Uploaded September 2016 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Where else in the world can you see a trio of EMD SW8 switchers working hard hauling a large train? The Reading & Northern railroad in eastern Pennsylvania is home to four of these critters, which are among the few remaining operating locomotives that still utilize an EMD 567 prime mover. On July 29, 2016, the yard job returns from Norfolk Southern's Reading Yard onto home rails with a whopping 65 cars! As a bonus, we also see a loaded coal train waiting to head south onto Norfolk Southern with a pair of SD40-2's.
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July 29, 2016
0:00 - Reading & Northern train YJNR (Yard Job - North Reading) heads north from Norfolk Southern's Reading Yard at BELT interlocking in Reading, PA, with 65 cars for R&N's North Reading Yard (NRY) in Tuckerton. Power for the train is:
RBMN SW8 802 (Ex-Lehigh Valley)
RBMN SW8 800 (Ex-Delaware Lackawanna & Western)
RBMN SW8 801 (Ex-Lehigh Valley)
1:45 - A QANR (Tamaqua to North Reading) coal train was already waiting to head south from NRY onto Norfolk Southern rails, becoming NS train 684 later that day.
3:00 - A couple hours later at the "cattle shoot" at Tuckerton, I watched YJNR shift for awhile and then set up for this noisy run by, turn up those speakers!
Thanks for watching!
Where else in the world can you see a trio of EMD SW8 switchers working hard hauling a large train? The Reading & Northern railroad in eastern Pennsylvania is home to four of these critters, which are among the few remaining operating locomotives that still utilize an EMD 567 prime mover. On July 29, 2016, the yard job returns from Norfolk Southern's Reading Yard onto home rails with a whopping 65 cars! As a bonus, we also see a loaded coal train waiting to head south onto Norfolk Southern with a pair of SD40-2's.
Like us on Facebook!
facebook.com/CentralPennRailProductions
July 29, 2016
0:00 - Reading & Northern train YJNR (Yard Job - North Reading) heads north from Norfolk Southern's Reading Yard at BELT interlocking in Reading, PA, with 65 cars for R&N's North Reading Yard (NRY) in Tuckerton. Power for the train is:
RBMN SW8 802 (Ex-Lehigh Valley)
RBMN SW8 800 (Ex-Delaware Lackawanna & Western)
RBMN SW8 801 (Ex-Lehigh Valley)
1:45 - A QANR (Tamaqua to North Reading) coal train was already waiting to head south from NRY onto Norfolk Southern rails, becoming NS train 684 later that day.
3:00 - A couple hours later at the "cattle shoot" at Tuckerton, I watched YJNR shift for awhile and then set up for this noisy run by, turn up those speakers!
Thanks for watching!
![Chasing Along the Everett Railroad [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z8Dm5smQSGM/mqdefault.jpg "Chasing Along the Everett Railroad [4K]
On the morning of October 24, 2018, we spot the Everett working in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania with EV GP16 1828 and EV B32-8 561. Well follow the train down to East Freedom, where the 1828 cuts away from the train at to work an industry near the end of the line in Claysburg.
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The lighting conditions were abysmal at best, but having not railfanned in this area for over 9 years, it was neat to see an older EMD GP16 working with the former Norfolk Southern 4-axle Dash-8. Everett 1712 is on lease at the Curry Rail shops in Hollidaysburg, which is the building in the background at 1:00.
1:40 - Next, the train moves rather briskly through Monastery Rd. Mechanical crossing bells and Nathan P5 horns...something not near as common over on Class I railroad today.
2:15 - On the branch down to Claysburg, a lite 1828 passes a field where a manure spreader has just started working. It was hard to stomach the smell...and I grew up in the country living right next to cornfields!
Thanks for watching!")
![CNJ 113 Bobbing and Weaving to Minersville [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zXiXYX22mXw/mqdefault.jpg "CNJ 113 Bobbing and Weaving to Minersville [4K]
On December 6 and 20, 2015, CNJ 113 pulls the Santa Train Excursions between Landingville and Minersville, PA, looking better than ever with the new boiler jacket in place. Unlike last years double header, no snow accompanies the scene, but an 0-6-0 as the sole steam power ahead of a passenger consist made for an absolutely unique show. Rambling along at what is considered a high speed for a locomotive of this kind, the massive 0-6-0 seems to ride the rails like a roller coaster bobbing up, down, left and right.
Built as a switching locomotive by Schenectady Works in 1923, the anthracite burner is right at home in the Skook region of Pennsylvania with a history of hauling rich anthracite mined from the region. As an 0-6-0 switcher, or CNJ class 6S46 for 6 Wheel Switcher 46,000 lb Tractive Effort, the duties were limited around yards or shops to build and break up trains; therefore, these locomotives did not require the front or rear guide trucks for the slower speed operations.
Fast forward to today, and the beautifully restored 113 now has a different life of hauling passenger coaches at a brisk pace. Aside from the lack of guiding wheels, the jointed rail only adds to the amount that the large 0-6-0 bobs and weaves across the former Reading trackage. Our camera was strategically located along the line to capture this unique journey. We hope you appreciate the immense effort put into this video to try to do justice of capturing this rare relic of anthracite history, but more importantly hold gratitude for the countless hours put in by the many volunteers over the years to see history live today.
Visit Project 113s website for more information:
http://www.rrproject113.org/
Also thanks to the Reading & Northern railroad for hosting these trips on their rails.
Visit the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway for more information about upcoming excursions:
http://www.lgsry.com/
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Please note that these shots are not necessary in chronological order, the detailed information is listed below:
The opening scenes include various shots of 113 getting under way at Minersville for the reverse trip down to Landingville.
1:10 - 113 storms around the bend at Landingville.
1:40 - Stack talk greets us at Cressona Yard.
2:40 - Further down along Railroad St, we get a long glimpse of 113 rocking and rolling right toward our camera.
3:30 - Further up the grade, the train rounds the bend near the green houses.
4:20 - In the woods along the West Branch of the Schuylkill River, 113 barrels along on the jointed rail toward our camera at Westwood Junction. The track on the right heads to Tremont and Good Spring, still actively served by R&N.
5:40 - The train rounds the S-curve at Marlin.
6:40 - Restarting the sequence over for the last trips of the day in lower light, we are now near the south of the line as 113 races past the station in Schuylkill Haven.
7:10 - The 3:30 train rounds the bend an hour later as the sun sets behind the West Cressona depot.
8:10 - Blue hour is among us as only the plume of steam is left visible as the train passes the Indian Run Reservoir.
8:40 - Finally, just after 5 PM, the final train of the season returns home to Minersville Station.
Thank you so much for watching!
Shot with a Sony FDR-AX100 Handycam at 4K 100 Mbps.
Edited with Sony Movie Studio Platinum 13; compressed to YouTubes 45 Mbps 4K bitrate.")
