Steam & Excursion > Ex-Reading T-1, 4-8-4 #2102 on the B&O

This photo has been duplicated many times; however the last time it was here on Trainorders, it was posted on the Nostalgia Board.  This is the ex-Reading T-1 #2102, now owned by the Reading & Northern Railroad.  The year of this photo is May 1972 and shows the engine on the B&O main line crossing the Baltimore Beltway Interstate 695 back when there were so few cars as compared to now.  Photo by Joe Hopkins, now in my collection.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

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Great historic both railroad and highway scene.
Bob

I remember that trip very well...
Started in Newark, NJ, down the Reading RR to Philly,,onto the B&O through Baltimore, 
to Union Station, Washington DC..

Overnight at Ivy City service area...back the same route to NJ..
Track speeds, all the way....
RR crews did the running...
Was an excellent and fun trip ...

But, on way into the terminal at Washington, a stubby radio antenna on the cab roof,
( for RR FM radios) got EXPLODED, as we entered the platform area of lowered catenary ...

All the terminal catenary went dead, as we rolled calmly to a stop at the bumper block.. our ears still ringing ...
Every supervisor in Washington Terminal came running---- concerned that crew members might be injured..  
We were all safe,

Luckily, the cab-end of the antenna wire was not screwed into the crew's carry-on FM radio..

Thanks for the memory.  
During the 1972 to 1974 seasons, we ran many excursions in the north-east...
In the Summers and in the Winters... year 'round..
She earned her keep hauling many fan trips, many hills, many miles, many railroads..

This Spring, 2023,  I plan to vistit my old-teacher, and reminisce about all the wonderful lessons
she taught me, and all the friends we made.  2102 taught me so much about steam and
about people.

From Ohio, to West Virgina, to Montreal, to Washington, DC..
Hagerstown & Baltimore, and everywhere in between..
Never missed a trip, never stalled pulling a train.  

Ross's first use of a booster ---- climbing uphill, out of Scranton, from a dead-start, 22 cars...  
NEVER slipped, Never skipped a beat...  No helpers, no dismals..
Knocked some concrete off the tunnel's roof, though.

I loved operating and caring-for those T-1s..... 


Wes Camp



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/26/22 16:10 by wcamp1472.

Hi Wes:
This photo is of Reading R.R. engineer Harry "Henry" C. Brock whom I met on another steam trip on the old Pennsylvania R.R. (Penn Central by then) in 1969.  We became friends and he was retired from the Reading and he had many, many stories to tell about his days running those T-1's in regular freight service.  Mr. Brock also was the engineer on a few of the Reading Rambles before he took his retirement.  Trust me, he knew steam locomotives.  He passed away in 1981 at 82 years old.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

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I was lucky to have met many steam-guys in the 60s and 70s...
He sounds like a real Prince!

Thank you so much for your posts and your photo of Mr. Brock

An eariy mentor for me was RDG General Boiler Inspector, Ben Kantner,
THE steam-guy for all aspects of the readiness for the locos of
the Reading Rambles   He was on every trip they ran the Rambles ... but,
a he had a whole career as RDG's  boiler authority.. even before dismals
came on the scene.  

I was the luckiest Steam-student, and as gruff as Kantner was, he took
the time to involve and teach me..  There's nobody around, like that, today. 

I had several other steam-heads that supported my learning...
RDG, NYC, NKP, N&W, C&O, PRR, CNJ .... I was VERY fortunate to have
studied under all those experienced, dedicated instructors..

I'm 82, be 83 in August...
6ft 6 inches, 175 lbs.

But I gotta' do better at getting WAY more excercise..
(Medicines seem to weaken my leg muscles.. but hopefully,
  using my legs more can be beneficial..)

Wes Camp


 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/22 01:43 by wcamp1472.