The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad has begun work on restoring no. 2102. The RBMN T-1 with a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement originally was constructed in Reading in 1945, and has seen a rich history to this point. The next two years will become pivotal in the locomotive’s much anticipated return to service.
The tender was split from the locomotive on Jan. 7 followed by work commencing on Jan. 9. The front end is out and work has started in the cab. The cab along with all jacketing, piping, superheater units, tubes and flues will be removed. The locomotive will be dissembled far enough to perform complete ultrasonic testing and inspection. Once that is complete, the goal is to perform the FRA Form 4 “1472” inspection.
Andy Muller, Jr., owner and CEO of the rail company anticipates the T-1 to be operational by mid-2017.
“The total amount of ridership in 2015 hit 100,000 people,” said Matt Fisher, General Manager of the railroad’s passenger division. “This is approximately 30 percent higher than our previous year’s ridership. The amount of ticket sales and interest in riding trains is phenomenal. Impressive ridership numbers along with the amount of teamwork and determination by employees of the railroad has made it a perfect time to begin working on no. 2102.”
The steam locomotive is housed at the Port Clinton shops less than 20 miles north of Reading on the former Reading Company mainline. Port Clinton is also the headquarters of the RBMN railroad.
“The opportunities are endless to use no. 2102 in special excursion service on both the RBMN and related tourist railroad Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway,” said Fisher.
RBMN owns more than 300 miles of railroad along with operational steam locomotive no. 425; two RDCs numbered 9166 and 9168; and more than 35 diesel locomotives. The railroad employs more than 200 people in the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania. More information and official news updates about this project can be found at www.rbmnrr.com and www.lgsry.com.
