Chasing NREX moving RBMN car

[@joegabuzda976]

Thanks so much for getting wet and cold so we can enjoy this cool happening in the comfort of our easy chairs LOL. You are an invaluable addition to the RBMN railroad. and us fans. Only by your video were we able to see up close the car and the damage. Stay well and safe.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks and you're welcome, Joe! I very much enjoy catching all this great action and sharing it for all to enjoy.

[@StephenCarlBaldwin]

If anybody can get George back into shape it's the RBMN. Great to see so much progress at Nesquehoning -- thanks for making this great video (on such a dismal day)!

[@JamieMakin]

I have a lot of confidence with RBMN's ability to fix this car too. Hopefully they will and they'll let me do some video to share with everyone. I think it would be a great opportunity to see how restoration work gets done.

[@StephenCarlBaldwin]

@@JamieMakin That would be fantastic to see, Jamie!

[@maestromecanico597]

Thank you very much for documenting this. When I was a mechanic for Iowa Pacific they would send escorts with cars being moved over the freight railroads. It was understood that modern railroads have no idea on how to handle pax equipment AND having a visible presence with the car would add to their oversight. This hits home as one of my escort responsibilities was through Decatur and that piece made it through unscathed. That piece is now back east in the RBMN collection. See if you can guess which one.😁

[@JamieMakin]

Glad you enjoyed the video! That's awesome that you worked for Iowa Pacific, though sorry they're no longer around. Cool that you moved one of our cars through, I'm gonna guess our #6 Scenic View, the former Santa Fe Big Dome?

[@maestromecanico597]

@@JamieMakin Good guess but no. The majority of the big domes were Amtrak certified and whenever possible they were handled by Amtrak trains due to cost and overall handling. The same is also true for the former NYC 448 which I escorted all over the place on Amtrak and freight railroads. The car of which I speak was never Amtrak certified nor converted to HEP.😉

[@JamieMakin]

Hmm, very interesting ... in light of that info I'm going to guess our #22 Appalachian Trail (formerly Southern Railway's Lookout Mountain).

[@maestromecanico597]

@@JamieMakin Another good guess but no. The former Southern Steam HW cars went west before my time. One more clue: the car in question was never in service with IPH (and honestly I'm not sure what you guys are going to do with it).

[@JamieMakin]

Maybe the ex-VIA sleeper car? Or the Carolina Southern heavyweight coach?

[@dennis78382]

Good morning Jamie. What a fascinating story and you told it well. I also enjoyed your description. Well done friend!

[@JamieMakin]

Good afternoon Dennis! Thanks so much, and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@dennis78382]

Good morning Jamie. Just back for a rewatch. I hope you're well and enjoying the day.

[@JamieMakin]

Good afternoon Dennis! Thanks for the rewatch, and I hope you're having a nice day.

[@dennis78382]

@@JamieMakin hey Jamie. Back for another rewatch on a beautiful Sunday. Greetings from Texas.

[@JamieMakin]

Thank buddy!

[@kevinsalsbury2118]

Good morning Jamie. Fantastic freelance journalism going on here. It's wild seeing the track without ballast. Things are moving along quite nicely up in Nesquehoning. Norfolk Southern just can't seem to catch a break lately. Thank you for bringing us this awesome news. Stay safe out there Jamie. Have a great day.

[@JamieMakin]

Good morning Kevin! Glad you enjoyed this adventure; there's a lot of exciting stuff happening with RBMN right now so there's more to come from me soon. Also there was some good kind of NS excitement last Sunday which you'll see in a short video from me this Friday. Hope you enjoy your week!

[@brianfalzon6739]

Wow, can’t wait for this to finally happen, lots of more great progress going on for the R&N, a new station is coming to Nesquehoning Campus, the R&N just acquired the “George Washington” Passenger Car 563, and a lot of more big things are coming to the R&N to become even a lot more bigger and more expandable in the future! Thanks for the update!

[@JamieMakin]

Definitely some exciting times for RBMN! Yesterday they put out a press release with a rendering of the new station along with news of an 8/18 F unit trip from Nesquehoning to Pittston and along with saying there will be Nesquehoning to Jim Thorpe shuttles to alleviate congestion and parking issues in Jim Thorpe.

