Steam & Excursion > Reading & Northern #425 and Santa trains; 12-23-18

On 12/23/2018, I returned to the R&N to sample their Santa train operations with the venerable 4-6-2.
I had not planned to ride, however when I arrived there was a foggy overcast, so I took a trip from North Reading to Port Clinton.
This is 20 miles each way, so the $14.00 fare is quite reasonable.
The coaches were warm, the Christmas music wasn't too obnoxious (mostly classics), and #425 even drowned out the music for a few miles approaching West Hamburg.
There was only a couple of fairly well-behaved kids at my end of the first coach, so Santa did not hang around.
I then attempted to chase the 2 afternoon trips, which was hampered by many factors, including an approaching weather front which killed the sweet light before 4pm.
But the dedicated rail photographer perserveres, however, and you learn things for future reference.
Warren W. Jenkins photography
First 2 at North Reading Outer Station.

---

---

Crossing Schuylkill River northbound at 1:10pm, and coming through the deep cut under Dog Kennel Bridge, Leesport is at the end of this long tangent.

---

---

Coming and going northbound at Kernsville, with GP38-2 #2012 bringing up the rear. #2012 was recently rebuilt from 1 of the several former NS/SR high-hood units that R&N bought in 2017.

---

---

Coming back southbound , the big steel truss bridge is x-PRR Schuylkill Division, now a trail from North Hamburg to west of Port Clinton.

---

---

After waiting 90 minutes on a muddy farm lane between Berne and Shoemakersville,PA., and getting an R&N freight (posted earlier this week), the sun disappeared about 3:45pm. Since #425 was already audible, I bumped the ISO up to 400 and hoped for the best.

---

---

This is a video of the preceding photographs, however it is more of an audio due to encroaching darkness, I thought some might enjoy hearing the engine.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/19 15:11 by warren1977.

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Nice series - good to see No. 425 in "new" locations!

Thanks for sharing!

/Mitch