Chasing RBMN

[@hawkeyeten2450]

2102 has got to be one of the loudest steamers I've ever seen. When it's pulling out of Port Clinton and other spots, the exhaust sounds are just mindboggling.

[@JamieMakin]

She sure is! Especially when she's climbing a great. There's some spots on this chase where the sound is off the charts.

[@firelynx1108]

⁠I've found the Tamaqua area to be the best/loudest spot. I've only seen 2102 at the station and the tunnel, but man the sound is crazy every time

[@everettthepetractionguy4222]

I find the "shrill" sounding whistle of 2102 really amusing. It makes me laugh sometimes. 😂 It sounds wonderful. 😁

[@dennis78382]

Good morning Jamie. Congratulations on your new position. You talked about how it was a lifelong dream to work for the railroad and this is Right in your wheelhouse. I know you're going to do a great job and provide passion and insight that no other person could provide. Well done friend🇺🇸 I hope you have a good memorial day🇺🇸 44:27

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks so much, Dennis! The new job is a dream come true for me, and it's with the right railroad at the right time. I can't wait to get more settled into it and then I'll share more with everyone.

[@cpbethlehem6548]

Thank you for posting your chase. I twas a great ride. See you again soon. Congratulations on you full time position.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video and your ride. And thanks for the congrats on my new position!

[@TheShortlinefoamer]

Hey Jamie, Scott here! Nice to see you enjoying the nice weather and chasing trains! I am so exited to see all the new Repainted and fresh looking cars! All of you do a great job making sure us railfans have a great time! Hope we cross paths again soon! Scott

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks so much, Scott! Glad you've been enjoying my videos, and I hope our paths will cross again someday as well.

[@Engineer5344]

i saw you filming at lots of spots on saturday jamie, sadly i couldn't wave and say hello just because at 30 mph everyone and everything goes by in a blur. but i did see you from the train. it was such a great trip saturday, the passenger consist was just shining with their new paint jobs and 2102 was just barking up a storm. congrats on your new position with the railroad too!!

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks for the congrats, and I'm glad you enjoyed your ride. No worries about not waving, it really is a blur from the ground too as everyone blazes by.

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Great video Jamie! I believe I saw you parking your truck in the authorized employee parking lot in Jim Thorpe!

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! And yes, I did park back there. It's a great job perk and comes in very handy on big chases like that.

[@Keystone1906_Productions]

Awesome video Jamie, it was a Pleasure Meeting you at Nesquehoning on the return trip, though it was very short time because of the chase it was still a great time, all the shots are amazing.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! It was great meeting you too. Sorry there wasn't more time to chat, but hopefully our paths will cross again.

[@jleoneleone8760]

I was there for my birthday weekend celbration for my 23rd birrhday, car 210, 6th car, first open window left side. I got to see the engine inside and talk to those who run it, I give you guys alot of credit for the beutiful condition your engines are in and the care taken of the vintage f8 diesels as well, defeniently a great expirence. Thank you for keeping these works of art operating for future generations to see. I didnt get to ask how many times you guys have to fill it up with coal and water for a 100 mile run. Someone probaly knows but i never realized how much coal has to be burned even at idle. But thanks again RBMN and Andy Muller JR. your engines are beautiful and the hard work has really shown.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! And Happy Belated Birthday! That was a fantastic way to celebrate your birthday, and I'm glad you enjoyed your ride and cab tour. This was a 120 mile round trip. They only refilled the water once; it was pumped from the white tanker car while the cab tours were taking place. Amazingly they don't need to refill the tender with coal since the new piston rings were put in last year!

[@SteamPowerPA]

Nice video Jamie! It was great chatting with you outside of in Nesquehoning before heading to the wye!

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! It was great chatting with you as well. Glad we had a chance to catch up since it had been a while.

[@E89drummerE39]

All the freshly repainted cars look great! The painting crews must have been working overtime!

[@JamieMakin]

Glad you enjoyed the freshly painted consist! The paint department has been hard at work for a few years to get things to this point.

[@1940limited]

What a beautiful new consist Andy's using this year. Such a class act!

[@JamieMakin]

It sure looked great, glad you appreciated it!

[@1940limited]

@@JamieMakin I noticed the freshly repainted cars right away. I like the new Generator car, too.

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

2102 is such a beautiful engine. I think she was having the time of her life. Great video, and I'm glad the bad weather held off for the chase.

