I have a question that I've been wondering about for a while. Last year when the 614 was up for auction and R&N bid on her....I was curious why they why bid on her instead of spending the $$ on repairing 2102?

Does anyone know what the scoop is with the 2102 and the 425?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Have a great weekend,

Alan Levy

AlanL759@aol.com

> Word up here is that the last few years were too hectic for spending money on the steamers. Besides, the R&N had a falling out with @ least one steam guy and its rumored they are interested in grant money. Also, supposedly, they are after another steamer

I live right beside the Reading & Northern's (R&N) main line.As most of you know the R&N has two steam locomotives.They are: Reading Company T-1 2102, and Gulf Mobile & Northern G-1 425.These locomotives have served the railroad many great years as a public realationship tool.The R&N is very concerned about public realationships!They feel their passenger excursions are very good for that perticular use.They also enjoied running the steam powered passenger excursions.Even when their steam power failed to fit the fedral railroad administration's (FRA) 5 year overhaul specifications the railroad operated diesel powered trips.They also operated RDC trips.All people must relize though that the passenger department has never been profitable to any railroad!Even for AMTRAK!Amtrak is owned federaly by the government and it is used for public transportation.It is true that the railroad is intrested in the 2100, but the railroad doesn't have the extra money to invest in another steam locomotive at this current date in time.Plus the R&N's passenger cars don't fit the FRA's specifications either, and the railroad's one RDC's transmission needs some work!Their was a meeting held by the Tamaqua Historical Society this week on the possibility of trying to convince the railroad to operate about 8 or so trips with the RDC's.Most trips would be departing from the former Reading Company's Tamaqua station.The station is undergoing restoration efforts.My point is that the railroad just doesn't have the time, money, and the restoration efforts to take on such a project at this time and date.

Caption & Link:The caption below is from the R&N's official website.It is the 425 at West Leesport.The photo is from 1992!The link is to the R&N's official website.

http://www.rbmnrr.com

Norfolk_Western_611@hotmail.com