The Steam Locomotive Robbed of Her Excursion Career | Reading T1 2101 | History in the Dark

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Reading 2101 is a class T1 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive who upon her retirement was rescued from a scrapyard and pulled the American Freedom Train. Afterwards it seemed she may be on track to have a long and fruitful excursion career. But a sudden fire in the roundhouse where she sat made it so that she would never run again.
Music credits:
🟢 Henry's Theme (Sad) -- www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Khc...
🎵 Cover by Luke Pickman -- / instrumentmaniac
0:00 - Intro
0:37 - Service Life
3:20 - Rescue
6:37 - The Fire
8:57 - Current Status
"Reading 2101 is a preserved American class "T-1" 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive constructed in 1945 for use by the Reading Company. Constructed from an earlier "I10SA" 2-8-0 "Consolidation"-type locomotive built in 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 Rambler" 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 #1 paint scheme."
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#history #documentary #truestory

Опубликовано:

27 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 115

@GP30_Foamer 9 месяцев назад

It was just recently announced that 2101’s going to get a cosmetic restoration so at least she’s still getting some love and care.

@michaelmeliambro5117 6 месяцев назад

I'm glad to say there may be some consolation, darkness. The American Steam Railroad Association, who are now restoring #2100, recently decided to have her return as American Freedom Train #250, both in tribute to the train itself and to America's 250th birthday coming up in 2026.

@tommymartin4827 9 месяцев назад

It was unfortunate that 2101 burned up. It could have went differently but Ross wanted more power which the 614 had. And there's controversy with that too. Depending who you talk too..After running out 614 on the NJT Port Jervis excursions. The 614 sat at the Northern and Reading shops on it own track so no one would confiscate it. Ross Rowland did whatever it took to try to keep steam alive..😢 just to many hurdles and no where to run on the mainline..

@CrossOfBayonne 9 месяцев назад

He was among the many trying to keep an old tradition alive after it died out in the 50s, In the late 60s a group of people including himself, F Nelson Blount and others began a movement to put steam locomotives back on the mainline something that still continues today with groups like the Fort Wayne Historical Society.

@23GreyFox 9 месяцев назад

If you think that fire was bad, now image a building full of historical steam locomotives and wagons burning down. Happen in Germany 2005.

@matthewpowell2429 9 месяцев назад

Similarly, the B&O Roundhouse at the B&O Rail Museum once had a similar incident. While there was no fire, half the museum roof caved-in by heavy snow, and many pieces were damaged, including a wooden passenger car that was destroyed.

@fanofeverything30465 9 месяцев назад

Very sad 😔

@fanofeverything30465 9 месяцев назад

@@matthewpowell2429 Poor thing

@an_asian_guy 9 месяцев назад

tbh any terrible disaster happening to a museam is a bad thing

@caledonianrailway1233 9 месяцев назад

Where was this (the German fire)

@paulw.woodring7304 9 месяцев назад

A few corrections. 2124 was not the highest numbered T-1, they went to 2129. The last batch (I believe 14 of them) were equipped with roller bearings on the drivers. 2100 - '02 all have friction bearing drivers. I was told by someone very familiar with the history of the Reading Rambles that the reason 2124 was retired first is because it's flue time was up first, and since the Reading was not committed to a long-term excursion program they just withdrew it and sold it to Nelson Blount of Steamtown. It may well be in very good shape other than needing new flues and superheaters, but the Park Service would never let it go. Apparently the excursions ended when the other three engines came due for major work as well. Again, this was several years before Mr. Claytor bought SR 4501 when he was President of SR, and started their excursion program, so railroad operated steam excursions were not common at all. Burlington ran some, and of course UP has always had at least #844/8444 never retired and nearly continuously operable. Ross Rowland bought both 2100 and 2101 for the American Freedom Train, evaluated them and decided the '01 was in better shape and 2100 would be the parts engine. I have copies of "Railroad Magazine" from about 1970 with ads in them from Striegel Salvage advertising the two engines for sale. It's amazing that they've been able to restore 2100 to operating because of all of the good parts that had been taken from it. The reason tenders were swapped between the '00 and '01 is that after the fire, they took 2100's tender to put behind 2101 for display at the museum, since it was then in better shape, not having been burned (story is that the coal remaining in the '01's tender lit off in the fire and burned). 2100 was originally supposed to be cosmetically restored, returned to Reading and put on display. I photographed it at the Hagerstown Roundhouse in the mid-1980s, and the tender was lettered "Going Home to" (over the) "READING" (name). Change in plan, it was sold to someone in Canada, converted to burning oil either there or at the Ohio Central's Morgan Run shops (it had work done on it there before going to Canada) then ended up in Washington state in that unsuccessful, and short-lived excursion operation before being acquired by the group in Cleveland.

