T-1

This is quite the treat for you steam fans! On October 21st, I rode behind RBMN 4-8-4 #2102 on her final excursion of 2023 - An autumn leaf to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. Upon our departure for Reading however, wet rails and oily leaves made the T1 Northern struggle down to a crawl as we moved uphill out of the gorge and into Nesquehoning. I left the footage as unedited as possible to show just how fast our train lost all speed, and the incredible efforts of both the locomotive and the crew onboard that kept us from stalling. That was some talented work being done!
-----
This is a teaser of what's to come at a further date, the full ride of the October 21st Autumn Leaf Excursion featuring 2102's last run of the year. Stay tuned and subscribe to see the full video when it releases! Thanks for watching!

[@edwardpapak4234]

I'm not sure if anyone can truly appreciate the patience that this crew had to take this locomotive up that hill

[@elmcreekrr]

The booster saved us. It had only been recently hooked up and used for the first time the previous week. Those initial slips at speed were tough on the fire. Note: Need bigger heel next time. Great video. Looking forward to entire vid,

[@ikewillis2687]

She is fighting for her life! Hell of a cab crew!

[@Qigate]

Nice ! My Dad, who grew up in the MT Carmel area, told me that as a kid he would watch as the ladies along the railroad would come rushing out of their houses to pull down their laundry as the coal trains would come chuffing by. Watching that steam engine reminds me of his stories. Thanks again for your postings.

[@Colonel_Blimp]

Note how the engine walks away with the train when it gets onto straight track. It’s important not to get excited when this happens.
On a diesel you can watch the ammeter and notch up as the needle comes back. On steam its seat of the pants stuff.
Kudos to the engineer.

[@QTownTruckspotting]

The guy rowing 💀

[@MarkLac]

That is video of an experienced crew who had a feeling, hearing and patience for the machine they were operating. Wet rail with fallen foliage is a nightmare with any motive power, including diesel and electric due to the crushed leafs leaving an oily residue when crushed, only adding on top to the wet rail problem. The crew have had to experience this a lot with 425, but now with 2102; that extra 2000hp booster under the trailing truck comes in handy in situations like this.

[@FanRailer]

Boosters are only rated for about 300hp

[@MarkLac]

@@FanRailer that booster came in handy though when they needed it. That and the crew had been through this more than likely before, especially with 425.

[@PeterStrange-oy9ev]

Wow I've never seen such a struggle for traction. Breaks my heart, make me feel old.

[@jackharris4841]

Wow I Feel You 2102. Uphills Are Hard

[@caelumvaldovinos5318]

Now that crew are real steam people!

[@TheEasternVirginiaRailfan]

It takes a lot of skill and patience to do what that crew did

[@billbartels3684]

Very cool. What a battle! THANKS.

[@claudioeternod7064]

A super video. One of the best I have seen. That struggle up hill with cotinuos curves generate the best sounds. I wait for more videos. Thanks for this amazing one!

[@brianfalzon6739]

Hopefully 425 will be back after its 1472 Day Inspection is finished, and hopefully not too long!

[@Carolinastrucks]

Whoa! That’s one fancy train ya got up there man! Awesome video!

[@viktordubowskii695]

Thank you for the upload. This is one of the best steam locomotive videos that, I have seen.

[@davidtrexler7928]

Thanks for posting austin...tape any more of going from tamaqua to haucks ? Nesqhohoning on ward to haucks?

[@jay600katana]

I'll bet the hogger couldn't lift has arm by the end of that trip lol. My hats off to the crew.

[@wardy98px1]

That engineer was amazing almost lost her great job

[@NSandBNSFrailfanProductions]

Nice video Austin I was at nesquehoning in that big crowd towards ur left at 14:53

[@jpeg.f40ph2cat]

Hey there me! at 1:46 hahaha

[@steamgent4592]

Nice !!! Except for the cut out of the hooter whistle blowing on that last curve before the underpass that’s the best Steam video of 2023 !

[@Torsee]

Wonder how much sand the Engineer used to get up that hill.
S curves are tough at slow speed.

[@Torsee]

7:14
Spooky segment!
A mind bender

[@Torsee]

1:01
Classic shot!

[@SouthernKansasRailfan]

I'm in this video, and I'm indifferent about it lol

[@1940limited]

He just needed some straight, level track. That must have been really hard for the engineer to keep the locomotive under control. Not n easy trip. Maybe Andy needed to take his 4 cars off the end of the train!

[@PeterStrange-oy9ev]

No, Andy deserves those 4 cars.

[@ThePolarExpress1225]

We need 4014 big boy she can push her

[@hellgatebridge]

wonder if the booster works?

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

It does.

[@viktordubowskii695]

Does anyone know what the grade was back there?

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

About 2%.

[@viktordubowskii695]

That's a pretty tough grade. ​@@OldsVistaCruiser