CSX Transportation Historical Society

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Reading & Northern - Reading to Nesquehoning - Monday, 10-14-2019

Rail Fan Adventure --

1. Once the famous locomotive shops of the Reading Co. I-10 Consolidation boilers were used in home-built T-1 4-8-4s. It’s nice to know that the facilities have been re-purposed. Reading PA.
Once the famous locomotive shops of the Reading Co. I-10 Consolidation boilers were used in home-built T-1 4-8-4s. It’s nice to know that the facilities have been re-purposed. Reading PA.

2. NS 5827-5070 and 3031 idle at Spring Street yard office, Reading PA.
NS 5827-5070 and 3031 idle at Spring Street yard office, Reading PA.

3. NS Oley Tower in the distance looking south toward downtown Reading PA.
NS Oley Tower in the distance looking south toward downtown Reading PA.

4. NS GP40-2 3031 is on the far right. The large building was the huge Reading Co. car shop. It was built in 1926. Reading PA.
NS GP40-2 3031 is on the far right. The large building was the huge Reading Co. car shop. It was built in 1926. Reading PA.

5. YJNR (Yard Job North Reading) with RBMN 1546-1543 switch at North Reading Yard. N Reading PA.
YJNR (Yard Job North Reading) with RBMN 1546-1543 switch at North Reading Yard. N Reading PA.

6. RBMN SW1500 1546 is ex-Conrail, exx-Indianapolis Union Ry., nee-EMD demo. N Reading PA.
RBMN SW1500 1546 is ex-Conrail, exx-Indianapolis Union Ry., nee-EMD demo. N Reading PA.

7. RBMN 1543 is a MP15DC that came from NS and originally Southern Ry. RBMN 1543-1546. N Reading PA.
RBMN 1543 is a MP15DC that came from NS and originally Southern Ry. RBMN 1543-1546. N Reading PA.

8. RBMN 1543-1546. View 2. N Reading PA.
RBMN 1543-1546. View 2. N Reading PA.

9. RBMN 1546-1543. View 3. N Reading PA.
RBMN 1546-1543. View 3. N Reading PA.

10. RBMN 1546-1543. View 4. N Reading PA.
RBMN 1546-1543. View 4. N Reading PA.

11. The Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern ran their excursions over a segment of the old Pennsy Schuylkill Branch out to Hamburg until they acquired the former Reading lines from Conrail. This block limit station was “Glen” located beside PA 61 at Shoemakersville. The inactive siding served Glen Gary Brick Co. located across the highway and still in business. RBMN signal Glen. Shoemakersville PA.
The Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern ran their excursions over a segment of the old Pennsy Schuylkill Branch out to Hamburg until they acquired the former Reading lines from Conrail. This block limit station was “Glen” located beside PA 61 at Shoemakersville. The inactive siding served Glen Gary Brick Co. located across the highway and still in business. RBMN signal Glen. Shoemakersville PA.

12. Premium Fine Coals plant at South Tamaqua PA (Zehners on the railroad).
Premium Fine Coals plant at South Tamaqua PA (Zehners on the railroad).

13. RBMN Cab 92850 is an ex-PRR N-5 built in 02-1927. Tamaqua Yard. Tamaqua PA.
RBMN Cab 92850 is an ex-PRR N-5 built in 02-1927. Tamaqua Yard. Tamaqua PA.

14. RBMN ballast hopper 107. Tamaqua PA.
RBMN ballast hopper 107. Tamaqua PA.

15. RBMN cab 92845 in Tamaqua Yard. Tamaqua PA.
RBMN cab 92845 in Tamaqua Yard. Tamaqua PA.

16. Looking north in Tamaqua. Reading Co. had a fairly large yard here. RBMN yard. Tamaqua PA.
Looking north in Tamaqua. Reading Co. had a fairly large yard here. RBMN yard. Tamaqua PA.

17. HYWX (Georgia Power) rapid discharge hoppers. It appears they have been leased, bought or borrowed from the electric utility. HYWX hopper 2576. Tamaqua PA.
HYWX (Georgia Power) rapid discharge hoppers. It appears they have been leased, bought or borrowed from the electric utility. HYWX hopper 2576. Tamaqua PA.

18. Lehigh Anthracite Coal’s GE model 44 or 65-ton switcher used at the Greenwood Breaker just east of Tamaqua on the former Lehigh & New England RR (Arlington Yard). Tamaqua PA.
Lehigh Anthracite Coal’s GE model 44 or 65-ton switcher used at the Greenwood Breaker just east of Tamaqua on the former Lehigh & New England RR (Arlington Yard). Tamaqua PA.

19. Lehigh Anthracite Coal’s Greenwood breaker. Tamaqua PA.
Lehigh Anthracite Coal’s Greenwood breaker. Tamaqua PA.

20. RBMN northbound signal at Tamaqua controls trains off the former L&NE. It was green for a northbound on the main line at left. Tamaqua PA.
RBMN northbound signal at Tamaqua controls trains off the former L&NE. It was green for a northbound on the main line at left. Tamaqua PA.

21. RBMN SD50 5033 and SD40-2 3054 charge past signal 99N and 99S just north of Tamaqua with 14 cars of NRFF (North Reading Fast Freight). Near Tamaqua PA.
RBMN SD50 5033 and SD40-2 3054 charge past signal 99N and 99S just north of Tamaqua with 14 cars of NRFF (North Reading Fast Freight). Near Tamaqua PA.

