Fmnut, can you answer this question? How were they able to run long distance excursions on Conrail which boarded at Temple station Sept. 1985, then also Leesport, Shoemakersville, and South Hamburg fall 1987, and 1988 but they stopped running those trips after 1988? Did Conrail put its foot down and say no to the excursions after a while or wasn't Andy Muller interested in doing them anymore? I know it would be much harder if not impossible for Reading and Northern to run excursions on NS today.
@rwk360 The answer is, both. Conrail put a $20M insurance requirement on all mainline trips which effectively killed any trips including the RBMN's, . In a way, you can thank another operator, NS, for the rise in costs after the wreck in 1986 in Virginia with the CEO at the throttle. This was a wakeup call for everyone in the business, and the insurance companies didn't mis it either. Also, Herr Muller was way too busy setting up the R&N in 1989-1990 to be bothered with fantrips.
Why did the railroads switch from steam to diesel in the first place? Because diesel cost less, was less maintenance/labor intensive, and easier to run. But, on tourist railroads, it's steam that brings out the people and equals more ticket sales. Why is Strasburg popular? Because they run steam everyday. Why are most eastern PA/NJ tourist railroads except Strasburg and Steamtown not running steam and using diesel this year? Is it because most of the steam locomotives are down for maintenance?
I liked when the BM&R ran two trains, I remember the PRR E8's passing us at Leesport when I rode the Railfan Weekend II train June 27, 1987 from Temple with 425. The E's were heading southbound to Temple while we were heading northbound to South Hamburg. When they passed, it seemed like they were going 50 mph and the horn blew right in my ear! It was loud! How often did the BM&R run two trains? When were those two trains with the Reading diesels passing each other at Leesport in this video?
@rwk360 The two trains with the 5513 and the U23B were on an Easter Bunny weekend in 1991 I think. They usually ran two trains for special occasions like Easter Bunny, Santa Claus trains at Christmas, and Railfan Weekends.
What kind of horn did those blue BM&R CF7's have? It sounded like a blat horn, like what some F units and GG1's had. Was it a Wabco E something or a Leslie A-200?
Why did the BM&R stop tourist trains on the original line? Weren't they making any money? I rode it a few times, 1986, 1987, and 1988 with blue diesel switcher pulling RDC from Temple, Railfan Weekend II June 27, 1987 with 425 from Temple, and an Easter train in 1988 with 2102 from South Hamburg. I also rode behind 2102 from Emmaus to Pennsburg Sept 1991 and 425 Leesport to Jim Thorpe June or July, 1992 and Tunkhannock June, 2009. Why isn't 425 running this year? Will it run again in the future?
@rwk360 To make a long story short, they weren't making any money on the tourist runs. Part of this had to do with running diesel instead of steam. It was costing them big time to run the steam every day, but using diesel, while lowering operating costs, also cost revenue because people turned away when they saw there was no steam. The other thing was, by 1988 or 89 the initial "wow" factor had worn off, and the BM&R was but one of many options for a train ride in eastern PA.
@rwk360 Also, the creation of the Reading & Northern absorbed most of the attention of owner and management, and the little Temple-Hamburg line became an orphan as far as the railroad was concerned. As to the 425, it needs work. Whether the RR will put the money into it or not remains to be seen. As for 2102, don't hold your breath. The railroad's priorities need to be focused on running the railroad, not window dressing like steam trips. They are a big money loser at the end of the day.
@trainguy3 The solid green with yellow stripes units are GE U33B's Most of the rest of the units shown are EMD's. The 5513 is not an R&N unit but belongs to the RCT&HS.
@qlancer Not quite true. Blue Mountain & Reading was the name for Andy Muller's original operation between Temple and Hamburg, PA. It carried both passengers and freight on this line. This name was also used for the operation of the former Anthracite RR properties (Colebrookdale, Perkiomen and Kutztown lines) under contract to the state of PA. Reading Blue Mountain and Northern was created when Muller purchased the "Reading Cluster" of lines into the Coal Region from Conrail in 1990.
@fmnut Both names were in use from 1990 to about 1995 when the BM&R name was dropped and everything came under the RBMN designation. This is the official name for the RR, but most fans and local railroaders know it as the "Reading & Northern" since the whole thing is quite a mouthful, and the railroad has dropped the "Blue Mountain" from their equipment lettering.
I thought it was the Blue Mountain & Reading. Or are they two different railroads. The BM&R had the same scheme on their U23B. Thanx fur sharin'! 4 1/2 thumbs up!
Actually, first there came the Blue Mountain & Reading. This line ran between Temple and Hamburg on former PRR rails. When they acquired the former RDG lines north of Reading, the name for that line was the Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern, later it was shortened to Reading & Northern. Once the tourist trains were discontinued on Temple-Hamburg, the BM&R name was dropped. The BM&R never had a U23B.
Thanks for the information. And I just said the paintscheme on the U-boats were similar. The Blue Mountain & Reading was on the Questar/Pentrex video "Great American Train Rides: Volume 2" made in 1995, so my information was a bit off.
