Now that 425 has been restored and is successfully making trips of a northernly direction, what are the possiblilites that she''' be heading south towards Temple and more south than that? Maybe a Galleria trip to Philly?

Never say "never," but I think we'd need to see Andy Muller & Corporation take over the ex-Reading main from Belt Line Jct. to Norristown and Philly first, for the latter dream........ Of course, if somehow it operates as an "Amtrak" or SEPTA outing.........

It will never happen, first and most of all reason, 425 is not roller bearing. and NS will not leave friction on their lines. Plus they hate steam.
Here you want to see 425 on the southern end take a look at this.
Blue Mountain & Reading 1987 Shopper Special
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Dwf9uO6o4Ak

Len.

It's a grotesque exaggeration to proclaim that Norfolk Southern "hates steam". If that were true, why did they ask for N&W 611 for their own open house at Roanoke? Why have they had nice relationships (and mainline steam) with TVRM?

I've heard many times from people who actually work with the museums and NS (not just people who shoot video) that NS decides stuff like this on a CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. It IS their railroad, and they have to decide for themselves what helps them, either on a bottom-line or good-PR basis. The folks who have dealt with them have found them incredibly gracious and helpful AS LONG AS you remember who ultimately decides and what the rules are. Push them too far, they will warn you explicitly, and all favors/nice treatment are gone forever.

Have the folks who seemingly constantly berate NS, CSX, CP, UP, etc. for various "unfriendly" policies ever stopped to consider how far back they're kicking their "causes" by, for example, demanding that NS reinstate its long-dead mainline steam program, or by routinely insulting or castigating said railroads for a host of perceived ills or "mismanagement"?

Having said that, yes, NS seems pretty dead set against friction bearings. I heard of a museum that was considering asking NS to switch a friction-bearing car about a half-mile from one siding to another for preservation (I think it was truck access so they could truck it out), and the NS official asked said point-blank, "I didn't hear that question, and if you dare to ask it again, all your favors are over for good."

I love the whistle on that youtube video! What kind was it?
Anyway, as far as bearings are concerned, I'm afraid I'm a bit out of the loop on that one.
What is the difference between friction and roller bearings? What significant difference does it make on an engine whether it be steam or diesel? Is it only in the lead and trailing trucks of a steamer or is it with the drivers too? Sorry, I heard both terms but I would graciously need clarification...

The whistle is an B.C.& G. No.4. Own by Shane Fredrickson, which is one of the maine steam engineers for Reading & Northern. Friction you have to grease more offten.

Len.

Roller bearings are exactly what the name implies, the axle rides on a bearing surface consisting of multiple rollers riding in a "race", so there is nothing but rolling contact between metal surfaces, like wheel on rail.

It's really not a "friction bearing" (Timken invented that term to sell roller bearings), but a plain bearing. In these the steel axle rides on a bearing surface of a softer metal, brass or babbit metal, and requires a constant film of oil between surfaces to keep heat from melting the bearing surface. This is accomplished by putting cotton waste (or a special pad) saturated with oil under the axle bearing surface. If a piece of this gets caught between bearing surfaces it rapidly ignites and voila, you have a "hotbox"!

Plain bearings were totally banned from interchange in 1995.

There were a few steam locomotives built with roller bearings on all axles. More had them on all but the driving axles. OTOH, some even had them on the rods.

The last time 2102 was under steam was October 1991.

Len.

For those of us who regularly log onto Railfan.net, we know of the nearly endless discussion of "NS hates steam," and "Muller should run steam anyplace he doesn't own tracks," from those posters above. Kind readers of RYPN, please do not let yourselves get caught up in this trap!

I need to keep reminding myself that RYPN was meant to be an online continuation of Locomotive & Railway Preservation Magazine, where the RR business, museums and heritage are discussed more than just the latest round of excursion photos. This IS definitely a form of preservation, but not the whole enchilada. Speculation and grousing shouldn't be a recurring part of this forum. When it does, I bolt for the door.

Thanks for reading... and for the Reading!

When S.E.P.T.A. starts their Schuylkill Valley Metro to Reading (we should live so long), another possible operator for a repeat of 425's visit to 30th St Station will be available. Who knows what restrictions on S.E.P.T.A. operated or leased equipment might NOT be in that agreement with NS!

With the money they have spent on studies, which is around 30 million, they could had it built and running by now.

Len.