Eastern Railroad Discussion > Down the Mountain With the R&N's ATSF GP39RN's

Yesterday was the first day of service on the Reading & Northern for a pair of their recently acquired ex-ATSF GP30's. The locos were rebuilt to GP38-2 standards in the 1980's and are referred to as GP39RN's by the R&N. I caught them on the Mountain Job which runs to Mount Carmel Jct. and the North Shore RR interchange. Never expected snow photos after the 80 degree weather we had recently, but that's Spring in eastern Pennsylvania. Began the chase at Mount Carmel Jct. at 10AM and ended it with the same locomotives on the Reading Turn in Reading, Pa at 7:30PM that night. Enjoy the tour.
Leaving Mt. Carmel Jct. headed down the mountain
Next crossing Lavalle Road
Third crossing Tielman Road on the way downgrade to Gordon

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Leaving Gordon, a former Reading Company engine terminal
Approaching Ashland, Pa
Third photo working Gilbert Coal near old St. Nicholas Yard

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Crossing R&N painted bridge in downtown Mahanoy City
Coming out of the Mahanoy Tunnel under Buck Mountain
Money shot passing restored Reading Company passenger station in Tamaqua

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Passing the culm piles at South Tamaqua on the Reading Turn Job
Passing Zeihners
On the roll through New Ringgold

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Approaching Molino, Pa
Last photo arriving at NS's Reading, Pa Yard - former home of the "America's Largest Anthracite Carrier"

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Great series thanks for posting! Any word on how they will be re-painted, which scheme? Sure would be sharp in as delivered RDG gp-30 green and yellow.

Beautiful series, engines, countryside.

Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to post.

Rob Smith
Hamilton, ON

Excellent photos, there are a lot of great scenes in that area.

Great to see them out running around! It seems just like yesterday (2008) when I last saw them working BNSF locals here in Southern California.

Thanks for sharing these,

Rich

My information is that they will be painted in the final Reading Company scheme ala the GP39-2's and the GP40-2's. Solid green with yellow nose stripes. In the nose and cab diamonds it will read Reading & Northern instead of Reading Lines. Should be attractive.

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Man, we really got to get out and see those.

Tehachapi-TJ Over & Out.

Oh WOW! Wouldn't it be fabulous if the R&N left those locos in the Santa Fe livery. What a tribute it would b to a great fallen flag.

Jim

Great shots and I'm sure they'll wear that green RDG scheme just fine. At any rate, it's nice to see them back out running and not rotting in the Topeka, Kansas City and Newton, KS deadlines. One minor correction, is that they were rebuilt in-kind in the 80s as GP30s with some electrical and otherwise mechanical upgrades. Foamers (and maybe the actual railroad) dubbed these "GP30u" for upgraded. They were basically still stock GP30s up to the end. I think they had a poor man's 645 as well, 567 block with 645 power assemblies.

Pump

Posted from iPhone

I miss running those GP30's! I think I had 2430 once or twice myself.

PT

Neat stuff Dale!
Jim

What a great chase! From snow on the ground to nice green grass!

Jon

When I used them on the SANTA FE/bnsf they worked about the same way. Took at least two to move six cars.

Those were great switch engines. Great response time. Better than theses GP60M's we us now

Excellent chase and results! Like the addition of a snow plow. Wonder why these units can run around without Santa Fe lined or painted out as all exUP units are?
JB