The Chessie Steam Special at Boothwyn PA in September of 1978, shot by my dad with his standard film of the time, Tri-X Pan.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=242071
Those Reading Northerns are big and burly.
Charles Freericks
Charles,
Yet another fun shot from your dad’s collection. I’ve always thought the Chessie Steam special was a little gaudy, but it really looks good on Tri-X! And you’re right – those Reading Northerns are burly looking! I’ve always wanted to see one in person.
Thanks for sharing!
Great shot! There’s nothing wrong with Tri-X Pan - I’ve shot some myself. The best part is that the moment was captured and preserved.
I’ve seen a Reading Northern, but not under steam (there’s one at the B&O Museum).
RJ Corman’s scheme for their new steamer is only slightly less subdued. I suppose for the circus-like atmosphere that I’ve taken surrounded the Chessie specials, the paint was appropriate, but the purists among us would probably have preferred a Greenbrier-based scheme.
2101 (in the picture) is the one at the B&O Museum, isn’t it?
…I was at our depot {C&O}, back in that time period when {a} Chessie Steam Special came thru here…! Don’t remember how we knew it was coming but I was trackside. {I’m assuming there was just one}, so if that is true…we saw it under live steam trundle thru here…Heard it coming with the {whistle}, warning for a crossing or two coming down thru town before it arrived at our depot and to cross Broadway street here in Muncie.
My memory is {of the whistle}, it was subdued and raspy…
This route is now our Cardinal Greenway Trail…Trackage removed in '94.
I think so. 2100 is the one that went to the Pacific Northwest somewhere. 2102 is in Hamburg PA on the BM&R. 2124 is at Steamtown. I think these are the 4 that were used on the Reading Rambles in the early 60s.
…Didn’t 2102 pull the {one version of it}, Freedom Train in '76…I saw a F T in Lock Haven, Pa., and kinda think that was the number…??
The Engine that pulled the Freedom Train is indeed at the B&O Museum. I think she is numbered 1 for the train, but probably was the 2101. Last time I saw it years ago, she was a little worse for wear from weather.
Didn’t she endure a fire as well?
the 2001 was cosmetically restored after a fire and sent to the B&O museum.Then the C&O 614 got involved in the chessie steam program.rfd-tv plays the video from time to time.
stay safe
Joe
…Yes, the 2101 was the fire victum. 2101, 4449 and 610 pulled the '75-76 F T.
2101 Was damaged in a roundhouse fire at C & O’s Steven’s Yard (Silver Grove, Ky.)
in 1979. As has been said, she was cosmetically restored and now resides at the B & O
Museum in Baltimore.
//edit// I had meant to say earlier thanks for sharing that photo, it does bring back
some memories of actually seeing that engine in the Cincinnati area with that train.
Charles,
Compared to other photos from your father’s estate this one really moves me. A uniquely beautiful train seen by so few yet you and your dad were lucky enough to see it together.
What a wonderful memory you must have of this moment in your life shared with your father as well as all the others photos you’ve been most gracious to share with us, your fellow railfans.
Ted… thanks so much… and yes, it is a great memory to have. My dad had one real railfanning love, and that was large mainline steam. He’d tolerate a Mikado or Pacific, but what he really loved was Northerns and Berkshires.
OOOPPPPSSS,
Went back to look at the negatives to answer someone’s question from another list and saw that this picture was taken later in the day, when the train was on its way back to Baltimore… so this is Darby PA, not Boothwyn.