Reading and Northern 425 Cab Ride: Thundering Along the Reading Mainline

PA & Northeastern Railfan
PA & Northeastern Railfan
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Published 2023-01-14
On December 17th, 2022, I was able to take a ride on one of Reading and Northern #425's final excursions prior to her 1472-day inspection. However, I wasn't riding in the standard coach cars, dome car, or crown class... I was up in 425! That's right, I was able to secure a cab ride ticket for the 1:00pm trip from Reading Outer Station to Port Clinton and return. This is a ride I had wanted to do for years, as I have long known cab rides were available for 425, however, I was never able to actually get one until these final trips. I can confidently say that this ride was well worth the wait though, and if you are someone who loves steam locomotives like me, it is a ride that is worth every penny. So, if you're interested in seeing what it's like to operate a mainline steam locomotive, make sure to stick around and check out this video!

Additionally, I have several people I would like to thank for making this video possible. Firstly, I like to thank Reading and Northern's steam crew for not only operating these excursions, but also being so welcoming to visitors in the cab. It truly makes a cab rider's experience all the more exciting, and I really enjoyed my ride as well as getting to know the crew!

I'd also like to thank the Reading and Northern Railroad for adding these Santa Claus excursions with 425 as the motive power for the month of December! It was nice to see her run a few more times, as well as being able to receive this experience prior to her overhaul.

I also can't go on without saying a sincere thank you to my family for waiting along the mainline at various points in order to film me passing by, as this allowed me to have both in-cab and trackside footage of my ride. Not only does this make the video more complete, but it also allows me to look back in the future and remember this day even better!

I also have to extend an equal thank you to fellow Youtuber and friend ‪@JamieMakin‬, who also provided me with trackside footage of my ride! Please make sure to check out her channel, as she has put together an awesome video of this weekend's excursions, as well as other exciting railroad content from the Reading and Northern and numerous other railroads.

Please enjoy this special perspective of one of 425's final runs!!

0:00 Intro
0:45 Climbing Onboard (Special Thanks to Jamie Makin)
1:33 5 Minutes Till Departure
2:18 "Okay Ahead to Port Clinton... Over"
4:26 Reading Outer Yard w/ Radio Chatter
9:01 Passing Under US Rt. 222 and Approaching Peacock's Lock Viaduct
10:47 Approaching Cross Keys Rd.
12:02 Passing Thru Leesport (Special Thanks to my Step-Father)
14:29 Approaching Belleman's Church Rd.
15:35 Passing Thru Mohrsville (Special Thanks to my Mom)
17:23 Shoemakersville
19:24 Approaching Fisher Dam Rd. & River Rd.
21:51 Entering West Hamburg
22:56 Passing by Industrial Dr. (Special Thanks to my Mom)
23:48 Passing by Lowland Rd. (Special Thanks to Jamie Makin)
25:13 Approaching Port Clinton
28:10 And Back to Reading We Go!
29:24 Pacing at Lowland Rd. (Special Thanks to my Step-Mother)
30:44 Can You Read a Water Glass?
30:58 "I've wanted to do that my whole life!!"
31:13 Entering Reading Outer Yard
31:34 Special Thanks & Outro

Music in this video:
Song: Straight Fuse
Artist: French Fuse
Licensed to YouTube by: YouTube Audio Library
All Comments (21)
  • @habeebchaudhry5926
    In the 1950's and 1960s we used to travel in steam trains. We used to enjoy those journeys in East Africa. Sweet Memories! NOSTALGIA!
  • @huntsbychainsaw5986
    The sound of that whistle is bone chilling. Like a mournful cry calling from the past. Just shivers.
  • @jeffreycalderwood9893
    I love steam locomotives, I think we need to bring them back into service full time
  • @ajithbjk-ws3ku
    thanks for the video, loved travelling in the great invasion of the 60’s. it made me remember my childhood we used to travel to my native in india . loved it
  • @terencem8795
    I just commenting how sad, only forty-two k views! Who doesn't love a beautiful steam locomotive like this?!👍👍
  • @tedwhitman3306
    Excellent, just like being there in the cab. What a great ride !!! Thank you very much. Takes me back many years!
  • @lornperkins4270
    That old girl is HAULIN ASS rolling through that crossing..with all the railfans popping woody's..😂 that is a rere treat now a days...not only to see a steam engine but one thats under speed..rolling coal...you got a good fireman engineer.
  • @royemery5186
    I just love the sound of the engine and the power it has ❤❤
  • @nathancorcoran5347
    I sure really hope Reading & Northern 425 will be back in service very soon.
  • @LRSX
    Thanks for sharing this incredible expierence! And so awesome of the nice folks at Reading & Northern who make things like this possible! Great video!
  • @thomasstambaugh5181
    My Uncle Dave drove the Capital Limited for the B&O for decades out of Connellsville, PA. He hated diesels -- he said they were "unhealthy". He said the cab was hot in the summer, cold in the winter, and wet in the spring -- and he liked it that way. He then proceeded to tell stories of walking out on the running boards in the middle of snowy winter nights to do emergency lubing while rocking and rolling at track speed (70-80 MPH?). He just laughed when I asked him if he thought that was "healthy" (I was 10 at the time). Thanks for a fabulous video, you put us right in the Fireman's seat.
  • @tomrogers9467
    Great video! If anyone noticed the faces of the rock cuts. Built before modern drills and explosives, they used massive charges of black powder to “toss” as much rock out of the cut as possible, leaving a very jagged irregular face. Compare that to the smooth, straight cuts that multiple drill holes and high powered Anfo charges produce today on our highway projects.
  • @wynflaeth
    Absolutely amazing video! LOVED being able to watch the conductor start the engine and see the whole process that he has to go through! Really SO enjoyable to watch and enlightening. Thank you so much!❤❤❤
  • @Hereford98
    Thank you! That was neat to watch 🎉
  • @kennethpaladino4948
    Great video! That’s my dream come true! To just get a cab ride in a steam engine! Thanx 4 sharing! 👍❤️
  • @alecdurfee6401
    Excellent video! That must have been the experience of a lifetime!