Today, October 25, 2024, is the 65th anniversary of the first Iron Horse Ramble, from Wayne Junction in Phila. to Shamokin PA. (pronounced sha MO' kin)

Train was 16 cars: combine (set up for recording), 13 open-window coaches, two baggage cars set up for snacks or souvenirs and separated by 5 coaches. 2124 pulled the train both ways, loading water at Tamaqua both ways, and coal and water at Shamokin.

Currently, 2124 is in Scranton, at the US NPS Steamtown Museum. 2102 is in Port Clinton. running for RBMN on some of the same track as he first Iron Horse Ramble. 2100 and 2101 are also preserved.

Actually, there were many Reading excursions in the 1940's and 1950's also known as "Rambles".

Yes they did, and they went all sorts of interesting places. They were called "Rail Rambles" though.

They also ran non-railfan excursions, notably to Hershey Park (two words in those days) and Lakewood Park in Barnesville (now closed).

One early trip comes to mind. It was an interline trip to the Lehigh Valley. It left Reading Terminal (Phila) to Reading with passenger power, T-1 2126 took it to Catasauqua and the LV whose power took it to Bethlehem and Reading power took it to Phila.

As far as I know this was the only time a T-1 worked an excursion before the Iron Horse Rambles. (the last 10 T-1's, 2120-2129, had steam and signal lines.

Phil M.

Do any photos of this event survive? What power was used on the LV side?

I have never see a photo of any leg of this trip. There must be some out there, but even with 2102 running in the area, they have never surfaced.

I don't know what the Valley used; I would have guessed one of their Pacifics.

Phil Mulligan

Here is a Reading Rail Ramble from 1938 that went from Reading to Scranton via the Reading, the CNJ and the Lackawanna:

I remember reading an article in the Bee Line by Bert Pennypacker (I think?) where he mentioned that Reading held a Ramble on the line to Tremont using one of the streamlined Pacifics for the Crusader. He mentioned that it returned with many dents in the streamlining from the close rock clearances, and having ridden that line by R&N RDC last spring, I could certainly imagine that being true.

WOW! The Scranton trip covered all that distance in about 12 hours. They would use PRR between Phillipsburg NJ and the Del. Water Gap. Sponsored by R.Co. itsellf.

RDG probsbly assigned one of its semi-streamlined Pacifics: 108 or 178.

If the Tremont trip used the Crusader cars, then one of the stainless-clad Crusader engines, 117 or 118, got the call. Only they had EP brakes. The Crusader coaches and obses were/are 85 feet long; the diner 82 feet. RDG coaches are 73 feet long. The chord would go deeper into the trees. I think they broke windows, too. Lengths are overall, not carbodies.

Phil Mulligan

In my years of estate sales I ended up with a large group of negatives that are identified as the October 1962 Iron Horse Ramble.
They are in an envelope with the name of Joseph Goldreich as a return address in Hartsdale, no idea if he took these or not.
I would like to get them to someone who will get them scanned and put up online if there is interest.
Please PM me with your address and they will be yours.