CLEVELAND — The group restoring Reading Co. T-1 4-8-4 No. 2100 has announced the locomotive will wear an American Freedom Train paint scheme nearly identical to that worn by another T-1, No. 2101, during the 1975-76 Freedom Train tour.
“Our initial plan was to debut the 2100 in the original black Reading freight scheme, and then apply the AFT scheme as we drew closer to 2026 [and the 250th anniversary of the U.S.],” Rob Gardner, president of the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association, or ASR, said in a press release today (Nov. 1) on the group’s Facebook page. “However, with ASR working towards the goal of having the restoration completed by the end of 2024 and break-in running occurring in the spring of 2025, it didn’t make sense to have the Reading scheme paint job applied for only one year, and then to completely redo it for America’s 250th Celebration in 2026.”
While No. 2100 was not part of the Freedom Train, T-1 No. 2101 was one of the three steam locomotives that powered the train during its two-year bicentennial tour. That locomotive, damaged in a 1979 fire, is now at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, which recently announced it would undergo cosmetic restoration to its appearance as Freedom Train locomotive No. 1 in time for the 250th anniversary celebration [see “B&O Railroad Museum schedules move of American Freedom Train locomotive,” Oct. 19, 2023].
Gardner said the main changes planned by ASR as part of its adoption of the Freedom Train paint scheme is to have the locomotive carry No. 250 on its number plate and number boards.
“We thought it fitting, especially given the announcement from the B&O Railroad Museum that AFT 1 will be receiving a full cosmetic restoration, that AFT 1 remain with ex-Reading T-1 Mo. 2101,” Gardner said, “with the 2100 carrying on the T-1 AFT legacy as AFT 250 for 2025-2026 and possibly beyond.”
ASR Treasurer Forrest Nance said the key to the nonprofit group’s AFT No. 250 plan is raising the final necessary funding.
“While we have achieved many significant milestones in 2023, $170,000 is still needed so we can continue non-stop throughout 2024,” Nance said. “We have our professional contractors and parts suppliers all waiting for us to say we have the funds on hand so they can begin the work and ship the items needed, with our volunteers continuing to perform tasks such as cleaning the tender’s cistern and reinstalling the oil bunker to stay on schedule.”
Those wishing to contribute to the project can make tax-deductible contributions at the ASR website, or by mail to American Steam Railroad Preservation Association, 2800 W. 3rd St., Cleveland, OH 44113
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