Reading 2101

Last updated
Reading 2101
American Freedom Train at Notre Dame, July 1975.jpg
Reading No. 2101 in its American Freedom Train Livery with the consist as No. 1 at Notre Dame, Indiana on July 13, 1975
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number58278
Build dateMarch 1923 (As Class I10sa 2-8-0 Consolidation #2037)
Rebuilder Reading Company
Rebuild dateSeptember 1945 (Rebuilt as : T1 4-8-4 Northern 2101)
Specifications
Configuration:
   Whyte New: 2-8-0,
Rebuilt: 4-8-4
Gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.70 in (1,778 mm)
Length110 ft 6 in (33.68 m)
Adhesive weight 278,200 lb (126,200 kilograms; 126.2 metric tons)
Loco weight441,300 lb (200,200 kilograms; 200.2 metric tons)
Total weight809,000 lb (367,000 kilograms; 367 metric tons)
Fuel type Anthracite coal
Fuel capacity52,000 lb (24,000 kilograms; 24 metric tons)
Water cap.19,000 US gallons (72,000 L; 16,000 imp gal)
Firebox:
  Grate area94.5 sq ft (8.78 m2)
Boiler pressure240 lbf/in2 (1.65 MPa)
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 27 in × 32 in (686 mm × 813 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort Loco: 68,000 lbf (302.5 kN),
Booster 11,100 lbf (49.4 kN)
Factor of adh. 4.09
Career
Operators Reading Company
Class New: I-10sa
Rebuilt: T-1
Number in class2 out of 30
Numbers
  • RDG 2037
  • RDG 2101
  • AFT 1
  • CHES-C 2101
Nicknames American Freedom Train #1 George S. Cashman
Retired1956 (revenue service)
March 6, 1979 (excursion service)
RestoredMarch 28, 1975
Current owner B&O Railroad Museum
DispositionUndergoing cosmetic restoration

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.

Contents

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 in the course of its Chessie Steam Special in Plymouth, Michigan, 1977 Plymouth, MI C&O Jul 1977 10-34.jpg
No. 2101 in the course of its Chessie Steam Special in Plymouth, Michigan, 1977

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, Rowland traded No. 2101 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

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Pacific 1286</span> Preserved CP G5d class 4-6-2 locomotive

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading 1187</span> Preserved RDG A-4b class 0-4-0 camelback locomotive

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References

  1. 1 2 Zimmermann (2018) , p. 22
  2. 1 2 "Class T-1 4-8-4 Northern, Nos. 2100, 2101, 2102, 2124". Reading Company Technical & Historical Society.
  3. 1 2 Zimmermann (2018) , p. 23
  4. 1 2 Zimmermann (2018) , p. 25
  5. Zimmermann (2018) , p. 26
  6. Zimmermann (2018) , p. 28
  7. 1 2 3 "Life after the Rambles". Classic Trains. Vol. 19, no. 3. Kalmbach Publishing. Fall 2018. p. 27.
  8. "B&O Railroad Museum schedules move of American Freedom Train locomotive". Trains . Kalmbach Media. October 19, 2023. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 "B&O Railroad Museum to Cosmetically Restore American Freedom Train 4-8-4". Railfan & Railroad . White River Productions. October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.

Bibliography