By Railfan & Railroad Staff

READING, Pa. — Reading Company 4-8-4 2102 is expected to lead a series of “Iron Horse Rambles” excursions on the Reading & Northern this year, a revival of sorts for a popular series of steam trips in the early 1960s. The trips will mark the locomotive’s public debut following a 30-year absence from the main line.  

The railroad tells Railfan & Railroad that the locomotive, which is currently being restored at its Port Clinton, Pa., shops, is scheduled to lead at least four trips from Reading to Jim Thorpe and back on May 28, July 2, August 13 and September 3. Tickets for those first trips will go on sale on February 15. More dates are expected to be added to the schedule, particularly in the fall. 

The “Iron Horse Rambles” were a series of steam excursions on the Reading from 1959 until 1964 that barnstormed the system behind the road’s iconic T-1 type 4-8-4s. Thirty of the Northerns were built from existing 2-8-0 locomotives from 1945 until 1947. Locomotive 2102 ended up on the Reading & Northern in the 1980s and ran for a few years until it was retired in 1991. In January 2016, the railroad announced the locomotive would return to service to run alongside its other steam locomotive, 4-6-2 425. The 4-8-4 was fired up for the first time in three decades in January 2021 and officials said it is close to running. 

More information is expected to be posted on the railroad’s website in the coming weeks.