[@1940limited]

Andy's restoration of the locomotive is such an amazing accomplishment. That guy's incredible!

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

@@1940limited Agreed!

[@JamieMakin]

Glad you enjoyed the video, Rosie! It's always a thrill to watch 2102 run.

[@calebzheng]

Awesome video as always and Congratulations! You are truly pursuing and living the dream! I'm getting there myself...one day at a time:)

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks so much! It's been a long road for me to get to where I'm at, and I hope you persevere and achieve your dream as well!

[@nstrainfanyt]

Nice video Jamie! I was one of the guys up on the bridge right by Hometown Trestle. Nice meeting you and I had an absolute blast chasing this train!

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! It was nice meeting you too!

[@JPVideos81]

Fantastic job on the chase, filming and commentary. Beautiful day for this run and the audio sounded great throughout. I'm looking forward to seeing her run in June & August.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks so much! I'm glad she will be heading your way on the next two Rambles, and I'm glad you're planning to see her run.

[@Tattooedtrains]

Congratulations! What an iconic railroad to be a part of! Thank you for the content

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks so much! It's an honor to have been hired by RBMN and to be part of my favorite railroad now.

[@Tattooedtrains]

@@JamieMakin :-)

[@StrasburgRailProductions]

Awesome video Jamie! Seemed like a fun day to catch the hog!

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! I had a great time chasing that day!

[@StrasburgRailProductions]

@@JamieMakin For sure!

[@pinchy08]

Congratulations on getting a job on the RBMN. It might not involve being close to the steam engines yet. But the position you’re in is just a great start.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks so much! My new role is a good match for my prior experience, and going forward there's a lot of potential for me at the railroad. Stay tuned!

[@richkennedy326]

What a great chase! Well done. See you in June.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! And I'm looking forward to the ride in June too.

[@Savawings108]

I actually got to ride the train this time around. It was so much fun!

[@JamieMakin]

Awesome!!! So glad you finally got to go for a ride!

[@regularguy7266]

Great video Jamie, glad to see the '02 on her first stint this year! However, the next 2 rambles are going to be foam central, so dont be surprised if you see bubbles rising from the Lehigh River 😅

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! LMAO, yeah, it's the Category 5 Foam Storm that's coming that made me decide to ride the June 22nd Ramble instead of chase it!

[@happyhome41]

Oh, WONDERFUL Jamie ! So pleased for you, and for us to have you in a more official capacity. Thank you for your service ! I would like to learn more about the railroad - the work they do making America strong, all the work in between the Rambles. I gather, having seen the signs about anthracite, the railroad has ready access to that fuel, and and reasonably fuel the steam engine. And for the steam engine, I don’t remember seeing the tender being watered - plenty of water in Pennsylvania - where do they do that ? I note this Ramble seems to be a good bit larger than the one we took in 2021 - I count 14 cars not counting the “generator” car. I think we only had seven cars back then. And yes, the freshly painted cars are a great reflection on the railroad and everyone concerned.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video! And I appreciate your kind words about my new position. I'm super excited about it, and I'll be sharing more soon in a standalone video once I'm more settled in to it. For the steamers they add water from the white water tankers when the loco is in the station during the layover. After last year's work to replace 2102's piston rings, they no longer have to add coal to the tender to make it back to Reading since she runs so much more efficiently now. Both steamers run on bituminous coal even though the railroad hauls a lot of anthracite.

[@happyhome41]

@@JamieMakin ♥

[@FranciscoAntonio-rd1eu]

Que belleza y la Carbonera tremenda, gracias.

[@JamieMakin]

De nada!

[@trezjr73]

There's fresh paint smell in the air. Every car on the train looks so sharp and classy. (Those gold door kick plates!!!) Great job.

[@JamieMakin]

Glad you appreciated how great the whole train looks now!

[@frankjonathan8043]

Congratulations on getting a job on the railroad. When I came home from the Navy, I tried to get employment on the railroad. It was the D&H, but that did not happen. Secondly, this was a great video-one of your best.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks so much Frank! Sorry you were unable to get a railroad job, but hopefully you found something else that's good for you. Glad you enjoyed the video as well, and I'll make another soon talking about my new job in more detail.

[@theextremeanimator4721]

*FINALLY!* A *_genuinely_* R&N train like those of the old days!

