Reading & Northern #2102: The Reading Rides Again

"Return of the Rambles!" That phrase has been uttered countless times throughout the summer of 2022, and is the subject of one of the most anticipated steam events of the 21st century. The Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad has been a hotbed of steam activity this year, as railfans, photographers, and the general public alike travel from all over to witness the incredible site of T-1 4-8-4 #2102 thundering through the mountains of Pennsylvania Anthracite country for the first time in 30 years, bringing back a once common occurrence on the rails of the old Reading Railroad. Making her official public debut on Memorial Day Weekend, #2102 has had a busy schedule hauling the fabled "Iron Horse Rambles" excursions between Reading and Jim Thorpe, PA, in homage to the famous trips of the same name that graced much of these same rails in the early 1960s. #2102 feels right at home on the road she's served since her birth in the Reading Company's shops. The coal hauling brute looks and sounds better than ever with her powerful stack talk and screeching whistles echoing throughout the scenic countryside, thrilling thousands of people both trackside, and on board the sold out excursions. We were on hand to cover three of #2102's comeback outings throughout the summer, from her debut excursion on May 28th as well as another solo Ramble on September 3rd. Perhaps the most exciting of these Rambles took place on August 13th, when #2102 teamed up with the Reading & Northern's other iconic steam star, 4-6-2 #425, in a spectacular doubleheader. Bringing in crowds that heavily exceeded the expectations of most, the two locomotives put on a legendary show, running together for the first time since the days of the Blue Mountain & Reading in 1988. Footage from all three trips have been combined into one exciting video, showcasing the awesome sights and sounds of #2102 as "The Reading Rides Again!" #2102 was originally built by Baldwin in 1925 as I-10sa-class 2-8-0 Consolidation #2044. The T-1 4-8-4 class was developed in 1945 as means of satisfying the Reading Railroad's desire for bigger and more powerful steam locomotives. The I-10sa's were converted in the Reading's own shops in Reading, PA and #2044 soon became T-1 #2102. The "T-Hogs", as they were nicknamed by the crews, spent their working lives hauling massive coal trains from the Anthracite mines to the seaports, were the coal would be shipped worldwide and cross-country. The Reading ceased steam operations in 1956 and #2102 was sold to a steel corporation in Reading, where she was used to provide steam power for the company's plant, though she would not sit idle for long. In 1962, #2102 was returned to steam to participate in the famous "Reading Rambles" excursions alongside sister T-1 #2100. These excursions were favorites among railfans and were among the very first mainline excursions of the preservation era. Two years later in 1964, the Rambles drew to a close, and #2102 was sold to Steam Tours of Akron, Ohio, where she would soon begin a lengthy excursion career that saw her traveling to many destinations in the eastern third of the nation. Highlights of her mainline days included operations in West Virginia along the C&O Greenbrier Division, masquerading as Delaware & Hudson K-62 #302 on excursions in New York and into Canada, and doubleheading with Grand Trunk Western #4070 around the famous Horseshoe Curve near Altoona, PA. Finally in 1985, #2102 came home to Reading where she led a series of Rambles excursions before being purchased by Andy Muller for operations on his Blue Mountain & Reading Railroad. Andy continued to operate 2102 on mainline runs as well as featured her in special events on BM&R trackage. Her final runs in the 20th century took place in 1991 over the newly acquired "Reading Cluster" from Reading to Cressona and Tamaqua on a series of excursions and railfan weekends, as well as a coal drag. In 2016, the Reading & Northern began evaluating #2102 for restoration, and work soon commenced later that year. Six years later in 2022, she moved under her own power for the first time in 31 years and now she's ready to make history once again! Enjoy! Subscribe to Those Who Also Came Out for the Rambles!: Train Chamber: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv54... MPT 1225: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClAZ... Keeper of Steam Studios: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL7V... Fire Grate Productions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaR6... Blue Comet Productions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgSp... Keystone Rail Productions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC22b... SteamTrainVideos.com:    / steamtrainvideos   Pennsy Productions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi8F... Joe Fusco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5_Z... Business Car 10 Productions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Nn... Steven Saine Railfan Productions:    / @stevensainerailroadproductions