Reading 2101 is a preserved American class "T-1" 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive constructed in September 1945 for use by the Reading Company. Constructed from an earlier "I10SA" 2-8-0 "Consolidation"-type locomotive built in March 1923, the 2101 handled heavy coal train traffic for the Reading until being retired from revenue service in 1959. Withheld from scrapping, the 2101 served as emergency backup power for the three other T1 locomotives serving the Reading's "Iron Horse Rambles" excursions until being sold for scrap in 1964.
In 1975, the locomotive was restored to operation from scrapyard condition in an emergency 30-day overhaul after being selected to pull the first eastern portion of the American Freedom Train. On March 6, 1979, while being stored one winter in a Chessie System roundhouse in Silver Grove, KY, 2101 was severely damaged in a fire. Also damaged in that fire was a NYC Mohawk tender, which is now located at the National New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart, Indiana. 2101 was cosmetically restored and placed in the B&O Railroad Museum on Labor Day, 1979, in exchange for Chesapeake and Ohio 614. Today the locomotive remains on display in its American Freedom Train No. 1 paint scheme, and is currently undergoing cosmetic restoration.
History
Construction and revenue service
In 1945, while World War II was nearing its end, the Reading Company (RDG) was looking into ordering large steam locomotives for use in heavy freight trains, but due to restrictions from the War Production Board, the company was only allowed to rebuild and modify their existing locomotives.[1] Beginning in 1945, the RDG moved thirty of its I-10sa class 2-8-0 locomotives to their shops in Reading, and with assistance from the Baldwin Locomotive Works, they rebuilt them into new 4-8-4 locomotives that were numbered 2100-2129 and classified as T-1's.[1] No. 2101 was originally built by the Baldwin in March 1923 as I-10a 2-8-0 No. 2037 and was converted to Reading No. 2101 in September 1945.[2]
In revenue service, No. 2101 pulled many freight and coal trains, until 1954, when nearly all steam locomotives on the RDG were removed from service.[3] Most of the T-1's were briefly returned to service on the RDG to remedy a traffic surge in 1956, before they were withdrawn again.[3] Beginning in 1959, the RDG launched the "Iron Horse Rambles", where a few T-1 locomotives would be used to pull excursion fantrips across the railroad's system.[4]Nos. 2100, 2102, and 2124 were used for the Rambles, while No. 2101 was kept inside the RDG's roundhouse in Reading to serve as back-up power, but it never ran.[4][5]
Despite its popularity, rising operating costs and deteriorating trackage forced the end of the Rambles, and the final train took place on October 17, 1964.[6] The RDG subsequently sold off all its remaining T-1's, and No. 2101 was sold along with No. 2100 in September 1967 to Streigel Equipment and Supply, and they were both moved to their scrapyard in Baltimore, Maryland for storage.[7]
Excursion service
In 1975, the United States was preparing for its Bicentennial celebrations, and plans were underway to operate the American Freedom Train, which would travel across the country and stop at major cities. Led by Ross Rowland, a nationwide search was carried out to search for locomotives to restore and use to pull the train. Southern Pacific 4449 had been selected as the primary locomotive for the train, but clearances prohibited it from travelling within the northeastern portion of the U.S..[7] Ross Rowland subsequently purchased Nos. 2101 and 2100 to pull the train in the northeast, and No. 2101 was selected to be restored, while No. 2100 was used for spare parts.[7] No. 2101 was restored to operating condition in only thirty days by March 28, 1975, and it was repainted as American Freedom Train No. 1.
No. 2101 pulled the eastern section of the trip before giving it to No. 4449 in Chicago for the western section. On the return trip east, No. 2101 again took charge of the train at Birmingham, Alabama, and it pulled the train through New England, before it was transferred back to No. 4449 at Washington, D.C..
In 1977, following the end of the Bicentennial celebrations, No. 2101 was repainted into a bright yellow-and-orange livery and pulled many excursions arranged by Ross Rowland on the Chessie System as the "Chessie Steam Special" to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. In 1979, No. 2101 was damaged in a roundhouse fire in Russell, Kentucky, which was caused by faulty electricity. While most of the damage was cosmetic, the T-1 was damaged to such an extent that it would require a complete overhaul before returning to service.
Disposition
Following the fire incident, it was decided that No. 2101 would be traded to the B&O Railroad Museum, in exchange for Chesapeake and Ohio 614, which would pull the 1981 Chessie Safety Express between Baltimore to Hagerstown. Since then, No. 2101 had been cosmetically restored as American Freedom Train No. 1, and it has remained on static display. Upon restoration after the fire, its tender was swapped with that from No. 2100. When locomotive No. 2100 was restored to operating condition, No. 2101's old tender was also restored and modified with an oil tank. The No. 2100 locomotive and No. 2101 tender were stored together in Richland, Washington until April 2015 when they were shipped to Cleveland, Ohio to be restored again. Plans were later announced in August 2023 that No. 2100's firebox would be modified to burn recycled vegetable oil fuel. On October 21, 2023, No. 2101 was moved into the B&O Railroad Museum's workshop for a complete cosmetic restoration.[8][9]
Accidents and incidents
In July 1948, No. 2101 suffered a catastrophic derailment, supposedly while pulling a freight train. The specific location is unknown, and it is unknown if the engineer, fireman, or leading brakeman were injured or killed.
In March 1979, a roundhouse at Stevens Yard in Silver Grove, Kentucky caught fire with the No. 2101 locomotive stored inside, causing it to be damaged. As a result, it was traded to the B&O Railroad Museum in exchange for Chesapeake and Ohio 614, and it was cosmetically restored back to its American Freedom Train livery.[2]
On October 21, 2023, during No. 2101's move towards the restoration shops of the B&O Railroad Museum, it had a minor incident with one of the displayed passenger cars near the museum due to low clearance, its left cab wall scraping the corner of the coach.[9] Thankfully, the damage was negligible, as they made contact at slow speed.[9]
