The legendary No. 425 steam locomotive will visit the lines of the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway this weekend, to the excitement of locals and Labor Day tourists alike.

"The locomotive draws additional tourists, families and rail enthusiasts from all over the region," said Matt Fisher, general manager of the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway.The No. 425 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia in January 1928 for the Gulf, Mobile, and Northern Railroad.It is a 4-6-2 wheel arrangement, otherwise known as a Light Pacific locomotive. This means it has four leading wheels on two axles, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle."The steam locomotive is totally different," conductor Bill Solomon said. "It's the sights, the smell, the feel, the nostalgia of what it was years ago."Solomon has been working as a conductor for about nine years."When I turned 55, I retired and started looking for something fun to do. I've lived in the area my whole life, so why not work with the trains?" Solomon said.Following an eight-week training program, he was ready to ride.The 220,000-pound locomotive, which can hit 75 mph at top speed, was purchased by Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad, which would become the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad in August 1984.It has been the primary steam locomotive for passenger excursions on the RBMN, with occasional appearances on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway."In their heyday, before World War II, trains were all powered by steam locomotives," Fisher said. "The 425 was used in the Midwest on faster passenger and mail trains. It was not designed for hauling heavy coal trains like our other locomotive, T1 No. 2102, which was built in Reading in the mid-1940s."Nowadays, the opportunity to witness such a relic of Pennsylvania's rich history is a rare event that tends to draw plenty of spectators from Jim Thorpe and beyond."Any steam locomotive is a much bigger attraction and draw than a diesel, simply because of the experience associated with being in the presence of a steam engine," Fisher said. "No. 425 was recently repainted, and that alone attracts many photographers and rail fans. It is a rare occurrence on any railroad to see steam powered trains."Last time it was on the regular 70-minute trips out of Jim Thorpe was over a year ago."Of course, trains like these require a load of work for the conductors and engines alike."Steam locomotives require much more upkeep than modern diesel engines. For every hour the steam locomotive runs, there are several hours in maintenance and upkeep along with the need to plan out water and coal stops," Fisher said.Solomon also mentioned that all conductors are subject to yearly federal testing.The locomotive will pull trips at 11 a.m., and 1, 3 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. on Monday."Just seeing the smoke pour out of it, feeling the power, it's amazing. But I'm a rail fan, what can I say," Solomon said with a laugh.