Reading and Northern Port Clinton Work Train: Clearing the Right of Way

On August 10th, 2023, I once again found myself on a unique chase on the Reading and Northern Railroad, this time to see a work train based out of the railroad's headquarters in Port Clinton. Utilizing SW8m switcher #803, this work train traveled south from Port Clinton to Mohrsville, PA, where it picked up a train of empty hopper cars that were to be filled with old railroad ties that have been piled along the right of way from Mohrsville to just north of Port Clinton.
Railroad ties are stacked along the right of way primarily for two reasons: the first is they are new ties being prepped for installation into the railroad track, and the second is that they are old ties that have been removed from the track during maintenance. These old ties are then collected by work trains such as this one, and in the case of the Reading and Northern, transported to Zwicky Processing & Recycling Inc. for proper disposal.
Please enjoy this unique job on the Reading and Northern!
0:00 Intro
0:48 #803 travels light over Fisher Dam Rd. on its move to Mohrsville, PA
1:53 #803 arrives in Mohrsville
2:54 Traveling into a siding to clear the main for a northbound NRHT
5:12 Moving out to the main with the empty cars to load ties north of the crossing
7:15 Loading up the hoppers in Mohrsville
8:40 After loading is completed in Mohrsville, we catch up with the train at Industrial Dr. in Hamburg as it heads to its next location
9:19 Broad St. Port Clinton, PA
9:56 Arriving at private crossing north of Port Clinton
10:50 Loading another small pile of ties
14:16 After loading, the train begins its reverse shove back to Mohrsville
15:41 Lowland Rd. Hamburg, PA
16:12 River Rd. Hamburg, PA
16:42 Returning the cars to their siding in Mohrsville
18:25 #803 begins its return move to Port Clinton light
19:57 Outro
Music in this video:
Song: Tropic Fuse
Artist: French Fuse
Licensed to RUclips by: RUclips Audio Library

[@lashendawest7509]

Good morning collin

[@JamieMakin]

Great to see some of the behind-the-scenes operations that keep the railroad running smoothly. IMO track workers don't get as much credit and attention as they deserve. Also very cool that you caught the former Conrail caboose just before it got repainted.

[@PANortheasternRailfan]

Thanks Jamie! This was indeed a unique one, not something you see ever day!

[@oldgeek5946]

Great video; and a really nice look at an operation that most of us never see. Keep up the good work!

[@PANortheasternRailfan]

Thanks, will do!

[@tooling_engineer]

This is my first time seeing rotary hopper cars used for transporting old railroad ties. I wonder how it easy is to unload.

[@stardust-rv7mr]

🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@brianfalzon6739]

Awesome, well done on those catches! Why are they loading up those old ties?

[@PANortheasternRailfan]

The ties were stacked there when they were replaced in the track with new ties. They tend to sit a long time until they are picked up and taken away. Really it’s just done to keep the right of way clear.

[@henery09]

hi nice video and that old conrail cabbose what train is this from and to nice engins thanks.