Fmnut, can you answer this question? How were they able to run long distance excursions on Conrail which boarded at Temple station Sept. 1985, then also Leesport, Shoemakersville, and South Hamburg fall 1987, and 1988 but they stopped running those trips after 1988? Did Conrail put its foot down and say no to the excursions after a while or wasn't Andy Muller interested in doing them anymore? I know it would be much harder if not impossible for Reading and Northern to run excursions on NS today.
rwk360 6 months ago
@rwk360 The answer is, both. Conrail put a $20M insurance requirement on all mainline trips which effectively killed any trips including the RBMN's, . In a way, you can thank another operator, NS, for the rise in costs after the wreck in 1986 in Virginia with the CEO at the throttle. This was a wakeup call for everyone in the business, and the insurance companies didn't mis it either. Also, Herr Muller was way too busy setting up the R&N in 1989-1990 to be bothered with fantrips.
fmnut 6 months ago
Why did the railroads switch from steam to diesel in the first place? Because diesel cost less, was less maintenance/labor intensive, and easier to run. But, on tourist railroads, it's steam that brings out the people and equals more ticket sales. Why is Strasburg popular? Because they run steam everyday. Why are most eastern PA/NJ tourist railroads except Strasburg and Steamtown not running steam and using diesel this year? Is it because most of the steam locomotives are down for maintenance?
rwk360 6 months ago
I liked when the BM&R ran two trains, I remember the PRR E8's passing us at Leesport when I rode the Railfan Weekend II train June 27, 1987 from Temple with 425. The E's were heading southbound to Temple while we were heading northbound to South Hamburg. When they passed, it seemed like they were going 50 mph and the horn blew right in my ear! It was loud! How often did the BM&R run two trains? When were those two trains with the Reading diesels passing each other at Leesport in this video?
rwk360 6 months ago
@rwk360 The two trains with the 5513 and the U23B were on an Easter Bunny weekend in 1991 I think. They usually ran two trains for special occasions like Easter Bunny, Santa Claus trains at Christmas, and Railfan Weekends.
fmnut 6 months ago
Comment removed
rwk360 6 months ago
What kind of horn did those blue BM&R CF7's have? It sounded like a blat horn, like what some F units and GG1's had. Was it a Wabco E something or a Leslie A-200?
rwk360 6 months ago
@rwk360 I believe they were A-200's. They were the original horns as delivered on the ATSF F units that the CF's were made from.
fmnut 6 months ago
Why did the BM&R stop tourist trains on the original line? Weren't they making any money? I rode it a few times, 1986, 1987, and 1988 with blue diesel switcher pulling RDC from Temple, Railfan Weekend II June 27, 1987 with 425 from Temple, and an Easter train in 1988 with 2102 from South Hamburg. I also rode behind 2102 from Emmaus to Pennsburg Sept 1991 and 425 Leesport to Jim Thorpe June or July, 1992 and Tunkhannock June, 2009. Why isn't 425 running this year? Will it run again in the future?
rwk360 6 months ago
@rwk360 To make a long story short, they weren't making any money on the tourist runs. Part of this had to do with running diesel instead of steam. It was costing them big time to run the steam every day, but using diesel, while lowering operating costs, also cost revenue because people turned away when they saw there was no steam. The other thing was, by 1988 or 89 the initial "wow" factor had worn off, and the BM&R was but one of many options for a train ride in eastern PA.
fmnut 6 months ago
@rwk360 Also, the creation of the Reading & Northern absorbed most of the attention of owner and management, and the little Temple-Hamburg line became an orphan as far as the railroad was concerned. As to the 425, it needs work. Whether the RR will put the money into it or not remains to be seen. As for 2102, don't hold your breath. The railroad's priorities need to be focused on running the railroad, not window dressing like steam trips. They are a big money loser at the end of the day.
fmnut 6 months ago
Wer some of these alco locomotives, because Im pretty sure they wern't emd's
trainguy3 7 months ago
@trainguy3 The solid green with yellow stripes units are GE U33B's Most of the rest of the units shown are EMD's. The 5513 is not an R&N unit but belongs to the RCT&HS.
fmnut 7 months ago
Blue Mountain and Reading was the passanger shortline, whilst Reading, Blue Mountain, and Northern was the freight name
qlancer 1 year ago
@qlancer Not quite true. Blue Mountain & Reading was the name for Andy Muller's original operation between Temple and Hamburg, PA. It carried both passengers and freight on this line. This name was also used for the operation of the former Anthracite RR properties (Colebrookdale, Perkiomen and Kutztown lines) under contract to the state of PA. Reading Blue Mountain and Northern was created when Muller purchased the "Reading Cluster" of lines into the Coal Region from Conrail in 1990.
fmnut 1 year ago
@fmnut Both names were in use from 1990 to about 1995 when the BM&R name was dropped and everything came under the RBMN designation. This is the official name for the RR, but most fans and local railroaders know it as the "Reading & Northern" since the whole thing is quite a mouthful, and the railroad has dropped the "Blue Mountain" from their equipment lettering.
fmnut 1 year ago
at 1;15 sounds like a gg-1
ble643 1 year ago
That video really brings bac
Conrail6370 2 years ago
I thought it was the Blue Mountain & Reading. Or are they two different railroads. The BM&R had the same scheme on their U23B. Thanx fur sharin'! 4 1/2 thumbs up!
VilquinProductions 2 years ago
Actually, first there came the Blue Mountain & Reading. This line ran between Temple and Hamburg on former PRR rails. When they acquired the former RDG lines north of Reading, the name for that line was the Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern, later it was shortened to Reading & Northern. Once the tourist trains were discontinued on Temple-Hamburg, the BM&R name was dropped. The BM&R never had a U23B.
fmnut 2 years ago
Thanks for the information. And I just said the paintscheme on the U-boats were similar. The Blue Mountain & Reading was on the Questar/Pentrex video "Great American Train Rides: Volume 2" made in 1995, so my information was a bit off.
VilquinProductions 2 years ago
Great video! Thanks for putting it up
elrodjones 3 years ago
EXCELLENT VIDEO!!!!!! Thanks for sharing.
iusetano 3 years ago
Great shots thanks for sharing.
alvintrain 3 years ago
Nicely filmed, great scenery and smoke shows!
sidomitch 3 years ago
Awesome!!!!
2102FAN 3 years ago
Really cool footage!
CSX6000 3 years ago