[@frankjonathan8043]

That is a great looking car. I also like the Budd cars. I hope that it is repaired-and soon! Another fine video Jamie.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks so much! They are great looking cars, the best IMO. I have a good feeling that this one will be back on the rails eventually.

[@TheShortlinefoamer]

You know what time it is Jamie, Happy Monday!!!! A Boring monday is cured from some Awesome R&N Action From Jamie Herself!!!!!! Its such a shame that the George took a while to get here because of the Issues NS Is having. My first in person look at a NS Derailment as you know is the Recent one outside of Bethlehem with the Engines in the river, But with all things Positive, I am grateful the George made it home and is in Good hands on the R&N! Have an awesome Monday Jamie!! Scott

[@JamieMakin]

Happy Monday, Scott! It's a windy and crazy one, but glad my video could bring something enjoyable to the day for you and others. I have confidence in RBMN's ability to restore this car if that's what they decide to do. Hoping I'll be able to film some of that work to share with everyone.

[@BeeLineEast]

Cool you got to capture the George Washington on the move to Nesquehoning. I wish i could have captured it on the Norfolk Southern line being delivered to north Reading. I guess i was lucky to capture the Lambert Point and the Salisbury Beach being delivered at Hummelstown.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks! That would have been cool if you could have caught it being delivered. I believe it arrived a few days before the Lamberts Point and Salisbury Beach.

[@BeeLineEast]

@@JamieMakin Ok Jamie thanks for the information. There were some frigid days around that time and maybe it was delivered earlier in the morning Norfolk Southern 30a delivered the other two cars

[@marilynscull4585]

Awesome video Jamie

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks Marilyn!

[@SteamPowerPA]

Nice video! That car is a lounge/ parlor car with an interior very similar to mauch chunk club on the observation side, and the other side is parlor with swiveling seats.

[@JamieMakin]

Cool info, thanks! And I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@johnparker7874]

Your’re generator is actually the A/C compressor

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks for the info!

[@joshbenton4080]

You did a good job of chasing this train car on a train. Judging by the footage you put into this video, I would say that the damage to this car is only "cosmetic" and not anything major. (I would like to see the damage repaired and for this historic car to be put back on the rails.) I've seen modern day Superliner cars damaged worse than this at Amtrak's Beech grove Shops in Beech Grove, IN. (I've never actually been there in person, but have seen many videos of this complex.) Many of those cars were repaired and placed back into revenue service. A few of the Superliners that were heavily damaged in the Big Bayou Cannot derailment back in September 24th 1993, were repaired in Beech Grove. (The train crew in the lead locomotive were killed in this derailment) Although those cars still bear the "scars" from that derailment, that ultimately caused half the train to fly off a bridge and land into a snake and alligator infested swamp, outside Mobile, AL. (This derailment caused one of the bridge sections to collapse over the Big Bayou Cannot) This ex PRR car was more than likely built by the Budd Co in the early 1950's. The fact that this car has the GSC-41-N-11 type trucks with an inside "swing hanger" and disc brakes, instead of clasp brakes would indicate this. The GSC-41-N-11 type trucks were common on many early Post War Era lightweight cars. It doesn't appear that this parlor / lounge was ever refurbished by Amtrak and may have not been conveyed to Amtrak in 1971. Most of the ex PRR coaches that were in Amtrak service were given "emergency" windows towards the ends of the car, when they were converted to Head End Power from Steam Heat. Whatever ex PRR parlor / lounge cars Amtrak did purchase, they were all retired by Amtrak in the early 1980s, still wearing the Phase I, "Pointless Arrow" logo. Those cars never received a conversion to HEP, until after they were sold to private owners. Stay safe and God bless.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks! I appreciate you sharing all of that cool info. It sure is amazing what they're able to repair for the railroads. I am hopeful the George Washington can be repaired! Interestingly RBMN has some of those ex-PRR coaches that Amtrak put the emergency windows in. They're Crown Class cars number 560, 561, and 562. I haven't videoed much of them yet, but that's something I'll have to get to. They are unusual for RBMN in that their interior doors are powered sliding doors that open with the push of a button. Feels pretty high tech for them!

