB

Index created on Mon Sep 15 01:26:38 2003.
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