Steam & Excursion > Riding the Reader Railroad Mixed Train in 1967, Part 1

On February 28, 1967, Roger Patelski and his parents rode the Reader Railroad Mixed Train.  They were the only passengers that day.  It was the regular run operated Tues-Thur-Sat, steam guaranteed.
 
The locomotive was 1702, a  U.S. Army Transportation Corp. 2-8-0,  USATC S160 Class.  Later she operated on the Short-lived Fremont and Elkorn Valley Railroad in Nebraska, And now she operates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City, NC.

The Reader Railroad operated in Ouachita County and Nevada County, Arkansas.  The Wikipedia entry is here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reader_Railroad

I've scanned 23 of Roger's slides from that day and will post them over the next few days.  You'll love them.  This first set is before they boarded the train.

1. The agent selling the tickets.  That's Roger's mother on the other side.
2. The Depot and Roger's parents.
3 and 4. The train.
5. Roger's mother looking at 1702.

Marty Bernard



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/19 21:57 by MartyBernard.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/19 21:42 by MartyBernard.

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Photo #3 is Artemis Adams, the long time Reader engineer, oiling up the 1702.  

Really looking forward to more Reader RR. Thanks.
Bill in Ft Worth

Can't remember the exact date but in the 1980's me and two other friends rode in the cab of the  2-6-2 wood burning engine hauling school children.  And we helped the engineer and fireman turn the engine on the "armstrong" turntable.  One thing about wood burners.  If the fireman doesn't have some blower working and he engineer closes the throttle the cab immediately fills with smoke that will really make your eyes water.