Rare equipment move - chasing all FOUR Reading & Northern F units!

Рет қаралды 2,638

5 ай бұрын

Reading & Northern Railroad's F units #270 and #275 have been fan favorites since their acquisition from Norfolk Southern in December 2019. But not everyone realizes that Reading & Northern has two other F units.
On Sunday, January 14, 2024, all four F units were moved out of Port Clinton. #270 and #275 were dropped off in Jim Thorpe, and #250 and #251 were moved to the Penobscot rail yard for long-term storage. This is the only time these 4 diesels have been moved together, and it's possibly the only time they ever will be moved together, so this was a special chase for sure.
RBMN acquired #250 and #251 from the Southern Railroad of New Jersey in 2017. Originally built in 1953 for the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad as #727 and #728, these F-7a's had languished at Winslow Junction, NJ for some time.
Their time at RBMN was mostly spent behind the diesel shop until they were moved in front of the car shop in the summer of 2023. As far as I know, no work was done to them during their stay in Port Clinton.
On a cold, blustery day with weather ranging from bright, blue skies to intense snow squalls, I did the full chase from Port Clinton to the Penobscot yard in Mountain Top, PA with a brief stop in Jim Thorpe to drop off two of the F units. Running as PNEX, the motive power for this move was SD38 #2003 in the lead with SW-1500 #1546 in the rear.
I've got to give a huge thanks to my friend Collin from @PANortheasternRailfan for another successful collaboration on this chase which contributed several excellent clips to mine. Be sure to check out his video as well since he will have different views, including some of mine used exclusive in his video.
Although I didn't collaborate with Ian from @LRSX, it is always fun to see him and his son, Cam, when we're out railfanning. Keep an eye out for our friends at several locations, and be sure to check out Ian's video as well.
0:00 intro
3:35 Port Clinton yard work
7:46 PNEX departure
8:53 Molino
9:53 Miller's Crossing (Collin)
10:41 New Ringgold (Collin)
11:47 Hecla
12:51 Reynolds (Collin)
13:48 Route 443, South Tamaqua
15:56 Tamaqua Station (Collin)
16:52 Tuscarora Park Road
17:38 Marian Avenue, Hometown
18:52 Lincoln Drive, Hometown (Collin)
20:38 Tippets Road, Nesquehoning
21:20 Westchester Plastics (formerly Ametek)
21:47 Route 54, Nesquehoning
22:35 Nesquehoning Tunnel
23:32 Jim Thorpe Junction / wye (Collin)
26:32 Jim Thorpe rail yard
32:30 LGSR returns thru yard
34:11 PNEX departure
35:32 Glen Onoko Rock Cut (Collin)
36:25 Bridgeport in White Haven
36:51 Church Road, Mountain Top
37:38 Penobscot yard arrival
39:17 parking the F units
39:53 outro
40:29 end screen
Chasing trains and building models is hard work! You can help me refuel and support my adventures at:
www.buymeacoffee.com/jamiemakin

Пікірлер: 61

@flowerfolkfarm3553 5 ай бұрын

Oh wow Jamie that was pretty special to see this, thanks for taking us along! I listened as I worked so thanks for keeping me company!! Hope you have the best day 🌸💓💐💝🌻

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Hey there Anita! Really glad me and my video were able to keep you company as you worked. This chase was so much fun even though it was super COOOOOLD the whole time. Got lots more fun stuff coming soon too. Hope you're doing great, and have an awesome day! Love and hugs to you and your crew too!

@flowerfolkfarm3553 5 ай бұрын

@@JamieMakin thanks so much Jamie!! 🌸💐💝

@ralphp3057 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for the Views Jamie . Keep warm in the chilly north! 🥶lol

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks Ralph! It has been crazy cold here with another 4 or 5 days to go. I'm getting through it the best I can though. Hope you're doing well!

