Steamin’ East NKP 765 TAKES A LAP ON THE PENNSY BY STEVE BARRY/PHOTOS AS NOTED
HORSESHOE CURVE. The name conjures up visions of big time mountain rail- roading, especially in the eastern Unit- ed States. Opening in 1854, this amaz- ing feat of engineering is what helped the railroads conquer the summit of the Allegheny Mountains. It’s where the finest steam modern power of the Pennsylvania Railroad once trod. But in recent times it’s been all but impos- sible to ride behind steam around this railroading landmark.
With the recent flurry of excursion activity surrounding Nickel Plate Road 765, it seems like she’s been just about everywhere if the flood of photos and
news updates are any indication. But just how rare have public steam-pow- ered excursions been around the Horse- shoe Curve? Consider that Tehachapi, Cajon, Donner and Erlanger have all had public steam excursions since the last time a public trip was run over Horseshoe. Even two classic grades that have been mothballed (Tennessee Pass and Saluda) have had steam pow- ered excursions more recently. In fact, to find the last public trips over Horse- shoe Curve featuring a steam locomo- tive, you have to go all the way back to 1977 when Reading 4-8-4 No. 2102 and Grand Trunk 2-8-2 No. 4070 made a se-
ries of runs around the Curve. Those trips were notable in that 4070 broke down on the first run around the Curve, with the ensuing emergency stop breaking the train into three pieces. It was repaired and made two more trips the following weekend, but future steam operations were met with a skeptical eye by Conrail management as a result of the incident.
Since 1977 steam has appeared on the Curve a few times, albeit not avail- able to the general public. Reading 2102 returned in 1985, heading back to its birthplace at the Reading Company shops in the city of the same name for
OPPOSITE: Nickel Plate Road No. 765 is kicking up its heels on a cool morning as it blasts under a set of Pennsylvania Railroad position light signals with the first steam-powered public excursions over the former PRR main line in 36 years. ABOVE: The big Berk drifts downgrade past the gathered throng at the park at Horseshoe Curve on May 25. The two diesel helpers assisted with dynamic braking. MITCH GOLDMAN PHOTOS
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