Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad 425

Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern 425
On the point of an excursion at Jim Thorpe
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 60339 Build date January 12, 1928
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2 Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 69 in (1.753 m) Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 210 lbf/in2 (1.45 MPa) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 22 in × 28 in (559 mm × 711 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 35,156 lbf (156.38 kN)
Career Operators Gulf, Mobile and Northern, Gulf, Mobile and Ohio, Louisiana Eastern Railroad, Valley Forge Scenic Railroad, Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad Class G-1 Number in class 1st of 2 Numbers BM&R 425 BM&R 580 LE #4 Retired 1950 (from GM&O) 1963 (from LE) Restored 2007 (by RBMN) Current owner Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad Disposition Operable, based out of RBMN headquarters in Port Clinton, Pennsylvania

Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad 425 is a 1928 Baldwin built 4-6-2 light "Pacific" type steam locomotive operated by the Reading & Northern Railroad, based out of Port Clinton, PA. The locomotive has gone through numerous railroads, numbers and paint schemes over the years.

Locomotive 425 was built for the Gulf, Mobile and Northern by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Eddystone, PA as the first of two Pacifics ordered. The engine later became Gulf, Mobile and Ohio 580. It was retired in 1950.

Quickly after retirement, it was purchased by Paulson Spence as part of his Louisiana Eastern Railroad. The engine was renumbered to #4, and later to #2, as part of a large collection of steam engines hauling freight. It was purchased in 1962 by Malcolm Ottinger and became the main power of the Valley Forge Scenic Railroad of Kimberton, Pennsylvania, where it also regained its original number. In the 1970s, it was purchased by Brian Woodcock and others and moved to the Wilmington & Western Railroad, though it never operated on the line. In 1983, it was sold to Andrew J. Muller, Jr. to power tourist trains on the newly formed Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad based out of Temple, PA. The engine made many runs on this 26 miles shortline, as well as a few trips on the mainline. The high-stepping Pacific was later joined by Reading Company 4-8-4 #2102 in 1987. The Blue Mountain & Reading became much larger with the purchase of nearly 300 miles of former Conrail trackage throughout the early 1990s. The railroad was renamed to Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern (often shortened to Reading & Northern). In 1995 both names officially Merged. Having more track gave 425 and 2102 a large amount of new areas to roam, and the engines became based out of the railroad's own headquarters of Port Clinton.

On June 12, 1992 the 425 was painted into its most recognizable appearance with a dark blue paint scheme. Inspired by the Reading Company's own blue painted Pacific (not, contrary to popular belief, the Central Railroad of New Jersey's Blue Comet), the locomotive's blue made it a distinct stand out. The idea came to Mr. Muller to paint 425 in dark blue by former Reading Company Engineer Charles W. Kachel. The locomotive was a featured guest at the Steamtown National Historic Site Grand Opening in July 1995, and made a number of excursions out of Scranton. The locomotive returned to Port Clinton in late 1996. 425's last excursion was the Tamaqua Fall Fest on October 13, 1996. From 1997 - 2008 is when steam operations took an extended break.