Reading & Northern

For the lover of the steam locomotive, the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad in eastern Pennsylvania is certainly one of the most legendary places in North America to witness the awesome sights and sounds of big steam power at its finest. The railroad's 300+ miles of track navigate through small towns, cross fertile farmlands, round tight curves along rolling creeks and rivers, span lofty bridges, plunge through tunnels, and climb steep and winding grades. All the while passing through some of the grandest scenery in the eastern United States. At the head of these trains is the Reading & Northern's renowned steam star, that has called Pennsylvania Anthracite Country home since she was built for the Reading Railroad nearly 80 years ago, T-1 4-8-4 #2102.
The last three years have seen #2102 hard at work hauling thousands of railfans aboard the "Iron Horse Rambles", which bring in folks from all over the nation to see the old coal hauling brute thunder through her home territory, and put on a show unmatched by any other steam locomotive around. 2024 found three of these excursions taking place during the summer, in the months of May, June, and August. But unlike previous years, a change of pace was in store for this year's season, and one that had been longed for by many.
The first Ramble on May 25th saw #2102 operating over the the typical run-of-the-mill route from Reading to Jim Thorpe, PA, that most had become well-acquainted with over the last several years, as she scaled her familiar stomping grounds on the old Reading and Central Railroad of New Jersey mainlines.
The following two Rambles however, proved to be where the true excitement and anticipation would lie. For the first time since her return to steam, #2102 graced the rails of the Reading & Northern’s Lehigh Division, bringing steam to the far northern reaches of the railroad, a sight seldom seen in recent years. Departing from the R&N’s newly constructed station at the recently opened Nesquehoning Campus, the trains traveled over the rails of the former Lehigh Valley and Jersey Central Railroads, to two different destinations that had not been visted in nearly a decade. The second Ramble on June 22nd traveled all the way to Tunkhannock, PA on the Susquehanna Branch and the third on August 17th ran a shorter distance to the north end of the Lehigh Division at Pittston. On these excursions, the '02 made for a glorious sight as she headed north through the spectacular Lehigh Gorge, up the steep grades of Penobscot Mountain, down into the Wyoming Valley through Pittston, and along the Susquehanna River to Tunkhannock.
We were there to cover all the action, and this video showcases the entirety of our 2024 adventures with #2102. In addition to coverage of all three rambles, you'll see action from the first Fall Foliage excursion of the season from Reading to Jim Thorpe on October 5th, adding a splash of autumn colors to a few select scenes! #2102 is seen at many marquee locations on both the Reading & Lehigh Divisions, including Haucks, Lake Hauto, Glen Onoko, White Haven Tunnel, Nesquehoning Junction, Hometown Hill and many more!
Sit back and enjoy of the greatest steam shows in the 21st century as Big Banana Productions Presents "The Lehigh Valley Rambles!"