[@JamieMakin]

It sure looked great! They've been working hard to get their cars restored like that.

[@Tank-Battles]

Chasing RBMN on the first Iron Horse Ramble of the year was so exciting! The sights and sounds of May 25, 2024, made for an unforgettable experience. Thanks for sharing this awesome train adventure!

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@kevinsalsbury2118]

Many congratulations Jamie on the new job!! Can't think of anyone else who deserves it more. That parking pass looks great on the rear view mirror. Oh yeah, great video to!!😊

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks so much Kevin! I'm two weeks into the new job, and in some ways it still hasn't sunk in lol. We're in the process of procuring equipment and setting up shop, so once it get more settled I'll make a video to talk more about my new role. I'm super excited about it, and there's a lot of cool things to come as a result of it.

[@ScramjetNY]

Hi Jamie. It's Joe from Binghamton. I cannot get over how wonderful this video is. You truly outdid yourself with this magnificent chase of 2102 in all her glory! Congratulations on your full time position at RBMN! Jeffrey was the car host in the exquisite parlor car during the Ramble, and was gushing with superlatives about you when I shared with him that I'm a proud subscriber of your YT channel :)

[@JamieMakin]

Hi Joe! So glad you enjoyed the video, and thanks for the congrats on my new job! Jeff is absolutely awesome, and he has become a good friend and a colleague I very much enjoy working with.

[@DelHudson1]

One thing that caught my eye was that there weren't any dome cars on this run. Those are the money makers, so it was interesting they didn't make an appearance.

[@1940limited]

They're extra fare on the Scenic Gorge trains.

[@JamieMakin]

The dome cars sell out on almost every LGSR trip these days, so it makes more sense to keep them there.

[@1940limited]

@@JamieMakin I've ridden them on the Lehigh Gorge trains and they're very nice. Even the lower levels are nice.

[@chrisbarkerthefirst1982]

Hey, it was nice to meet you that weekend

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks! It was nice meeting you too.

[@chrisbarkerthefirst1982]

@@JamieMakin thanks

[@JerseyRailfanProductions]

Awesome video Jamie! I rode on this from Port Clinton!

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! And I hope you enjoyed your ride too!

[@bekleidungu.ausrustung7068]

Wow!! Excellent video Jaime. Very comprehensive. I think you covered everything in this video. Really enjoyed it as I do all your videos and congrats on your promotion. I know from your videos you'll do well 🚂🚃🚃🚃

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for the congrats on my promotion. I'm looking forward to sharing more about that soon.

[@ClareMargaret]

Congratulations!!!! Awesome video!!!

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@brianfalzon6739]

One of these days the R&N should do excursions from Reading to Tunkhannock!

[@marilynscull4585]

Awesome video Jamie

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks Marilyn!

[@paulsmith5398]

Andy should invite some Amtrak bigwigs to show them how to get more ridership...........

[@robkrasinski6217]

It's too bad that NS stopped hosting steam excursions with 611 after May 2017 and Amtrak banned excursions March 2018 and stopped the Autumn Express excursions, some of which ran on freight only rails now owned by NS trough Reading and Allentown. NS also hosted the TVRM 630 and 4501, and Fort Wayne NKP 765 and in August 2015 it came to Allentown area and ran two excursions from near Bethlehem to Pittston and back over NS and RBMN. The thing about the newer NS steam excursions is that they didn't allow open windows or open vestibule doors except if a crew member needed to have the top of the vestibule door open. Most of the coaches on NS excursions were roller bearing streamlined coaches from the 1950's. RBMN still has some coaches with friction (plain) bearing trucks. Those have been frowned upon on class 1's since 1994. And RBMN allows open windows. I'll be on the June 22 excursion from Nesquehoning up the Lehigh Gorge route. I like the ex-Reading coaches more than the ex-DL&W ones, the DL&W ones need a fresh coat of paint and the interior looks a bit aged. The ex-Reading ones were modernized in the 1960's. In Oct 2022 we rode in a Crown coach, my brother and my late mom's man friend who lived with us since early 1994, we lost our mom on June 14, 2022 in the hospital because her lungs were bad and she couldn't breathe on her own anymore. This time we are in regular coach to be closer to the front of the train.

