Steam & Excursion > Reading and Northern 2102 at Leesport, PA

I had hoped to get out this morning to catch the 2012 on the last run it will do this year but things didn't quite line up as I had hoped.

I was able to run over to Leesport this evening though to catch it returning to Reading after carrying passengers to Jim Thorpe for the day.

Here she is heading home a little after 6:30PM. The voices you hear at the beginning were from a sweet older couple who had been waiting for a while there. The wife wasn’t sure how to work the video function on her phone and was a bit nervous about the gaggle of railfans with out of state license plates that rolled in fast just before showtime.

Enjoy!
Dan



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/26/24 16:19 by dschlegel.

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Very nice! Must admit that I prefer the original Reading freight whistle, as that is what I fondly remember from the Iron Horse Ramble in 1959 behind 2124.

Incredible video of an incredible show. It never gets old, and we’re so lucky to live in the vicinity of this, and other steam operations.

John R

Posted from iPhone

Dan - very nice video that shows you haven't lost your touch in getting a well composed video!

Nice video :-)

Thanks for the nice video and thanks to Andy Muller and his team for all they do to keep the steam flame burning brightly. Great show !!!  

      Ross Rowland 

What a treat. 1st class all the way. Thanks Andy and your amazing staff.

This video put a tear in my eye, and chill down my spine (with that 1st whistle--perfect, haunting whistle for October!).  I just love seeing all the people on the train, waving.  Such a wonderful service he's providing to the public.

Beautiful video and timeless scene that happened thousands of time a day in small town America back in better times.
Thank you!

Thank you all for the kind words!

I too prefer the shrill sounding freight whistle, it’s what I remember hearing when I first saw the 2102 back in the mid 80’s (side note, my first ride behind the 2102 was in September of 1985 from Reading to Jim Thorpe via Allentown, for those that are aware of this trip let’s just say I didn’t attend school the next day). When I hear it I have an emotional response that brings tears to my eyes!!!

As for being lucky to live where we do, I do feel really blessed! I spent 4 years in the USAF and saw a lot of our country and the world. I met a Texas girl and convinced her to move to PA when we got married in 1999, and she too has come to love eastern PA!

Thanks again for the kind words!

Dan

Posted from iPhone

The rhythmic clank of the siderods + no distinct stack music,
tells that this is flat track --- and he's staying right-at allowed speed.
The most distinctive sound is of the whistle, only ---- the rest is 
happy sounds of coasting along ---- the day's fights are over...

She's heading tor the Barn ! 

I had the rare distinction of being Benson's Master Mechanic,
during the late, 1971 years to 1974's
We toured many railroads with fantastic trips coordinated by 
Ross, Bruce Sterzing, Benson, and many others ---2102 performed
flawlessly.   It's great that Andy and his crew did a fine job of getting 
her gone-over, very thoroughly....

As having been her caretaker, it warms my heart as I ride her trains today,
and watch her videos... There is no way to imagine the joys that these
vidoes re-kindle in my heart, the wonderful trips of that era.

I was especially proud to have coached Ross, the first time he took her 
out of Scranton, headed to NJ --- it was Ross's first experience using a
locotive booster,  He mastered that skill very quickly..

It was uphill, right out of Scranton, 2 1/2% up-hill... She marched the whole train 
right out of there .... towards Nay Aug and the tunnel...

I get to re-live the joys that 2102 brought to my life!
50 years ago!

​W.