@tlow1324 8 месяцев назад

Do you remember what month in 1970 that Railroad Magazine advertised those engines in Striegel?

@paulw.woodring7304 8 месяцев назад

@@tlow1324 The ad ran at least twice. I was surprised to see it, knowing what eventually happened. I don't know exactly, or where I have it. I kept at least one of the issues it was in, for the subject of that month's "Interesting Railfan". I recently went through all of my magazines, mostly a collection I bought from a friend over 30 years ago going back to the 1940s, to try and sell most of them at a train show. Nobody wanted them, even for free, so I ended up pitching the ones I didn't keep, but I still have several hundred issues of Railroad, Trains, Railfan, Railfan and Railroad, PTJ, L&RP, and some oddball ones, not in any particular order because I was just sorting for "keep-don't-keep". Someday I'll hopefully have a chance to go back and organize them better. Sorry I can't be more helpful than that.

@southern207hobbies 9 месяцев назад

Never say it will not run again case and point we never thought a big boy would run again....

@williamclarke4510 9 месяцев назад

No big boy was in a massive fire with a lot of coal in its tender, was there?

@joshuacampbell9990 9 месяцев назад

Can't say I don't blame them from pulling it from service and risking getting it going again. Fire does bad things to all that steel. In all honesty it's probably best she remains a static display because during restoration there would probably not be much left of 2101. Sucks, but it's just the truth.

@23GreyFox 9 месяцев назад

I saw a few destroyed steam engines restored to working order. Most parts can be saved, that is also the reality.

@GhostKnight5 9 месяцев назад

Being around old reading railroad trackage I love these engines now for clarity my family didn’t work on the reading or anything but I just feel a connection to them and I’ve recently seen 2101 up close and it’s was impressive seeing her so close

@callumnichols7652 8 месяцев назад

Fun fact: that 30 days mark is still (I believe) the record of steam locomotive restoration for excursion service.

@wademonn7724 9 месяцев назад

I have been enjoying your channel for a while now. Great work! I believe Mr Striegel kept them around because he was a shrewd businessman and realized that they were going to be of interest. The first time I met him he was on top of a diesel rigging up cables to pick it off a frame. He was far senior to anyone else there. As my dad and I walked in he yelled at us “now what the hell do you want !”. I thought “oh crap we’re in trouble now “. What I didn’t realize was he and my dad had been doing business for years and that was just him poking fun at my dad. Great memories, thanks for reminding me. And Striegel is pronounced like steel if you are interested.

@paytongauthier6452 9 месяцев назад

Correction: 2124 did operate in excursion service. She ran for the Iron Horse rambles in the 1970s and did a double header with 2102

@williamnichols467 9 месяцев назад

I’ve seen 2101 myself, and the B&O museum hasn’t been treating her too kind

@user-yy1rs3df3q 9 месяцев назад

The museum is currently in the process of moving 2101 presumably to have it cosmetically restored at some point in the future though I think they are just moving it out of sight because of it's sad appearance. The move should be interesting to watch though.

@GoofyVirginian630 2 месяца назад

It's such a shame to see one of the most successful excursion stars meet a tragic fate. 2101 is my favorite steam locomotive because it has traveled through my home state Maryland a lot, and my uncle had some pretty good times with it.

@matthewpowell2429 9 месяцев назад

It's such a pity they just gave up on her like that. Call it a fool's dream, but I have plans to form a historical society in the future, and one of its goals is to buy and restore the 2101, regardless of the cost, time, and materials needed.

@SteamKing2160 9 месяцев назад

thats good such a shame that the engine suffered a roundhouse fire in russell, kentucky that forced Ross Rowland to bring in C&O 614 with help from Chessie System's chairman Hayes Watkins

@moosecat 9 месяцев назад

I hope you the powerball jackpot, my man.

@ChessieSystem2101 9 месяцев назад

tbh I also had that thought come to me a few times

@williamclarke4510 9 месяцев назад

I heard that the Striegals were former B&O engineers and were responsible for saving the pacific and mikado now in the B&O Museum. I don't think Ross Rowland's decision not to restore the 2101 should be disputed.

@williamclarke4510 9 месяцев назад

What nonsense!

@ronalddevine9587 9 месяцев назад

Beautiful American steam locomotives.

@Transit_Biker 9 месяцев назад

Wondering if they could do a metallurgic survey of the boiler etc to see if its still safe...

@survivingworldsteam 9 месяцев назад

I believe all the brass bearings melted away with the heat. But the biggest concerns are the castings -- the frame, cylinder, etc. It is believed that the heat of the fire may have warped them, it could also have set up stresses that could later cause them to crack. With so many of her sisters in excursion service, it just doesn't make economic sense to throw a lot of money at doing all the testing and restoring it would take to return her to service.

