I have been cleaning out slides and came across a few shots of RDG 2012 at the head of a "Royal Blue Limited" trip in the early 1970s. I took the pictures at Ivy City yard as the train was leaving Washington Union Station and entering the B&O mainline. I believe this trip was the last steam train excursion to depart from Union Station.

Wesley

The early '70s sounds right; I remember seeing that train go North, doing aboput 60, from atop a signal bridge between Pennington and Hopewell on the old Reading. Of course, I would not use that vantage point today!!! Things were different back then; all one has to do is look at various photos in many of the books and magazines out there to see that I wasn't alone in climbing on things to get a better view.

I think it was some years earlier. The Reading was owned by the B&O, and the B&O "borrowed" 2102 in conjunction with some significant anniversary of the B&O. The Reading Rambles ran from 1959-1964, and I think these trips were in '64. There are folks who frequent this site who can confirm the precise dates.

IIRC in 1964 or 1965 B&O used RDG 2100 for its "Iron Horse Days". The train ran from Philadelphia to Baltimore and made a series of trips between Baltimore and Washington and then (don't remember if it was the same weekend) returned to Philadelphia. There was a dome car and a square-end observation car on the rear of the trip back to Philadelphia.
In May 1972 there were some "Royal Blue" trips with ex RDG 2102. Possibly sponsored by RRE?

Not to say that Brother Leapple is incorrect, but the trip I saw on the RDG main was in the early '70s. I drove myself there in a VW bus, and didn't have my drivers license until 1970. I'm not sure if the trip was a High Iron or Steam Tours venture (or someone else) but it was well after the RDG Rambles. (Funny that I can date things by what I was driving at the time-)

Yes, the trip was in the early 1970's and I am thinking 1972. My brother and I rode the trip one way from Elizabeth, N.J. to Washington, DC. I am also pretty sure that it was sponsored by Bill Benson's Steam Tours, it was not a High Iron trip as I recall. I do remember that we stopped in Philadelphia near where the B&O Chestnut Station had been. There were problems with the Hennessy?? lubrication system that had to be addressed. We were lucky as we rode one way and my parents brought us back home to New Jersey. We also went down on Sunday to Belle Meade to see it on its return trip. Yes, people were on the signals along the line to get photos!! I am sure glad that we took those trips when I look back!!

"High Iron, 3rd Edition" by Howard Pincus states the 2102 trip ran from Elizabeth, NJ, to Washington, DC, on May 27, 1972, and returning May 29th, sponsored by the Railroad Enthusiasts.

I'm sure Howard can chime in with more details.

Alan Maples

Alan has the essential details.

The trip was an RRE trip, and had involvement from Bill Benson (2102 certainly), and Ross Rowland was also involved (some HICO cars and Ross himself, at least). This and an earlier outing on the CNJ in February 1972 occurred during the "intermission" period between "part one" High Iron Co. (1966-1971) and "part two" of Ross' steam ventures (AFT, etc.).

Once again, "you don't know what you got 'till it's gone."

Howard P.

Hmmmm. '72 you say -- 2102 was pretty busy that year. Earlier in the spring, the old girl made a couple of trips from Philadelphia (Norristown?) to Harrisburg on the rails of its former owner, the Reading. My wife and I rode one day and chased the other. Somewhere I have a small reel-to-reel tape of portions of the chase, complete with bad language and the snarl of the old Volvo's engine as we tried to keep up. And earlier that same year, I believe 2102 was also the power on a trip from Baltimore to Hagerstown over the Western Maryland on a wickedly frigid February day. Somehow I don't think I was aware of the B&O trips.

Alan and Howard have the essential facts correct. I was acting as a friend of the court trying to help my friend Bill Benson find some good use for his 2102.

That trip to Wash. DC overall went quite well with a lot of good high speed running on the B&O and parts of the RDG. IIRC the radio antenna made contact with the catenary as we entered WUS and gave those in the cab a good scare as it sounded like 6 --12 guage shot guns going off!!

As I recall, the engine ran well and it was a good time. I spent most of the trip in my PV on the hind end enjoying the trip "from the other end".

Fond memories.

Ross Rowland