[@paulsmith5398]

@@robkrasinski6217 i took my (late) wife and kids on a 611 excursion in Illinois waaaaaay back in the 1980s, from Jacksonville Illinois to Springfield, it was my kids first ever train ride, and it was behind STEAM❗We also watched the 1218 do a similar excursion on the same trackage a couple years later. We also went to Pana Illinois to see UP 3985 on an excursion, and way before those, Reading 2101 on the Freedom Train and NKP 759 on the Gold Spike Centennial train. I have still pictures of all those steam events, and Super 8 sound movies of the Freedom Train. 2101 was just as awesome back then as 2102 is now❗ , and at least 2101 is getting cosmetically restored to its Freedom Train appearance!

[@1940limited]

@@paulsmith5398 My wife and I rode from Buffalo, NY to Erie PA behind 611 around 1985, I think. We hit 70 MPH with 22 cars. The sound of the exhaust at that speed was incredible; just a steady roar out the stack. They had a sound recording car right behind the locomotive. Last year was our 40th wedding anniversary and we road behind 2102 on August 13. I got to talk to Andy and thanked him for restoring that locomotive. We also rode behind it back in the 1980s several times when he first bought it and did a trip to Harrisburg with it. So Andy got to run it again after 33 years and my wife and I got to ride behind it again.

[@camhitchcock8659]

Terrific video chase Jamie! Thanks. Also, congratulations on your new gig with R&N; a good fit. Curious what camera gear you use to shoot your video's?

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks so much! I'll be sharing more about my new job soon, and I'm really excited to have moved up to that position. I recently upgraded to the DJI Action 4 which has become my main camera, though I still use my DJI Pocket 2 for a lot of shots as well. Sometimes I still throw in a clip from my Transcend 230 drive cam or my iPhone 14 Pro.

[@JonathanColemanMoreTrains]

If you get a chance next year or in 2 years the Gettysburg and Northern railroad will be doing passengers again soon

[@robkrasinski6217]

Not steam though.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks for the info!

[@mlpderick]

I thought I saw you at the new Nesquehoning station when the train went past

[@JamieMakin]

Cool! I hope you enjoyed your ride.

[@IronHorseProductions11]

Nice video Jamie

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks so much!

[@DanielUnger-gn9ct]

You can hear the difference between running on welded rails n jointed rails

[@JamieMakin]

You can feel the difference too when you're riding the train. Everything has gradually getting upgraded to welded rails.

[@TheDodgeRamGuy]

Wow ive done New Hope and Ivyland recent ive done Black River and Western recent they told me you have a relative that works there the steam engine is still down but im waiting for the return i did Colebrookdale yesterday Jim Thorpe will be next

[@JamieMakin]

We're fortunate to have a lot of cool railroads in our area. Hope you'll be able to visit Jim Thorpe and ride that train soon.

[@TheDodgeRamGuy]

@@JamieMakin I'll be coming up there toward the end of this month June

[@LRSX]

Awesome Video Jamie, i havr a question, at fairview st... are those diesels set there in case.... ive noticed that only on 2102 runs that a Diesel is parked there. Awesome catches and great video! So glad we bumped into you at hecla! You even got cam and sam out the car😂. It was a great day, glad you had a good chase!

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks so much, Ian! Bumping into all of you at Hecla was the highlight of my day. Glad it got Sam and Cam out of the car to join in the fun. I do believe the diesels are staged there (and another spot or two) on steam trips just in case. It's probably easier for for them than having the trailing diesels and it accomplishes the same purpose.

[@anthonymaida5718]

Great Video 👍

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@robkrasinski6217]

I see how the second track at Nesquehoning ties in to the spur to the shops now. They had to remove the switch from the main and relocate it to the second track. They still have some rails to spike to the ties on the second track. What would it take to have an excursion to Steamtown National Historic Site? Would it be possible or would having to use two miles of NS from Taylor Yard to Steamtown be a problem? NS bought the track from Schenectady, NY to Sunbury, PA from CP now CPKC in Sept 2015 which was once D&H and PRR toward Sunbury and DL&W/EL north of Scranton. CPKC is now running their restored Empress on a tour from Calgary to Mexico City and there will be a public excursion over Iowa Interstate with six ex-PRR open window round roof coaches and a few streamlined coaches at Silvis, Illinois. It will be over 120 miles round trip.

[@1940limited]

Does Iowa Interstate still have it's Chinese steam locomotives? I heard Steamtown won't let equipment operate on their rails unless Steamtown personnel do it and Andy won't go for that. Can't say as I blame him. We may never see 2102 at Steamtown although it would be awesome. It would be ncie to get a picture of it alongside 2124.

