Hello all,

In addition to railfanning, I am a Historical Interpreter at Auburn Valley State Park in Yorklyn, DE, and recently we discovered a stack of DVDs containing all the reel footage from the Marshall Family. The footage contains old family footage from the 20s and 30s, early operations on the Wilmington & Western as a tourist line, freight operations on the B&O's Landenberg Branch (now owned by HRCV), etc.

However, what really struck my eye was a DVD that contained footage of what appears to be an "Iron Horse Rambles" excursion on the Wilmington & Northern Branch of the Reading from the 1960s. The footage was taken by the late Thomas Clarence Marshall, Jr. (1924-2019) and features T-1 4-8-4s 2100, 2102, and 2124 all hauling trains. The footage was taken at very familiar locations on the W&N that East Penn Railroad, LLC currently operates on including but not limited to: Granogue Curve, Winterthur Station, New Road Crossing, and Montchanin Road Crossing.

I assume these excursions took place in the later years of the Rambles as 2101 is not in service, probably 1963-4. Does anyone here have any additional information on the W&N Rambles? I am hoping to create some sort of social media post for the park featuring the footage.

Thank you.

Hi Harry,

What I can tell you is that Reading 2124 ran on the Rambles from 1959 through the 1961 seasons. Reading 2100 was reactivated in 1960 and ran the 1960 through 1964 seasons. After 2124 was retired, 2102 was reactivated and ran with 2100 in the 1962, 1963, and 1964 seasons.

2101 was held in reserve as a spare engine for the Rambles by the Reading, but never actually ran in Ramble service.

John

The first W&N Ramble was April 9, 1961. 2124 pulled the train from Birdsboro to Elsmere Junction and 2100 pulled it back to Birdsboro. The train had originated in Jenkintown. This was 2100's first trip as a solo engine.

2100 had been painted and prepared for Ramble service in 1960 and sat at the Coal Dock in steam for each Ramble but did not pull a train until doubleheading behind 2124 on a trip to the hilly Shamokin Division on October 15, 1960. The second engine allowed for a 22-car train. The 1.5% from Shamokin to Locust Summit was interesting as they were schedulled* to make passenger train speed.

Thei established the pattern: because there was no way of turning a 110 foot steam locomotive in Wilmington, one engine pulled the train to Wilmington, another pulled it back. Each ran light backwards between Reading and Wilmington while offstage.

When 2124 was withdrawn after the 1961 season, 2100 became the primary engine and 2102 the secondary. This was the case to the end of the Rambles after the 1964 season.

2101 was never fired up for Ramble service. She made her name with the American Freedom Train and Chessie Steam Special.

As things happen, the April 9, 1961 Ramble included a "Speed Picture Stop" with 2124 on the Granogue curve. At a "Speed Picture Stop" the train stops, the passengers detrain and the train backs up then pulls forward for movies and photos. The crew makes sure there's smoke, steam and whistle blowing.

Phil Mulligan

* A schedulled fantrip? Officially the trains ran extra but the crew had a schedule and were expected to make it.