[@joshbenton4080]

No problem Jamie. I'm a huge train buff and remember many of these ex PRR "Congo" coaches when they were in Amtrak service back in the 90's. Some of them were in service with Amtrak as recently as 2003 or '04 and were used on the "Maple Leaf" and the "Adirondack", between New York Penn Station and Toronto and Quebec, Montreal Canada. The Adirondack had a full length 85' ex Union Pacific baggage car that wore the Adirondack "mural" painted on them. These ex PRR coaches were built by Budd 1951 / 52 as 60 seat coaches and used mostly on the Northeast Corridor Line. Amtrak later converted most of them to 88 seat coaches, gave them powered interior doors during the HEP rebuild to make them compatible with the newer "Amfleet I" coaches and Amcafe lounges. These trains were often times a mixture of the ex PRR "Congo cars" and Amfleet I cars. I actually have dozens of HO scale models of 85' passenger cars. (Mostly in Amtrak "Phase III" stripes) And I've done a "kitbashing" project on some of the Walthers 52 seat coaches that were part of their first run in the early 2000's, of these legendary cars. I was a lot of work, but it was well worth it. @@JamieMakin

[@kennethhanks6712]

"George Washington", 7128 orig #, ordered in 1/51 and delivered in 1/52 (Lot 9635-110) to PRR as a blunt end Observation Buffet w/25 seat lounge and 18 seat parlor section and initially used in the congressional services fleet. Later PC 7128, Amtrak 3711 and after 1977 sold to SP(?) before going into private ownership. Having owned/operated some Budd stainless equipment they are remarkably robust but once damaged they must be repaired properly by those fully versed in how to deal with stainless steel metal work, not at all like regular steel or aluminum equipment. With the reputation of RBMN and Mr. Mueller don't doubt if car is put back in service it will be done in a thoroughly competant and professionally propper manner (looks like main damage is the draft gear where coupler apparatus connected to car frame). P.S. On passenger equipment generally refer to end with hand brake as the "B End" end and opposite end as "A End". If handbrake at each end then the operating entity makes the judgement designation A and B notation.

[@JamieMakin]

Lots of great information there, thanks so much! I'm growing hopeful that RBMN can repair this beautiful railcar.

[@trezjr73]

Undoubtedly the first order of business would be a complete evaluation of the frame. Modern technologies such as laser and ultrasound can be utilized, such as in the automobile industry. In any event you are talking a big investment in time, money and manpower, especially when public safety is a factor. A newly-manufactured passenger car can cost 1-2 million dollars, but if CP can in the 21st century rebuild an SP dome car on a 1930's car frame anything is possible.

[@JamieMakin]

That's a good way to put the repair work into perspective. IMO it's well worth fixing.

[@bekleidungu.ausrustung7068]

Wow!! Great video, Jaime. I really like your channel because you get exclusive content not found anywhere else. I can't imagine NS kicking a car knowing this passenger car was sitting there. Must have been hit at 10-15 mph and one can't really control the speed of kicked cars, so just a negligent decision on NS part. Great job and look forward to more updates!! 🚂🚃🚃🚃

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed this video and my channel as a whole. I've really enjoyed getting insider's access to a lot of things. I enjoy sharing those things and also deepening my understanding of and appreciation for how a railroad operates.

[@DelHudson1]

Such a shame this car got damaged, but I know the hard working crew will have it back on the rails in no time. Nice catch of 1540 in the Tamaqua yard.😉

[@JamieMakin]

I figured you'd like that catch of 1540 lol! If anyone can fix this it's RBMN. And now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I believe it's totally fixable. What I didn't realized during filming and only realized later when I reviewed older photos is a lot of the repairs have already been done (presumably by NS), so I'd say things are encouraging with it.

[@charlesbennett8700]

One can only hope that they can repair it.

[@JamieMakin]

I hope so too.

[@redred1696]

Looks like the rear observation car on the 'Senator' a name train that ran from Wash DC to Boston MA that operated in the 1950's. Used all Pennsy consists with New Haven power from NYC.

[@JamieMakin]

Cool! Thanks for the info.