@joegabuzda976 5 ай бұрын

Thanks a heap Jamie. Totally enjoyed watching this run in the comfort of my living room. I know you braved the cold. I stuck my head out for 2 minutes and said... nah, lol

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much, Joe, glad you enjoyed it! The wind made the cold so brutal, even just being out there a few minutes. There were a few times north of Jim Thorpe I really wanted to call it a day and head home, but I knew I'd regret it if I did. So I kept going, but was so glad once it was done lol! Looking back I'd say it was well worth it!

@timu438 Ай бұрын

Wonderful! #'s 250 and 251 are as old as me, (and look better). I can only hope they will be restored someday. Thanks, Jamie, I always enjoy your videos.

@JamieMakin Ай бұрын

Thanks, so glad you've been enjoying my videos! I'm hopeful that at least one of the old F units will eventually be restored. It would be great to have an A-B-A or A-B-B-A set.

@bekleidungu.ausrustung7068 5 ай бұрын

Awesome video, Jaime! It's so beautiful and quaint on these rails going through small rural towns most people never heard of. Keep up the great job! 🚂🚃🚃

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it! We're blessed to have such a beautiful area here which just adds to the joy of railfanning. I love the mountains, rivers, streams, and the old rural towns.

@BeeLineEast 5 ай бұрын

Nice seeing those F units on the tracks.Nice catches. Got a shocking surprise in Hummelstown last Friday. Two Reading F units being pulled to New Jersey to a railroad line there somewhere. You may have heard about them.

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks, Michael. And that's awesome you were able to catch the Reading F units being moved! I had heard about their move and would have loved to catch it, but I didn't have the information I would have needed to do so. I believe they're going to the Woodstown Railroad. Glad I caught the RBMN F unit move though.

@BeeLineEast 5 ай бұрын

@@JamieMakin Yes I wish I could have caught them. The Reading F units took me by surprise also. Just lucky I was there at the right time. There are some KZbin videos on KZbin of the Reading units. I thought it was very cool to see them on the tracks were the once ran. They really look nice. Thanks for the info on where they went. Well you got the R&N units which was great.

@kevinsalsbury2118 5 ай бұрын

Hi Jamie. This was such a great video. I am so jealous of you and so grateful you were able to catch this. I've always enjoyed checking on these two sleeping giants from the Bartram trail. Sad to see them leave Port Clinton but great to see them rolling along. Thank you so much for sharing. Stay safe.

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Hey Kevin! Glad you enjoyed the video. I've always enjoyed keeping tabs on the F units at Port Clinton, and it was strange to see them finally on the move. I'm super glad I caught it all, even though the day was brutally cold and windy. I'd say it was worth it! Hope you're keeping warm and safe in our winter weather too.

@zearfossrailfan 5 ай бұрын

Amazing video!! We are lucky you were there to catch it!! Thanks for sharing 😁

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it!

@MattTheUPRailfan2006 5 ай бұрын

Awesome video and great interesting move...just awesome😮!!!!

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

@1940limited 5 ай бұрын

Great video. Loved every minute of it.Thanks for braving the clod to keep us informed on the exploits of the R&N! Nice to see 250 and 251 out on the line even if dead in tow. Great pacing shots. Very interesting their builder numbers are only 1 digit apart and they've been together since day one. Perhaps they'll get restored some day. Thanks again!.

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! I enjoyed seeing 250 and 251 out on the mainline and was glad they are at least in good enough shape to travel that way. The rumor I often hear is combining both into one operational unit. I don't know what their actual plans are, but I kind of think that's the best we can hope for one day. I'm just glad they're not going to be scrapped.

@1940limited 5 ай бұрын

My thoughts exactly. Every time I went past the Port Clinton shops I always thought they look to be in such dilapidated condition so I was surprised they could even be towed. Before I heard what you had to say I thought they were on their way to restoration. You never know what Andy is planning! :-) One restored to make an ABA set up with the two already in service would be great although it's s shame to break up the pair. I like the two he has now mated with a Fast Freight diesel. That's a nice lash up, too. @@JamieMakin

@dennis78382 2 ай бұрын

How did Jamie. This one came up in my recommended feed so I am giving it a rewatch. See you in 40 minutes friend.😂

@JamieMakin 2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much buddy! This was still one of my favorite chases, and I'm glad the KZbin algorithm thought so too lol.

