Reading & Northern Shenandoah Ramble Trip

Shenandoah Ramble
All photos by Gene Milgram
Narrative by Carl Perelman

On May 27, the Jersey Central Chapter hosted a Reading & Northern excursion. Original plans were to traverse Good Springs Branch. However, these plans were changed due to circumstances beyond JCRHS's control. Instead, plans were implemented to operate the train over the Shenandoah Branch, a line that has not seen a revenue passenger train in several decades.

The Shenandoah Ramble, featuring RDC equipment, departed Port Clinton a shade after 9:00 AM. As with other JCRHS excursions, the train featured numerous photo stops and runbys. The first was held at New Ringgold, where the train met the Jim Thorpe-Port Clinton light engine move.

Another photo stop was next to the restored Tamaqua station. A third photo stop and runby was held at the Mahanoy Tunnel's east portal.

Other photo stops and runbys included Saint Nicholas, Shenandoah Junction, Mahanoy City, and Buck Mountain. The final photo stop of the day was at Tamaqua, when R&N freight PNJT, with a pair of SD45-2s, stormed past the RDCs.

Thanks to all who made the trip a reality, including trip chairman Carl Perelman, photo coordinator and R&N moderator Kermit Geary Jr., R&N locomotive engineer Ed Heck, and R&N conductor Steve Gilbert. Those behind the scene included Jim Clarke and Tom Nemeth, arranging for the trip; Steve Mages, managing financial arrangements; and Randy Kotuby, handling trip advertising on JCRHS.org.

Please check the Trips Page often to find out about the next JCRHS trip. All photos by Gene Milgram unless otherwise noted.

Questions regarding this webpage can be directed to the Webmaster, Randall Kotuby, at webmaster@jcrhs.org.