[@NsEMDandGEPRODUCTIONS]

I seen that car

[@keithanddianevanhorn241]

It should definitely be restored. If it is from the Pennsy, it is a part of history.

[@JamieMakin]

I sure hope so, especially since it's an overall well-preserved piece of history!

[@trezjr73]

Plethora of information and now historic exterior/interior photographs on the Trainorders website discussion pages.

[@JamieMakin]

Thanks for the heads-up on that.

[@jasonoliver5388]

Great video Jamie what are the plans for this car.

[@JamieMakin]

I'll let you know when I find out! For now I'm thinking it's going to be restored, but as I mentioned in the video, the railroad has not yet announced their plans for it.

[@jasonoliver5388]

@@JamieMakin it's a shame that it got messed up on NS but as we all know there not doing well with all the derailments that's been having.

[@TehEpikHudson]

I know this has nothing to do with trains, but my father’s car is in this video. 😂

[@JamieMakin]

That's still cool!

[@paulsmith5398]

What a dreadfully icky day😢❗

[@JamieMakin]

It sure was! And I was out filming yesterday in some different, but pretty awful conditions. PA has been crazy lately, either very nice weather more like we'd get in May, or just really dismal.

[@trezjr73]

Appropriate to the circumstance. Rain always adds a fascinating dimension to the proceedings. Besides, it's not the rain that's the downer it's the mud ... just ask Jamie!

[@paulsmith5398]

@@trezjr73 ohhh, yes!, i do know about mud, its not friends with anybody! When i was 6 y.o., a neighbor kid invited me over to his house to "dig to China" in his backyard, you can just imagine what we looked like after about 2 hours of digging in very sloppy mud🤔🙄🤣🤣🤣🤣😨😱❗And, because he was the instigator, he got in royal trouble with his parents, while i only got a garden hose bath.

[@paulsmith5398]

If i was Andy, i would say, "thanks for the flatcars NS!", in return for the damage they did❗

[@JamieMakin]

Lol!

[@joenewstead4848]

So is the track temporary. Or is this gonna stay permanently? Would be a nice coach repair facility

[@JamieMakin]

I think the switch off the mainline is temporary until the parallel track is installed, but the rest should be permanent.

[@michaelcolucci5734]

If I may ask why is the reading and northern all of a sudden within the past 2.5 years has bought quite a number of new passenger cars from organizations or museums or private individuals is it because of the increase in ridership and because of 2102s return or is there more to it?

[@JamieMakin]

It's a combination of a steady increase in ridership over the past few years, and anticipated continued growth. Their existing trains are becoming more popular, and they're looking to run even more trains.

[@paulsmith5398]

Leave it to NS, (Not Safe), to damage most anything! And it happened just 40 miles from where i live 😟😔❗Since it was assigned to the "Congessional" it probably was on the fateful train led by GG1 4876 🤔😨😱❗

[@JamieMakin]

Yeah, I'm trying not to harp on NS too much, but ... ugh! Interesting through about the GG1 incident too, I'll have to see if I can find out if this car was on it.

[@paulsmith5398]

@@JamieMakin the "Congressional" was headed to Washington D.C. from New Haven, for the inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhowers second term, when the brakes started acting up, they stopped and found an angle cock on the 3rd car behind 4876 not fully open or closed. Not knowing there was an issue with that car, the brakeman opened the angle cock, and they took off for D.C. when they were around 5 or so miles out the engineer applied the brakes to slow down, but there were no brakes to be had due to the issue with the 3rd car. So there they were, on a crash course into the station, with the engineer laying on the horn until the inevitable happened..........i have a book about train wrecks and the one chapter goes into great detail about that runaway wreck. If i remember correctly, the engineers name was Harry Brouwer........

[@paulsmith5398]

@@JamieMakin and whats really miraculous about the 4876 runaway wreck, while there a number of injuries, there were no deaths in that accident!

[@VirgotheDrusky]

why in the hell would you kick a cut of cars into a coach car?

[@JamieMakin]

Someone was highly incompetent ... and hopefully no longer working with NS.

[@johnparker7874]

NS does all the time. Busted the draft gear on two passenger cars in Columbia SC.