Reading 2101

Apr 21, 2026 - 05:53
0 0
Reading 2101

← Previous revision Revision as of 00:21, 21 April 2026
Line 74: Line 74:


===Disposition===
===Disposition===
[[File:P5081531 Reading Company 2101.jpg|thumb|left|No. 2101 on display at the [[B&O Railroad Museum]] in 2011, before its cosmetic restoration]]
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.{{Cite web|last=Franz|first=Justin|date=August 7, 2023|title=Group Restoring Reading 2100 to Says Locomotive Will Burn Oil|url=https://railfan.com/group-restoring-reading-2100-to-convert-locomotive-to-burn-oil/|work=[[Railfan & Railroad]]|publisher=[[White River Productions]]|access-date=August 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807194425/https://railfan.com/group-restoring-reading-2100-to-convert-locomotive-to-burn-oil/|archive-date=August 7, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=October 25, 2023 |title=American Steam Railroad to Honor Steve Wickersham |url=https://railfan.com/american-steam-railroad-to-honor-steve-wickersham/ |access-date=October 25, 2023 |website=[[Railfan & Railroad]] |publisher=[[White River Productions]]}}
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.{{Cite web|last=Franz|first=Justin|date=August 7, 2023|title=Group Restoring Reading 2100 to Says Locomotive Will Burn Oil|url=https://railfan.com/group-restoring-reading-2100-to-convert-locomotive-to-burn-oil/|work=[[Railfan & Railroad]]|publisher=[[White River Productions]]|access-date=August 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807194425/https://railfan.com/group-restoring-reading-2100-to-convert-locomotive-to-burn-oil/|archive-date=August 7, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=October 25, 2023 |title=American Steam Railroad to Honor Steve Wickersham |url=https://railfan.com/american-steam-railroad-to-honor-steve-wickersham/ |access-date=October 25, 2023 |website=[[Railfan & Railroad]] |publisher=[[White River Productions]]}}


On October 21, 2023, No. 2101 was moved into the B&O Railroad Museum's [[workshop]] for a complete cosmetic restoration. On January 12, 2026, No. 2101's cosmetic restoration was finished and made its public reveal in time for the [[United States Semiquincentennial]].{{Cite web |last=Franz |first=Justin |date=2026-01-13 |title=Restored American Freedom Train 4-8-4 Makes Debut at B&O Museum |url=https://railfan.com/restored-american-freedom-train-4-8-4-makes-debut-at-bo-museum/ |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=Railfan & Railroad Magazine |language=en-CA}}{{cite news |last1=Mayes |first1=Alex |title=American Freedom Train No. 1 unveiled after cosmetic restoration |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/heritage-rail/railroad-museums/american-freedom-train-no-1-unveiled/ |access-date=January 17, 2026 |publisher=Firecrown Media |date=January 14, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260115195208/https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/heritage-rail/railroad-museums/american-freedom-train-no-1-unveiled/ |archive-date=January 15, 2026}}
On October 21, 2023, No. 2101 was moved into the B&O Railroad Museum's [[workshop]] for a complete cosmetic restoration. On January 12, 2026, No. 2101's cosmetic restoration was finished and made its public reveal in time for the [[United States Semiquincentennial]].{{Cite web |last=Franz |first=Justin |date=2026-01-13 |title=Restored American Freedom Train 4-8-4 Makes Debut at B&O Museum |url=https://railfan.com/restored-american-freedom-train-4-8-4-makes-debut-at-bo-museum/ |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=Railfan & Railroad Magazine |language=en-CA}}{{cite news |last1=Mayes |first1=Alex |title=American Freedom Train No. 1 unveiled after cosmetic restoration |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/heritage-rail/railroad-museums/american-freedom-train-no-1-unveiled/ |access-date=January 17, 2026 |publisher=Firecrown Media |date=January 14, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260115195208/https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/heritage-rail/railroad-museums/american-freedom-train-no-1-unveiled/ |archive-date=January 15, 2026}}

{{clear left}}


==Accidents and incidents==
==Accidents and incidents==
Read More