22. NRFF has passed the junction at Haucks and is now on the former CNJ heading downgrade to Jim Thorpe. RBMN 5033-3054. Haucks PA.
NRFF has passed the junction at Haucks and is now on the former CNJ heading downgrade to Jim Thorpe. RBMN 5033-3054. Haucks PA.

23. RBMN 5033-3054. View 2. Haucks PA.
RBMN 5033-3054. View 2. Haucks PA.

24. Rather than follow NRFF which would be coming back later, we checked out the junction at Haucks. Reading’s former Catawissa Branch continued west to the left. The connection to the CNJ goes right, although I think this may have been a wye configuration. Now the old Catawissa joins the former Lehigh Valley near Lofty via a new connection that passes under I-81. The Catawissa is gone west of there and Lofty Tunnel abandoned. The former LV takes RBMN into the lucrative Hazleton area that we will see later. RBMN signal. Haucks PA.
Rather than follow NRFF which would be coming back later, we checked out the junction at Haucks. Reading’s former Catawissa Branch continued west to the left. The connection to the CNJ goes right, although I think this may have been a wye configuration. Now the old Catawissa joins the former Lehigh Valley near Lofty via a new connection that passes under I-81. The Catawissa is gone west of there and Lofty Tunnel abandoned. The former LV takes RBMN into the lucrative Hazleton area that we will see later. RBMN signal. Haucks PA.

25. RBMN signal. Haucks PA.
RBMN signal. Haucks PA.

26. This would be a busy place later in the afternoon. RBMN signal. Haucks PA.
This would be a busy place later in the afternoon. RBMN signal. Haucks PA.

27. At Tamaqua we encountered an approach signal for a southbound. I’m not sure of the function of the small tower on the right. Until the late ‘50s RDG had a “QA” train order office in Tamaqua, but it could have been the one-story building on the other side of the street which is still used by RBMN. RBMN signal. Tamaqua PA.
At Tamaqua we encountered an approach signal for a southbound. I’m not sure of the function of the small tower on the right. Until the late ‘50s RDG had a “QA” train order office in Tamaqua, but it could have been the one-story building on the other side of the street which is still used by RBMN. RBMN signal. Tamaqua PA.

28. That changes to “approach medium.” Something must be coming! RBMN signal. Tamaqua PA.
That changes to “approach medium.” Something must be coming! RBMN signal. Tamaqua PA.

29. A southbound freight behind RBMN 3053-3056 hustles through town with 6 cars. Tamaqua PA.
A southbound freight behind RBMN 3053-3056 hustles through town with 6 cars. Tamaqua PA.

30. We headed over to Nesquehoning to catch the NRFF. RBMN 3054-5033 now have ex-CSX SD50s 5019-5020 that are painted dark blue. Nesquehoning PA.
We headed over to Nesquehoning to catch the NRFF. RBMN 3054-5033 now have ex-CSX SD50s 5019-5020 that are painted dark blue. Nesquehoning PA.

31. NRFF grinds upgrade past “Panther Creek” at Hauto with 22 cars. At Jim Thorpe NRFF meets the freight out of Pittston that runs over the former Lehigh Valley main line. A new bridge over the Lehigh River is under construction that will form a wye and allow a direct connection rather than a run-around move. RBMN 3054-5033-5019-5020. Hauto PA.
NRFF grinds upgrade past “Panther Creek” at Hauto with 22 cars. At Jim Thorpe NRFF meets the freight out of Pittston that runs over the former Lehigh Valley main line. A new bridge over the Lehigh River is under construction that will form a wye and allow a direct connection rather than a run-around move. RBMN 3054-5033-5019-5020. Hauto PA.

32. We hang around East Mahanoy a few minutes to catch southbound WHFF (West Hazleton to North Reading and return). This train departs West Hazleton at promptly 4:00 PM. Today RBMN 3050-3051 have 38 cars which include 24 anthracite coal loads. The old Reading main line continued on the left up through Mahanoy Tunnel and then through the heart of the coal fields to Shamokin and Williamsport. E Mahanoy Jct PA.
We hang around East Mahanoy a few minutes to catch southbound WHFF (West Hazleton to North Reading and return). This train departs West Hazleton at promptly 4:00 PM. Today RBMN 3050-3051 have 38 cars which include 24 anthracite coal loads. The old Reading main line continued on the left up through Mahanoy Tunnel and then through the heart of the coal fields to Shamokin and Williamsport. E Mahanoy Jct PA.

33. RBMN 3050-3051. View 2. E Mahanoy Jct PA.
RBMN 3050-3051. View 2. E Mahanoy Jct PA.

34. Opps! This train has a caboose! RBMN cab 92846. E Mahanoy Jct PA.
Opps! This train has a caboose! RBMN cab 92846. E Mahanoy Jct PA.

35. It is dusk as WHFF rolls through Zehners. RBMN 3050-3051. Zeheners PA.
It is dusk as WHFF rolls through Zehners. RBMN 3050-3051. Zeheners PA.

36. RBMN cab 92846. These trains hustle making the runs that they do. Zeheners PA.
RBMN cab 92846. These trains hustle making the runs that they do. Zeheners PA.

All for now.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young