Reading & Northern 425: The Autumn Leaf Explorer - Fall Foliage 2021

In Autumn 2021, the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern brought back their famous Fall Foliage Excursions for the first time since 2019. The Reading to Jim Thorpe round trip was lead by light pacific #425, which is revered as the loudest steam locomotive in the United States. The locomotive lived up to her given title, creating thunderous, deafening sounds as she worked up the steep mountain grades of the old anthracite roads. This year the RBMN added a third weekend of steam-powered excursions, allowing for more coverage of this annual tradition. In the beginning of October, the leaves show mainly greens, with hints of foliage beginning to turn. By the last two weekends of the month, green leaves were a rarity, as the foliage reached its peak, creating a vibrant display of yellow, orange, and red leaves. During these excursions, the locomotive sported multiple whistles; a Boston & Maine 6 Chime, a Reading Company G-2 6 Chime, a Baltimore & Ohio "Tumor Top" 3 Chime, a Norfolk & Western 12' Hooter, and a Pennsylvania Railroad K4 3 Chime.

Reading & Northern #425 is a 4-6-2 Pacific type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive works in 1928 for the Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad. She is the first of two G-1 Type locomotives for the GM&N (425 and later scrapped 426). When the locomotives went to the GM&O, they became 580 (425), and 582 (426). After her time there, 425 was owned by several other railroads, including the Louisiana & Eastern, Valley Forge Scenic Railway, Wilmington & Western, and the Blue Mountain & Reading where she ran alongside 2102. The BM&R became RBM&N (R&N for short) in 1990, after the acquisition of 150 miles of track due to the bankruptcy of Conrail. In 1992, 425 was painted into her famous Blue Paint Scheme inspired by Reading Bluebird. From 1996 to 2007 the famed locomotive sat dormant, but by 2008, she returned to regular passenger service. In 2011, 425 was given roller bearings by the Strasburg Railroad, and in 2015, painted to her current blue, a GM&N "Road of Service" inspired paint scheme, completing the look she wears today.

Special Thanks:
Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad
The Crews of RBM&N 425
Reading & Northern Passenger Department
My Family

RBM&N Passenger Department:
https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/

Locations:

0:00 North Reading, PA
1:03 Leesport
1:47 Milepost 67
2:19 Milepost 70
2:49 Berne
3:17 Hamburg
3:44 Port Clinton
4:04 Fork Mountain Road
4:21 Molino
5:18 Drehersville
6:49 Pine Valley
7:30 Hecla
7:52 Reynolds
8:49 Tuscarora Park Road
9:11 Tamaqua Tunnel
9:54 Barnesville
10:25 East Mahanoy Junction
10:45 Hometown High Bridge
12:00 Milepost 108
12:33 Lake Drive
13:15 Lake Hauto
14:31 Panther Creek
14:56 Nesquehoning
15:59 Jim Thorpe, PA
19:09 Milepost 121
20:23 Nesquehoning Tunnel
21:10 Milepost 116
22:05 Tippets Pond
22:48 Greenwood Lake
23:47 Hometown Hill
24:25 Marian Avenue
25:03 Hometown, PA
26:23 Tuscarora Park Road
26:49 Tamaqua Station
27:20 Zehners
27:52 Reynolds
28:14 Hecla
28:36 Rauschs
29:06 Miller's Crossing
29:34 Molino
29:51 Port Clinton
31:45 Hamburg
32:11 Leesport
33:52 Peacock's Lock Viaduct
34:25 North Reading, PA

Filmed on October 2nd, 3rd, 23rd, 24th, 30th, & 31st, 2021.
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