The only locomotives I can think of that would’ve pulled that many at any point are 3985 and 1218. But those were in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

Unless I’m mistaken, this might’ve been the longest freight trains hauled by a steam locomotive maybe since both of those locomotives hauled 100+ car freights in 1987.

On May 29, 2016, Frisco 1630, a Russian Decapod, pulled 135 empty coal cars at Illinois Railway Museum. The cars were stored for a customer and were being returned to service. The cars were modern, with roller bearings and UP had two big C-C's ready to take the cars on the ex-C&NW Belvedere Branch.

Here's a video. The auto racks behind the four UP units are from a Chrysler plant in Belvedere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L49YUTVE_bc

Phil Mulligan

I'm just glad to be at and where a private owner with a great team has a passion that he's willing to share with the public.

It's always a good ride on the R&N.

Superheater says it well. We're so fortunate that Andy Muller's love for steam is strong enough that he has invested serious money into creating as close to a Class 1 steam experience as exists. I have an open window coach ticket for the July 2 trip and am looking forward to a day behind a hard working steamer hauling a full tonnage train.

As part of the ACE3000 test program we ran for the month of Jan. 1985 on CSX between Huntington and Hinton, W. Va. every Tues.,Thurs. & Sat. we would haul coal hopper empties back from Hinton to Huntington with the 614. The average empty train was from 105 to 115 cars.

I learned on the first empties trip that even at full throttle on a slight downgrade the maximum speed I could attain was 45-47 mph due to the wind resistance created by all those empty cars. Who knew!!

Thanks again Andy Muller & team.

Ross Rowland

It's being reported on social media that the 101 empty cars being hauled by 2102 totalled 2,200 tons.

By contrast, the heaviest train ever pulled by a single steam loco in the UK was in September 1982, when ex-British Rail 9F 2-10-0 92203 hauled a train clocked at 2,198 tonnes (metric tons, or 2,204.6 pounds each, for 2,422.8 American tons), at Foster Yeoman’s Tor Works.

Yeah, having run numerous empty hopper train on CSX the comparison I often heard was it's like pulling a train of sails against the wind. Even on an undulating profile like the Philly Sub, it's easy to hold a steady speed with throttle modulation, and since coal hopper brakes are usually among the best maintained, a minimum reduction will pretty much stop it fairly quickly.

That means that IRM's 135 car hopper train was over 2900 tons.

Depends on the cars. 1630's train was mostly if not entirely modern aluminum gondolas.

Phil Mulligan

In my experience most aluminum rotary gondolas have a tare (empty) weight between 21 and 23 tons depending on the exact type of car. 'Rapid discharge' aluminum hoppers with bottom doors are slightly heavier at around 25 tons. Steel cars are around 30 tons.

Impressive performances from all those engines, and it's great to see 2102 back again!

Hey, let's not forget the mighty little 113..

I can't find the video now, but it pulled about 2000 tons of hoppers one time.

Jim Thorpe is already expecting high amounts of traffic and congestion, between it being Memorial Day weekend and #2102's debut (the Facebook post from the city specifically called out R&N's "new steam locomotive" as a contributing factor).

R&N passenger department also made a post on Facebook saying "After testing Steam Locomotive 2102, we found that running back-to-back days is not practical. Autumn Leaf Excursions on October 2, 9, & 30 will now be powered by our streamlined F-Unit diesels. Steam Locomotive 2102 will still be running on October 1, 8, & 29. Please see the updated schedule below"

-snip-

I wonder what is not practical about it? Amount of coal used?

Quite possibly it could be the number of steam qualified firemen/engineers available. Remember these guys all work other regular freight jobs and are not full time steam passenger crewmen. Today's Hours of Service laws may play a role in that they limit the number of consecutive days you can work before you must take time off for rest??

My guess is that it's a crew issue??

I have a ticket for O/W coach on July 2nd. and am looking forward to it.

Ross Rowland

I was under the impression there was one person qualified to operate 2102.
At least during one of the blue mountain and reading weekends in the 80s, Andy was in 2102 , every time,