[@1940limited]

Last Fall Steamtown did an excursion to Cresco over the old DL&W line, but it broke down in Moscow and never arrived. Never did find out what happened.

[@robkrasinski6217]

I think going to Steamtown with an RBMN excursion train would be sort of a logistical problem and if they would have to go one inch onto NS rails it's immediately a non-starter. Delaware Lackawanna owns the rails from Carbondale to Portland, PA. I think they interchange freight with NS in Taylor Yard or at Steamtown and at Slateford Junction, PA where there's a yard. It would be easier to just have a bus shuttle to Steamtown from Pittston station and have the train start in Nesquehoning. In 1995 425 did go to Scranton to pull excursions toward Moscow using Steamtown's coaches. Then, more recently 425 went there for a public exhibit. If the 425 visit was after Sept 2015 then the Binghamton to Sunbury tracks were owned by NS. You mean 425 was actually able to use 2 miles of NS track to get to Steamtown?

[@DanielUnger-gn9ct]

That's ma dream job owning n operating ma own steam passenger n freight service railroad

[@1940limited]

Andy's living the dream of many railfans.

[@JamieMakin]

I hope you'll be able to realize your dream Daniel!

[@DanielUnger-gn9ct]

@@JamieMakin thank you 😊

[@pinchy08]

Be sure to ride or chase 2102s biggest iron horse rambles coming up. June 22 Nesquehoning to Tunkhannock. And on August 17 Nesquehoning to Pittston. Those excursions travel further than the distance between Reading and Jim Thorpe. There is a diesel excursion from Pittston to Jim Thorpe. But this’ll be 2102s biggest journey I ever heard of.

[@JamieMakin]

June 22nd will definitely be the longest R&N Iron Horse Ramble so far. I'll be riding that one, but haven't decided my plans for the August 17th one.

[@joshbenton4080]

Awesome catch Jamie! The #2102, She can really pull! The Steam Engine never failed as a machine, ever since it was first developed by George Watt in 1804 as a railway locomotive. It continued to evolve and get bigger, all the way up to the Alco built "Big Boy" steamers during WWII. (These 4-8-8-4 Big Boy's were capable of hauling mile long freight trains) When I lived in Berlin, Germany back in the 1980s, the Deutche Riechs Bahn was still using steam locomotives for pulling even commuter trains, (Dampfloks) although some were being used in excursion service. (The Deutche Riechs Bahn was the East German Federal Railway, before being merged with Deutche Bunds Bahn in 1994, now just Deutche Bahn) Isn't Reading & Northern of Reading Railroad "heritage"? Keep up the good work, stay safe and God bless.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! That's very cool to know that steam engines were still in revenue service in Germany as recent as the 1980s.

[@raymondchason2877]

jamie since you work for the railroad now will you be able hear the 425 progress

[@JamieMakin]

I'm hoping to get an update soon.

[@Jared-91]

Two whistles! I'm guessing the single chime is the original freight whistle? Or a replica of?

[@JamieMakin]

I believe the hooter is the original freight whistle.

[@aaronhartman]

tell me what happen to the dlw coaches?

[@1940limited]

I saw three of them being used on the Lehigh Gorge train.

[@JamieMakin]

Reading & Northern still has 9 of them. Several have recently gone to the paint shop, and I believe all will eventually be repainted.

[@aaronhartman]

@@JamieMakin what happen to the others then

[@JamieMakin]

What others do you mean?

[@1940limited]

@@JamieMakin Can't wait to see them repainted. I remember when Andy bought them and had them all painted at the time. They were green then with a few maroon ones.

[@brianfalzon6739]

What's been going on lately with 425?

[@JamieMakin]

She's still undergoing her 1,472 inspection and rebuild. I last checked in on her a few months ago, so I don't have the latest info.

[@brianfalzon6739]

@@JamieMakin oh well, whenever 425 comes back from her 1472 day rebuild, she’ll be under steam and ready to be hitting the mainline again!

[@brianfalzon6739]

@@JamieMakin oh well, whenever 425 comes back under steam from her 1472 day inspection, hopefully then she’ll be ready to hit the mainline again in the future!

[@pinchy08]

I’m sure 425 will be back quicker than you think. I predict Fall 2025. Or Spring 2026. She’s in good shape.