Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In the fall of 2022, the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad was once again running their popular Autumn Leaf Excursions from Reading to Jim Thorpe, PA, this time behind newly-restored 4-8-4 no. 2102.
Built by Baldwin in 1923, the locomotive began its career as Philadelphia & Reading 2044, an I-10sa class 2-8-0. The I-10s served dutifully in branchline service for the P&R and later Reading Railroad, however after World War II the railroad was in need of larger power. In September 1945, the 2044 and 29 of it's classmates were heavily rebuilt into the legendary class T1 4-8-4s. 2044 was renumbered 2102 and spent the next decade in mainline freight service. With dieselization the T1s were retired and in 1956 the 2102 was sold off for use as a stationary boiler. However, the Reading bought the engine back in 1962 for use in their "Iron Horse Rambles" excursions. The following three decades saw the 2102 through an illustrious excursion career, pulling trains for many owners and visiting places such as the Cass Scenic Railroad and the Horseshoe Curve before being purchased by the Blue Mountain & Reading Railroad, running there until 1991. In 2016, the RBM&N began restoration work on the 2102 and six years later in the spring of 2022 the mighty "T-Hog" was once again thundering along the Road of Anthracite.
In the fall of 2022, the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad was once again running their popular Autumn Leaf Excursions from Reading to Jim Thorpe, PA, this time behind newly-restored 4-8-4 no. 2102.
Built by Baldwin in 1923, the locomotive began its career as Philadelphia & Reading 2044, an I-10sa class 2-8-0. The I-10s served dutifully in branchline service for the P&R and later Reading Railroad, however after World War II the railroad was in need of larger power. In September 1945, the 2044 and 29 of it's classmates were heavily rebuilt into the legendary class T1 4-8-4s. 2044 was renumbered 2102 and spent the next decade in mainline freight service. With dieselization the T1s were retired and in 1956 the 2102 was sold off for use as a stationary boiler. However, the Reading bought the engine back in 1962 for use in their "Iron Horse Rambles" excursions. The following three decades saw the 2102 through an illustrious excursion career, pulling trains for many owners and visiting places such as the Cass Scenic Railroad and the Horseshoe Curve before being purchased by the Blue Mountain & Reading Railroad, running there until 1991. In 2016, the RBM&N began restoration work on the 2102 and six years later in the spring of 2022 the mighty "T-Hog" was once again thundering along the Road of Anthracite.
