Steam & Excursion > Fifty or More Years Ago - Reading 2102

Ex-Reading 2102 is on display in the N&W (Ex-AC&Y) yard in Akron, Ohio in April 1972. In a few days she would power two excursions from Akron, Ohio to Spencer, Ohio.
Bob

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refarkas Wrote:
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> Ex-Reading 2102 is on display in the N&W (Ex-AC&Y)
> yard in Akron, Ohio in April 1972. In a few days
> she would power two excursions from Akron, Ohio to
> Spencer, Ohio.
> Bob
Thanks for the photo, Bob, as we had the Reading 2102 here in Baltimore on the former Western Maryland Railway on a very cold weekend in February of 1972.  What a great trip we had with the 2102 from Baltimore up to Hagerstown, Maryland and return.  Those were the days for sure when steam was welcomed on many of the Class One Roads and especially the well maintained and operated Western Maryland.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

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Anyone have photos or videos of this past Saturday's R&N trip with the 2102 to share?

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Chris Bost
Leesport, PA

Nice looking locomotive.
—Mac

The stories Wes would tell about 2102.

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Don't want to threadjack, but here she is in Jim Thorpe this past Saturday.. We rode from Reading and it was a fantastic run with beautiful scenery. 

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Back on top of the world

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I always considered the Reading T-1 to be somewhat of an ugly duckling, but getting up close with 2102 changed my mind. She is an impressive locomotive. I'd encourage all fans of big steam to take in an excursion on the Reading & Northern. I think a lot of people write that operation off as not being a real mainline excursion. While it may not be class 1, they are very much mainline exursisions and have everything you'd want including open windows, no diesels, cab tours, respectable speed (30 - 40mph), stiff grades, great scenery, reasonalble prices. They aren't afraid to work the 2102 either right down to near stall situations. Even the non-railfans seem to fall silent and become mesmerized by the show.

 

I can't believe that some snobs would criticize the 2102 trips. They've made great progress painting the consist so it looks like a real life passenger train unlike some of the "Rainbow Coalition" trips using rented/leased cars all mixed together.
I need to come up with a way to get this old coot up there and witess the magic.
Plus, those who know my past know how much  I love loud exhaust.
I hope they keep up the good work and if anyone has a problem with what they are doing, don't look or go around it.

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> I can't believe that some snobs would criticize
> the 2102 trips. They've made great progress
> painting the consist so it looks like a real life
> passenger train unlike some of the "Rainbow
> Coalition" trips using rented/leased cars all
> mixed together.
> I need to come up with a way to get this old coot
> up there and witess the magic.
> Plus, those who know my past know how much  I
> love loud exhaust.
> I hope they keep up the good work and if anyone
> has a problem with what they are doing, don't look
> or go around it.


Agreed.
Next 2102 trip is May 23rd.

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Chris Bost
Leesport, PA

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> Back on top of the world

 Thank you! I apologize, I didn't notice this on the original post.