Steam & Excursion > Chessie 2101 Passing By

Here are two views of Chessie 2101 (Ex-Reading 2101) in Parkstown, Pennsylvania on August 20, 1978.
1) Original view.
2) Closer crop.
For some reason I like this colorful going away shot. 
Bob

---

---

Class act, Bob-!  Thanks for sharing a 1978 Chessie steam special.

Thanks, Bob, a great photo.  I have a similar shot of the engine backing into Camden Station in Baltimore in May 1977 just before the very first Birthday Trip.  I'm actually standing on the platform of the future Club/Observation Car, ex-B&O 3302 "Edward G. Hooper" that will be on the rear of the Chessie Steam Safety Express beginning in 1980 when the railroad operated the ex-C&O 4-8-4 #614.  But when this photo was taken, no one had any idea that by 1980 the former Reading 4-8-4 2101 would no longer be in operation after the terrible fire in a former B&O Roundhouse in Silver Grove, Kentucky.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

---

John, I like how your photo has a similar view but also includes a tower.
Bob

refarkas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> John, I like how your photo has a similar view but
> also includes a tower.
> Bob
Thank you Bob, as that tower controlled the main line as well as the switches into the station and parts of the lower freight yard.  It's all gone now, you would not recognize the area at all.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

The late Dick Yager hated that paint scheme on a steam locomotive. He referred to the train as a "circus train". But some of us got a lot of fun miles behind that loco on non passenger routes,. I took three round trips on three different destinations out of Chicago. I got cinders in my eyes! Thank you Chessie management and Ross Rowland who made it possbile.

Victor Baird



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/06/25 19:21 by wabash2800.

Based on what I've read, the two Chessie officials most responsible for allowing the Chessie Steam Special to come to pass were former Lead of Passenger Operations William F. Howles Jr., who first met with Ross Rowland about using the 2101, and President Hays T. Watkins himself, who became a big advocate for steam.

Nice photos!  

The photo was taken of a Cleveland to Pittsburgh ferry trip.  Parkstown is in Western Pennsylvania near New Castle.

Still a dynamite paint scheme.