@marilynscull4585 5 ай бұрын

Awesom,e video Jamie

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks Marilyn!

@northpennvalleysteamrailroad 5 ай бұрын

Cool 😊

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@thetrainseekers1 5 ай бұрын

Very nice video Jamie! Hope all is well!

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! I'm doing well, and I hope you are too.

@Ed-ICE-Berg 5 ай бұрын

This was an excellent chase of some cool vintage motive power Jamie!

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks, Ed, glad you enjoyed it!

@camhitchcock8659 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for the terrific video Jamie. Nice to know the R&N is keeping 250 & 251. I hope to see them running again someday. Question for you: How do you get down to Jim Thorpe Junction? I've looked for a path, but haven't found one yet. Any guidance would be most appreciated! Thanks.

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video! There's a path down to Jim Thorpe Junction from Route 209 where it parallels the tracks. Luckily there's a wide shoulder near that path where you can safely park. I haven't actually been down there myself though; that clip was filmed by Collin who I collaborated with on this chase.

@oldphantomflyer 5 ай бұрын

Nice catch Jamie. I only wish that Andy would have all his diesel powered passenger trains powered by F-units. They look so much more graceful compared to the big hunk freight diesels. Andy needs an A-B-A and A=B-B-A set for the big trips.

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks! I'd be thrilled to see nothing but F units, steam, and RDCs powering the passenger trips on the RBMN. I really do hope these two get fixed up to make an A-B-A or A-B-B-A set eventually.

@kh-xd1rp 5 ай бұрын

Great video Jamie, any info on the three cars I see recently. One was a silver car riding on a flat car on a NS train in Blandon. Also, two cars sitting at outer station on 1/21/24. (Lamberts point and Salisbury Beach). Have a Great Day! Ken

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks, Ken, glad you enjoyed the video! The car on the flatbed is RBMN #563 "George Washington." Unfortunately it was damaged in transit by Norfolk-Southern almost two years ago when it was first on its way to RBMN. I don't know what the plans are, if any, to restore the car now that it has been delivered. The other two cars are in great shape from what I've heard. Lambert's Point is a lounge car and Salisbury Beach is a sleeper. They were both built by Pullman in 1918 and 1954 respectively. I'm not sure what RBMN's plans are for them, but I expect they'll be put into service fairly quickly. I found a good article online yesterday that has more info on the cars along with lots of photos. privatecarservice.net/2021/02/01/more-about-the-lamberts-point-and-the-salisbury-beach-rail-cars/?fbclid=IwAR3VWXOReacTAz1AwjkQ6yHmsV3-B7kzdyKFhzgdxqcfPDudLhNkNmUqUsA

@dennis78382 5 ай бұрын

❤🚂❤

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for attending the premiere, Dennis!

@minnesotarailfan12 4 ай бұрын

What a catch! What are all those ex-NS locomotives doing in Penobscot? Has RBMN not found a use for them yet? Same with that SD50 pair- what are they doing in storage?

@JamieMakin 4 ай бұрын

Thanks! It was one of my favorite chases ever! Those ex-NS locomotives are still waiting to be put into service, but I'm not sure what the timeframe is for doing that. The SD-50's (5022 and 5033) are reportedly going to be scrapped, though they have been sitting there for over a year now.

@aaronhartman 5 ай бұрын

By the way. Those NS diseils are they part of the blue mountain and reading or they just store there?

@JamieMakin 5 ай бұрын

The 5 NS SD40-2's were purchased RBMN about 3 years ago. They've been relabeled with RBMN and their new numbers on the sides of the cabs, but nothing else has been done to them yet. It's my understanding that they will all eventually be put into service.

@aaronhartman 5 ай бұрын

thank you