The Reading Company's Iron Horse Rambles utilizing T-1 class 4-8-4 No. 2124 that began in 1959 were sell out affairs and soon acquired a running mate in No. 2100. Thrilling double-header excursions were conducted, highlighted by autumn trips into remote upstate Pennsylvania territory. Rambles to West Milton, PA traversed the Catawissa Branch that required diesel locomotives account clearance restrictions with the big T-1s. The steam power ran light via the Shamokin Division main line to meet the train at West Milton and thence return east via Shamokin. Here one of these rambles out of Philadelphia is ascending the comparatively gentle 1.4% grade on the west side of Locust Summit around Buck Ridge. It was a marvelous symphony. This was back in the day when passengers were left to their own judgment, and nobody got hurt.
