R&N 425 Active Today

Joshua K. Blay · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:24 pm

It has been confirmed that 425 has been on the move north of Reading today, unknown consist, duration, distance etc.

Joshua

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2606

Do available details specify under steam or in-tow?

Joshua K. Blay · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 4:11 pm

Under steam, for sure.

Joshua K. Blay · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:42 pm

Sounds like Port Clinton-Leesport-Jim Thorpe! Here's a shot, from another forum, going by the Tamaqua Station-

http://forums.railfan.net/image.cgi?/RB ... 2690_2.jpg

Joshua

Randy Musselman · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:16 am

Hello,

From the same forum, here is a link to a good video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3nz-kTs3qw8

I must say, for me, the Reading six chime passenger whistle is simply the best. It is good to see they have one on the 425 and having a full head of steam behind it. If the engineer works the chimes, it can make some beautiful music. I believe the Strasburg #90 has one as well. Hearing this whistle always gave me the impression of ......steam at speed.

It appears the 425's bearings are run in and she's ready for action.

Kudos to the R&N staff! Its good to see steam back on the old P&R!

Regards,

Randy[/i]

AlderGulch12 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:22 am

Now THAT'S the way to break in a locomotive! Once it's safe to do so of course!

Warren · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:41 am

Randy Musselman wrote:

I must say, for me, the Reading six chime passenger whistle is simply the best. .......Hearing this whistle always gave me the impression of ......steam at speed.

Here's a good example of the RDG 6 chime at speed. 425 in the earlier days of BM&N operations.

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vidlocomotive.cfm?display=1017

Alan S. Levy · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:48 am

That was a great video!

So happy she is back!

I'd bet if 425 could sing it would be James' Brown's "I feel good"!

co614 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:05 pm

Congratulations and many thanks to Andy Muller and his crew for a job well done and to the steam pros from the New Hope&Ivyland RR who assisted. It's great to have Mr. Muller back in the active steam community and I'm confident that we steam lovers will be given ample opportunities to witness this beautiful Pacific "doing her thing", on his truly first rate railroad!!
I believe I heard her singing "Happy Days Are Here Again" when she went by on the You Tube video???
May she have many enjoyable and safe miles ahead of her!!
Ross Rowland

Schuylkill Valley · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:57 pm

Hi all,
I was sitting at my computer desk listening to my scanner when it stopped on the R&N channel. I thought I was dreaming when I heard " Ok back for two car lengths 425" I thought something is up. Well then around 2PM. I got an e-mail from a friend telling me he just saw the 425 flying through Tamaqua. Well that wasn't a dream that was real. Hats off to the crew of 425 for a job well done.
I'll be looking forward to seeing her in person this coming new year. and with that I whish all of you a Happy New Year. And may steam live for ever. And a friend of my Jim Canter always says " Steam Is King" and indeed it is.

Some history on the 425 , She was built by Baldwin on January 16, 1928
She last steam in 1996 so that means it's been 11 years.

Len.

wesp · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:30 pm

Somebody say "Amen!".

jasonsobczynski · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:23 pm

Synopsis of work performed, anyone?

Howard P. · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:57 pm

Very nice to see 425 out and about again. GREAT whistle, too!!

OK, now a question about the OTHER end of the train-- what's the pedigree of the truss-rodded business car? It has top-equalized trucks, and looks similar to one of the two office cars that were once at a restaurant in Covent Station, NJ-- Rod's 1980 Ranch House. There may have been a similar car at the Wilkes-Barre Station-Motel-Brewpub-Extravaganza. I don't recall ever seeing this car in previous pics of R&N-RBM&N trains.

Howard P.

Dave Crosby · **Posted:** Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:47 am

Howard,

My memory is getting fuzzy in my old age (34 in April...) BUT I do remember that car came from the Restaurant in Wilkes-Barre by the R&N/Muller c. 1996/1997. I helped work on the car a little while I was volunteering a little with Bill Fredrickson on the 425 when it was in Scranton. My duties with the car didn't involve much more than tightening bolts on the end steps, be I definitely remember the it. I'm not sure why, but Atlantic Coast Line sticks in my head as the car's original owner. The line's initials were engraved in the brass thresholds and "ACL" just seems to ring a bell, though I could be getting senile...

Dave Crosby

Howard P. · **Posted:** Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:42 pm

Thanks Dave; I recall that the Rod's Ranch House (and it was "1890", not "1980") cars were an FEC car and another "southern" car, so perhaps this ACL one was it? The place closed about 1980-81 and the cars "went away", maybe to Wilkes-Barre.

Howard P.
More-Than-Locos, CT