Blue Mountain & Reading Railroad - 1987 Railfan Weekend Footage
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- Home video footage from 1987 Railfan Weekend - includes runbys of 4-8-4 #2102, 4-6-2 #425, both steamers doubleheaded, as well as Pennsylvania Railroad-painted E8's pulling passenger trips. Enjoy this nostalgic look back at the Blue Mountain & Reading!
The 2102 and 425 recently did a double header in August
A doubleheader had recently occurred
Great memories! I rode the the doubleheader and it was fantastic to say the least. This one was even better than the preceding year and the one after. I hope 2102 is done before 425's boiler ticket expires so they can run a few times together again! The Autumn leaf trips double-headed would be awesome! For those that don't remember the 1987 Harrisburg trip was supposed to be double-headed but was just 2102 instead. That was another great run but would have been even better with 425 along as well. Luckily I still have the audio recordings of those trips and others for the memories!
Yes and RBMN excursions running on NS today (like to Harrisburg) would be impossible. The rules have changed. Friction bearings are pretty much verboten on class 1 railroads since around 1994, most of RBMN's coaches are friction (plain) bearing. Then there's liability insurance to deal with, in fact in 1986 BM&R couldn't run any excursions on Conrail because there was an insurance crisis. But, they took 425, tool car, and coaches to Hoboken, NJ that year for excursions to Port Jervis and back over NJT/Metro-North. Then, 2102 and the PRR and Reading diesels went to Hoboken in 1987 for excursions to Port Jervis. BM&R excursions on Conrail finally happened fall 1987, and 1988. For some reason, BM&R decided not to run any more off line Conrail excursions after 1988. The Sept. 1985 excursions with 2102 on Conrail were actually RCT&HS excursions using BM&R's ex-DL&W coaches and two ex-Reading Blueliner coaches. BM&R didn't own 2102 until 1986. 2102 was in Ohio before August, 1985. NS had a new steam program recently, but Wick Moorman retired and the new guy is not really fond of excursions. The program was cut back to just 611 in 2016 and 2017, and then NS told VMT that they would allow more excursions if Amtrak would host them. A deal was almost made, but in March, 2018 Amtrak suddenly announced a ban on most charter and excursion trains, and restricted PV moves. New CEO Richard Anderson is to blame for that. He believes that charters and excursions are a distraction to Amtrak's mission on serving the traveling public. The class 1 freight railroads are afraid of lawsuits and stupid railfans that stand on the tracks to take pictures, that is why except for UP, most class 1 railroads shun steam excursions or steam in general, although CSX's stance might be softening. Steam excursions on BNSF through 2017 worked because Amtrak insured the excursions. CSX hasn't allowed any steam excursions since October, 1994. I'm riding behind 611 again this weekend at Strasburg, first time was at Manassas, VA June 2016.
Thanks and you're welcome!
Hope to see 425 double head with 2102 once she's back in service
I can't imagine that wouldn't happen...
Depends on where 2102 ends up. Same goes for 2100 which has also been undergoing restortation for the past couple of years.
@@JCBro-yg8vd well where 2100 will run will depend but 2102 will most likely run on reading and northern
@@atsfevan0242 Then there might be a chance for her and 425 to team up again.
@@JCBro-yg8vd there going to most likely they both are owned by reading and northern
Boy could they have fun back then. I was just a youngster back then, but my father had me on hand to create some very early fond memories of what the Blue Mountain and Reading could offer. If only something similar could be done today with such great equipment. Those ex DL&w High and low roof trailers in my opinion were the best excursion consist you could ride behind. Open window seats and you cant forget the snack car. Iwsh he still owned the total number of coaches.
Still can't ponder why anyone would have rode the E8 train at the end of the day instead of the doubleheader. That trip was awesome! Glad I didn't miss it and have the recordings both ways beginning to end.....good times!!
They could have just been regular families, or streamliner fans who didn't care about steam one way or the other. Me? I'd have easily gone after steam.... :D
I wish the 5898 would have wound up in the possession of the Juniata terminal company that would have been a good home to be a third Pennsy E8 to have in their collection it was a real shame that the 5708 was scrapped and converted into a chapel correct me if I'm wrong
5706 is actually no longer a wedding chapel, it's now on display outside of a strip mall in Alabama.
Big Jim Video Productions I only wish that they would re-acquire that engine restore to a proper operating engine I don't like that it's at display at such an embarrassing place a locomotive that vintage should not be treated that way wouldn't you agree?
Why did they scrap the E8s?
The Reading 6 Chime on 425. Was it a whistle used in recent years by the way?
Not sure, one of the experts on whistles will have to join in and answer - I don't honestly know.
Yup - I don't mind her in either color, as long as she's out and running. :)
425's whistle at about 4:48 is like "I didn't need your help, 2102. I had everything under control."
HAHA
4:45
And yes Len, They should have kept those E8s. I loved then in the Pinstripe Scheme. And for some strange reason even like the modified pilot on the 5706. All they lack are the antennas. haha
Great Stuff! Thanks for the share!
Definitely cool!
Too bad I was too young to remember...
The pennsy branch is flat compared to where the 425 runs today....thats y......
I'm 30.
cool
425 could do it by itself it dont need help
No your wrong