Anyone..

What is the future for the 425 & 2102? How much work do they require? I remember back when 614 was up for bid, R & N showed some interest. I was curious why they would put out money for the 614 and not use the funds to repair the other two steamers.

I really enjoyed my past trips behind these engines and hope that someday I'l be able to do it again. All the trips I was on with the R & N / B M & R were always well run and very professional. They seem to be running their freight business in the same fashion.

-Alan Levy



AlanL759@aol.com

According to the Railfan.net web discussion (address below)with Andy Muller's comments he confirms the purchase rumors for the 614. He does not comment about the 425 & 2102.
http://www.railroad.net/forums/load/par ... 90.html?11

http://www.railroad.net/forums/load/parail/msg0122121963990.html?11
mtillger@enter.net

The most recent posting on that site says that it is a hoax. Since no one else is carrying this "story", I am inclined to agree.


Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society
tstuy@eldcps.org

Yes, I am inclined to agree to the hoax theory also. After reading the post over again, i don't recall ever seeing Andy use his a middle initial in his signature. I could be wrong, but I do think it is a cruel person comitting a fast one.

http://www.railroad.net/forums/load/parail/msg0122121963990.html?11
mtillger@enter.net

There has been a lot of talk about the R&N along the lines of their core business and how the NS's pains of fitting in northeast PA will impact the R&N. The opening of the Delaware-Lackawanna/NS interchange in Portland, PA could put the screws to the R&N for some of the Lehigh Division traffic. I have heard a ton of rumors from friends on the NS, but will not pass them along.

Andy did have luck finding grants to restore the Reading RDC he runs out of Tamaqua for special events. The R&N's beautiful coaches apprently were not so beautiful to the FRA a year ago, as thier website explained, and they have not been used in awhile.

As for the T-1, Tamaqua-area newspapers said that some sort of grant funding will get work on #2102 moving again.

The #614 tale could have some grounding in fact, given that Andy was the only bidder at the ill-fated #614 auction... a fact carried by the AP. He wanted to spend less than $200k if I remember.

In all difference to Ross, whom I know and like, I doubt #614 is worth much more than $300K in her current shape.

Someone may have confused the failed bid with the purchase rumor.

Why would Andy want #164 over #2102? Well, Ross did really have her tricked out for proposed Amtrak service, and she probably needs less work than the '02. The T-hog was NEVER a great excoursion engine in her post-Reading days and has had consistent issues witht he running hot on (I think) the #2 axle. She is also an old girl in new skin.

As much as my Pennsylvania German blood runs deep with pride for the what the Reading's Dutchies did with the 2-8-0's-cum-4-8-4's they are not modern engines in comparison with Lima super power.

If Andy ends up with the #614, I have to say there is one really good reason for him to have it: he has a place to run it. Perhaps, the R&N, the D-L and WNY&PA are the only non-class 1 eastern roads that could host such a beast.

Rob Davis

> Anyone..

> What is the future for the 425 & 2102?
> How much work do they require? I remember
> back when 614 was up for bid, R & N
> showed some interest. I was curious why they
> would put out money for the 614 and not use
> the funds to repair the other two steamers.

> I really enjoyed my past trips behind these
> engines and hope that someday I'l be able to
> do it again. All the trips I was on with the
> R & N / B M & R were always well run
> and very professional. They seem to be
> running their freight business in the same
> fashion.

> -Alan Levy


Ahead of the Torch
trains@robertjohndavis.com

Thanks for the "skuttlebutt" Rob.

I've heard the same thing about the 2102 compared to Lima Superpower back when High Iron ran the 2102 after running the 759. I think it was a comment made by Ross in a magazine, but I can't be sure.

Alan Levy

AlanL759@aol.com

> Anyone..

> What is the future for the 425 & 2102?
> How much work do they require? I remember
> back when 614 was up for bid, R & N
> showed some interest. I was curious why they
> would put out money for the 614 and not use
> the funds to repair the other two steamers.

> I really enjoyed my past trips behind these
> engines and hope that someday I'l be able to
> do it again. All the trips I was on with the
> R & N / B M & R were always well run
> and very professional. They seem to be
> running their freight business in the same
> fashion.

> -Alan Levy

Thanks for the compliments.

We are looking at the possibility of some diesel-powered trips with the open-window coaches for summer & fall 2002. No plans for the RDC's.

The 425 and 2102 both need extensive repairs. Some work was done to 425 last year, but alot remains. 425 running gear, 2102 boiler, and both require the new boiler inspection.

614 MIGHT come here as a "guest". The minimum bid requirement was why Andy did not come home from the auction with 614, and this same reason remains in effect.

The steam topic is brought up alot here in the office, and a few of us may start preliminary work on the 2102 when warm weather comes again. The main concern of management is to keep up the freight business and keep our employees working.

As much as we want to see it happen, until the economy picks up, it's doubtful that any of these steamers will run any time soon here on the R&N, unless dollar bills start falling from the sky.

Steve Gilbert,
Director of Passenger Service
R & N RR. Co.
Port Clinton, PA

Steve,

The rumor du jor on the Internet now is that a deal has been struck to move #614 to Port Clinton for "storage." Is that the guest appearance you mentioned?

Rob Davis

> Thanks for the compliments.

> We are looking at the possibility of some
> diesel-powered trips with the open-window
> coaches for summer & fall 2002. No plans
> for the RDC's.

> The 425 and 2102 both need extensive
> repairs. Some work was done to 425 last
> year, but alot remains. 425 running gear,
> 2102 boiler, and both require the new boiler
> inspection.

> 614 MIGHT come here as a "guest".
> The minimum bid requirement was why Andy did
> not come home from the auction with 614, and
> this same reason remains in effect.

> The steam topic is brought up alot here in
> the office, and a few of us may start
> preliminary work on the 2102 when warm
> weather comes again. The main concern of
> management is to keep up the freight
> business and keep our employees working.

> As much as we want to see it happen, until
> the economy picks up, it's doubtful that any
> of these steamers will run any time soon
> here on the R&N, unless dollar bills
> start falling from the sky.

> Steve Gilbert,
> Director of Passenger Service
> R & N RR. Co.
> Port Clinton, PA


Ahead of the Torch
trains@robertjohndavis.com

Steve-

I think most of us can more than understand that situation, and no one here should expect a railroad to try and operate steam if their are more important things out there, namely keeping the freight rolling and the guys employed. Thanks for the update, and hopefully a couple years down the road things will be a bit brighter for a possible return to steam on the R&N.

TJg



Port Huron Museum
tjgaffney@phmuseum.org

I can see it now, 614, 2102 double-heading. And heck...just for fun a triple with 425. I'm drooling just thinking about it.

Jeff Lisowski
West Chester, Pa


unfunkyufo76@hotmail.com