Film Wednesday – October 5th, 2024, Reading Blue Mountain and Northern 2102 makes its way toward Jim Thorpe, PA during their first fall color run of the season.
According to Wikipedia: Reading Blue Mountain and Northern 2102 (historically known as Reading 2102) is a preserved “T-1” 4-8-4 “Northern” type steam locomotive. Originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in March 1925 as an “I-10sa” 2-8-0 “Consolidation” type locomotive for the Reading Company, No. 2102 was rebuilt by the Reading’s own locomotive Shops as a 4-8-4 “Northern” in September 1945, and it was used for pulling heavy coal trains for the railroad until being retired from revenue service in 1956.
Between 1962 and 1964, No. 2102 was used to haul the Iron Horse Rambles excursion trains. After the Rambles ended in 1964, No. 2102 was sold to Steam Tours Inc. of Akron, Ohio, and it spend the next several years pulling various fan trips in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. In 1985, it was sold again to Andy Muller to operate on his Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad alongside 4-6-2 No. 425, until its flue time expired, on October 27, 1991. Beginning in February 2016, the locomotive was restored to operating condition, and then it returned to service, in April 2022.
Tech Info: Mamiya C330 Professional, Ilford HP5 Film, Mamiya 80mm, f/4, 1/500, ISO 400.