The Reading & Northern Railroad will be celebrating the semiquincentennial of the United States in a “big” way. Reading & Northern is proud to support the biggest steam locomotive in the world, Union Pacific’s “Big Boy” #4014. A single, one-way trip powered by #4014 from Nesquehoning to Pittston will be executed on June 14 by Union Pacific.

Excursions powered by Reading & Northern’s own Pennsylvania-built 4-8-4 T-1 steam locomotive, #2102, will take place on June 13 and 14, and July 1.

All three of these steam excursions will depart Nesquehoning Regional Railroad Station and operate round trip through the Lehigh Gorge to Pittston. Each trip will feature photo opportunities for guests while safely remaining onboard the Reading & Northern excursion as it passes Union Pacific #4014 along the way. Ticket pricing will start at $125 for Standard Coach seating.

On July 2, a special diesel-powered round-trip excursion will depart Nesquehoning southbound to Reading Outer Station. This trip will also offer safe, onboard opportunities for passengers to take photos of Big Boy #4014. Reading & Northern’s specially painted semiquincentennial diesel locomotives, SD40-2 #1776 and GP38-2 #2026, will power this train.

Tickets for all Reading & Northern #2102-powered and diesel-powered trips will go on sale Friday at 9 a.m. Tickets may be purchased online at www.rbmnrr-passenger.com; or by calling 610-562-2102 during business hours.

According to Andy Muller Jr., owner and chief executive officer of the Reading & Northern, “The most fantastic railfan event of the 21st century will occur on the Reading & Northern. All are invited to join us for this event to either ride or safely follow the train. People will be required to stay a minimum of 25 feet away from all railroad tracks, which will be strictly enforced. One hundred percent safety is a must; ninety-nine percent is not enough.”

Senior VP/GM-Passenger Matt Fisher says, “We are most flattered that Union Pacific has chosen to make Reading & Northern a part of the Big Boy’s eastern semiquincentennial tour. This locomotive has never been on the Reading & Northern, let alone east of the Mississippi River since its construction in Schenectady, New York, in the 1940s.”