Reading 2101
Encyclopedia
Reading 2101 is a 4-8-4
steam locomotive
originally operated by the Reading Company
. In 1975, the locomotive was the first to pull the American Freedom Train
, which began touring the continental United States
on April 1.
into 30 new 4-8-4 locomotives that were numbered 2100-2129 and classified as class "T1". 2101 was originally built by Baldwin in 1923 as I-10a 2-8-0 #2021 and was converted to Reading 2101 in 1945. For its entire service life, 2101 pulled many freight and passenger trains with ease from 1945 to 1956 when all steam vanished on the Reading except for four T1's 2100, 2101, 2102, and 2124. 2101 was cared for in the Reading's Roundhouse from 1959 to 1964 as a standby locomotive for the famous "Iron Horse Ramble" Excursions, but was never used.
Oct 17, 1964 saw the 50th and last Ramble excursion when rising operational costs and deteriorating track forced the end of the special fan trips. 2101 was sent to the scrap yard to meet the same fate as many locomotives before her.
which would travel across the country stopping in dozens of cities and pulled by steam locomotives. Led by Ross Rowland
, a nationwide search was carried out to search for locomotives in restorable condition to pull the train. Southern Pacific 4449
and Reading 2101 were selected for the trip. (A group of dedicated preservationists in Ft. Worth also rebuilt a steam locomotive that would pull the train in Texas, Texas and Pacific 610
) 2101 was pulled from the scrapyard and restored to operating condition in only 30 days in the same building where she was constructed from a 2-8-0 nearly 30 years earlier—and painted as "American Freedom Train #1". 2101 pulled the eastern section of the trip before giving it to the 4449 in Chicago for the western section. On the return trip east, 2101 again took charge of the train at Birmingham, AL and pulled the train through much of New England, handing the train back to the 4449 at the Pentagon. Less than two years later, 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" before becoming victim in to a 1979 roundhouse fire in Kentucky were she was damaged to a such an extent where she was traded to the B&O Museum
for Chesapeake & Ohio 614
. Since then she has been cosmetically restored as "American Freedom Train #1" and is on static display. Upon restoration after the fire, her tender was swapped for the tender belonging to 2100.
4-8-4
Under the Whyte notation classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-4 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles .Other equivalent classifications are:UIC classification: 2D2...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
originally operated by the Reading Company
Reading Company
The Reading Company , usually called the Reading Railroad, officially the Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road and then the Philadelphia and Reading Railway until 1924, operated in southeast Pennsylvania and neighboring states...
. In 1975, the locomotive was the first to pull the American Freedom Train
American Freedom Train
The United States has seen two national 'Freedom Trains'. The 1947–1949 Freedom Train was a special exhibit train that toured the United States in the later half of the 1940s. A similar train called the American Freedom Train toured the country for the United States Bicentennial celebration in...
, which began touring the continental United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on April 1.
History 1923 to 1974
Reading 2101 is a T1 class 4-8-4 steam locomotive that was one of 30 4-8-4s that were converted from 30 I-10a 2-8-0 Consolidation locomotives from 1945 through 1947 by the Reading Railroad when management wanted faster and stronger locomotives, but had no spare cash to order completely new locomotives. Starting in 1945 the Reading took 30 of its 2-8-0s and converted them with a little help from Baldwin Locomotive WorksBaldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
into 30 new 4-8-4 locomotives that were numbered 2100-2129 and classified as class "T1". 2101 was originally built by Baldwin in 1923 as I-10a 2-8-0 #2021 and was converted to Reading 2101 in 1945. For its entire service life, 2101 pulled many freight and passenger trains with ease from 1945 to 1956 when all steam vanished on the Reading except for four T1's 2100, 2101, 2102, and 2124. 2101 was cared for in the Reading's Roundhouse from 1959 to 1964 as a standby locomotive for the famous "Iron Horse Ramble" Excursions, but was never used.
Oct 17, 1964 saw the 50th and last Ramble excursion when rising operational costs and deteriorating track forced the end of the special fan trips. 2101 was sent to the scrap yard to meet the same fate as many locomotives before her.
The 1975–76 American Freedom Train to Present Day
In 1975, the country was gearing up for America's Bicentennial and plans were underway for The American Freedom TrainAmerican Freedom Train
The United States has seen two national 'Freedom Trains'. The 1947–1949 Freedom Train was a special exhibit train that toured the United States in the later half of the 1940s. A similar train called the American Freedom Train toured the country for the United States Bicentennial celebration in...
which would travel across the country stopping in dozens of cities and pulled by steam locomotives. Led by Ross Rowland
Ross Rowland
Ross E. Rowland, Jr. is a significant figure in the United States railroad preservation, recreation and enthusiast communities who is closely identified with running public and demonstration excursions on existing railroads utilizing steam locomotives....
, a nationwide search was carried out to search for locomotives in restorable condition to pull the train. Southern Pacific 4449
Southern Pacific 4449
Southern Pacific 4449 is the only surviving example of Southern Pacific Railroad's GS-4 class of steam locomotives. The GS-4 is a streamlined 4-8-4 type steam locomotive...
and Reading 2101 were selected for the trip. (A group of dedicated preservationists in Ft. Worth also rebuilt a steam locomotive that would pull the train in Texas, Texas and Pacific 610
Texas and Pacific 610
Texas and Pacific 610 is a 2-10-4 steam locomotive that was originally operated by the Texas and Pacific Railway . In 1976, the locomotive was used to haul the American Freedom Train for the portion of its tour in Texas....
) 2101 was pulled from the scrapyard and restored to operating condition in only 30 days in the same building where she was constructed from a 2-8-0 nearly 30 years earlier—and painted as "American Freedom Train #1". 2101 pulled the eastern section of the trip before giving it to the 4449 in Chicago for the western section. On the return trip east, 2101 again took charge of the train at Birmingham, AL and pulled the train through much of New England, handing the train back to the 4449 at the Pentagon. Less than two years later, 2101 was repainted into a bright yellow and orange livery and pulled many excursions arranged by Ross Rowland on the Chessie System
Chessie System
Chessie System, Inc. was a holding company that owned the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway , the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad , the Western Maryland Railway , and several smaller carriers. It was incorporated in Virginia on February 26, 1973, and it acquired the C&O on June 15...
as the "Chessie Steam Special" before becoming victim in to a 1979 roundhouse fire in Kentucky were she was damaged to a such an extent where she was traded to the B&O Museum
B&O Railroad Museum
The B&O Railroad Museum is a museum exhibiting historic railroad equipment in Baltimore, Maryland, originally named the Baltimore & Ohio Transportation Museum when it opened on July 4, 1953. It has been called one of the most significant collections of railroad treasures in the world and has the...
for Chesapeake & Ohio 614
Chesapeake & Ohio 614
Chesapeake & Ohio 614 is a 4-8-4 steam locomotive built by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio, in June 1948 for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway .-Background:...
. Since then she has been cosmetically restored as "American Freedom Train #1" and is on static display. Upon restoration after the fire, her tender was swapped for the tender belonging to 2100.