Reading & Northern Railroad recently purchased two diesel-electric engines from the Norfolk Southern Railroad to use in upcoming passenger excursions.

The diesel engines, commonly referred to as “F Units” have a heritage dating back to the early 1950s.

They were rebuilt approximately 15 years ago by Norfolk Southern Railroad at its Altoona locomotive shops for executive train travel on the NS system.

By late 2019, NS auctioned the engines and Reading & Northern became their new home.

The two diesels, numbered 270 and 275, were received by R&N in late December. The R&N Motive Power department examined both diesels before repainting them with a Reading and Northern paint scheme.

The engines will be on display for the public’s viewing pleasure, from time-to-time, at Reading Outer Station for the next few months where parking is free.

On April 18, the first railfan train excursion will depart the Reading Outer Station, located at Route 61 and Bellevue Avenue to traverse the R&N mainline from Reading to Pittston.

Highlights will include the Hometown High Bridge and the newly constructed river bridge, which is adjacent to the Lehigh Gorge State Park, over the Lehigh River.