Railfanning with the Bednars Volume 15

[@robkrasinski6217]

I grew up in the Conrail era in the late 70's and 80's. I remember those Blue Mountain and Reading excursions on Conrail in fall 1987, 1988 as well as the ones sponsored by Reading Tech in Sept. 1985. I rode through CP Burn on August 22, 2015 behind 765 from New Haven, IN it went from west of Bethlehem to Pittston and return over NS and RBMN. It met 425 at Jim Thorpe and they exchanged whistle blasts both ways. NS had steam excursions again from Sept 2011 to May 2017. Now, they want nothing to do with excursions again. But, the 2102 is running again and this year two of the Rambles are going over the RBMN Lehigh Line for the first time, June 22 Nesquehoning to Tunkhannock which I'm riding and it sold out last month, and August 17 Nesquehoning to Pittston. I never got to see the 2102 in person at Allentown, but I did ride behind it from Emmaus to Pennsburg and return on Sept. 7, 1991. This year will be my fourth time behind 2102. Is Mike Bednar still alive? I have one of his books, I think it's Reading in the Conrail era. I heard since the horsehead railroad took over in Allentown that railfanning at CP Burn is sort of forbidden now and there are No Trespassing metal signs that NS put up. But, there were people at Burn when I was on the 765 excursion waving at us. We came up the LV connector track, then crossed Auburn St., then reversed toward the yard across the bridges, then pulled forward up the ex-CNJ toward Lehighton then up the ex-LV to White Haven, then ex-CNJ through Penobscot, then ex-LV again to Pittston wye where they loaded Subway subs for us and turned the train. I also rode behind 765 from Lewistown to Gallitzin on May 25, 2013, the Horseshoe Curve Special.

[@PRR5406]

Mike's knowledgeable commentary, along with his personal thoughts about the people and loads being moved, make these videos so enjoyable!

[@Brian4449]

Hope you guys upload Railfanning with the Bednars Volume 2.

[@jamescotter5376]

It's good to see all them old equipment and units thank you

[@oddjobz9858]

This is real railroading

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Awesome Conrail Diesel & RBM&N Steam Action Footage!

[@daveyboy_]

Livin in Montreal back.in the day near the CP tracks that went to NY , the only American train 's that I ever saw was Conrail. And the daily Amtrack

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

"It just fits, Get out the Vaseline" LMAO gotta love Mike's humor. Shame that nowadays the Allentown is not as busy in terms of train traffic cause of PSR with NS but the Altoona area hasn't changed one bit, just black engines instead of blue with the occasional color in the form of a heritage or special interest unit, I was just up there 2 weeks ago, still busy as hell with trains. Those gate runners are still a major issue today and recently while PA has gone down in trespasser deaths, crossing accidents are on the rise.

[@robkrasinski6217]

And you saw NS units in Allentown way before they took over some of Conrail's lines in 1998-1999. That's because they were run throughs from Hagerstown, MD where NS (former N&W) came up from Virginia, etc. and N&W, Southern, NS diesels would wind up on Conrail trains. How did that work, though, did NS crews have to leave the train at Hagerstown or did they stay on with Conrail crews?

[@rockguitarist931]

Back when it was worth getting out the camera!

[@snydedon9636]

Sure is great to see these trains with no graffiti on them. As a kid in the 60s I remember seeing open flatbeds with construction and agricultural equipment on them. Never happen today.

[@robkrasinski6217]

When did graffiti on freight cars start? Was it more like the 90's when the early millennials were becoming teens?

[@chuckabbate5924]

Big blue keeping it 💯

[@shmoop2481]

PIAL with CNW Barley hoppers on the head end.

[@DWH072]

Get out the Vaseline ? , geez Mike

[@drby0788]

what whistle was #2102 wearing here?

[@harrychest4303]

How do I get the whole collection 1-15?