@CoalChrome 6 месяцев назад

I still believe 2101 was, at the time, 100% salvageable and most likely would've taken way less work than anyone thought. Currently, she likely needs a nut and bolt overhaul

@TheGs4_4449 9 месяцев назад

It’s ironic when you think about it. Steam locomotive like 2101 need fire to function, and yet, they can become inoperable and even die by fire (luckily 2101 didn’t die). It’s sad, yet ironic.

@fanofeverything30465 9 месяцев назад

2101 is still alive Just unable to run

@TheGs4_4449 9 месяцев назад

@@fanofeverything30465 ok lemme change the comment

@fanofeverything30465 9 месяцев назад

@@TheGs4_4449 It's definitely a cruel irony BTW

@TheGs4_4449 9 месяцев назад

@@fanofeverything30465 agreed

@survivingworldsteam 9 месяцев назад

Many a steam locomotive has been lost in roundhouse fires. Fire on the outside melts sheet metal and brass bearings, and can warp castings. It is quite ironic.

@haydendegrow945 10 месяцев назад

😫 it's not fair! She had so much left in her... irony befell though, when the very thing that gives her life took it away from her as well

@monsterdemolitionman1235 9 месяцев назад

hey i agree with you she should have never been cought on fire

@fanofeverything30465 9 месяцев назад

A cruel irony indeed

@monsterdemolitionman1235 9 месяцев назад

@@fanofeverything30465 hey at least two of her sisters are being restored

@monsterdemolitionman1235 9 месяцев назад

@@fanofeverything30465 in Riding Philadelphia

@fanofeverything30465 9 месяцев назад

@@monsterdemolitionman1235I hope she can be restored one day

@patrickerwinii9241 9 месяцев назад

If I was a billionaire, I would restore 2101 back to operating condition so she could do excursions again.

@williamclarke4510 5 месяцев назад

Why waste money in an environment that might have structure problems due to warpage,? I wouldn't be second guess Ross Rowland's decision not to mechanically restore her.

@patrickerwinii9241 5 месяцев назад

@@williamclarke4510 Because 2101’s excursion service was cut short and was retired from excursion service too early. And 2101 deteriorated outside of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad museum for decades. So I would want to help 2101.

@StarrySGH 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for the background on 2101. Hopefully I'll get to see it sometime if I take my family to the B&O museum!

@SP4449Railfan 9 месяцев назад

“I can be pretty too” LMAO!!!! 🤣

@tmh462. 6 месяцев назад

2101 has been removed from display, and is in the process of being cosmetically restored for the US' 250th anniversary.

@ChessieSystem2101 9 месяцев назад

Truly awesome video, but I think 2101 started as Reading 2021 and not 2037, since, from what I've managed to find, the T1s were rebuilt from locomotives no. 2020-2049, 2020 becoming 2100, 2021 to 2101 and etc. I might be wrong about this though so don't take my word for it. Anyways, can't wait for the next one.

@Kanefan701 16 дней назад

I was in near tears when hearing Henry's sad theme playing...

@jamiecase249 Месяц назад

Thank you for a great video on the Reading T1

@laddrickstafford2153 9 месяцев назад

Video rebirth santa fe 4 84 one in New Mexico just came back life another in California see in future double header over old santa fe mainline over raton pass

@jodysmith8048 4 месяца назад

The problem with this locomotive being restored is not the massive amount of money would take to have it restored to operating condition again. It's the fact that the B&O railroad museum doesn't want that to happen because they want to have it around and have it on display like they're trophy like telling people what a good thing they have. That's why all the attempts over the decades to get the museum to have the locomotive restored to operating condition again have failed. That's welding equipment in the area. It's bad enough that the museum has this locomotive in the first place. It's even worse they won't have it restored operating condition because if it was it Restored operating condition to as it was as the America Freedom train would make bank for them. But the B&O railroad museum have been in hot water about other local motives that should be restored to operating condition before.

@zavencornelius7022 9 месяцев назад

I have a suggestion for your next railroad story you should do the southern steam program I think that would be a good video idea

@Marc_von_Hoffrichter 9 месяцев назад

Thanks mate, great video, cheers cobber.

@mlptf 9 месяцев назад

Can you do one with Texas & Pacific 610 next?

@matthewavery 9 месяцев назад

I don’t recall what the specific title of the music you used when showing 2101 after the fire damage, but I never realized a piece from “Thomas” could sound so sad 😢. Amazing video as always, Darkness

@thomasavensjr.2790 8 месяцев назад

It's a true shame that Reading locomotive 2101 only had a brief excursion service career only lasting from 1975-1978, hauling the American freedom train and the Chessie Steam Special excursions. I am glad that engine 2101 was preserved along with the three other Reading rr t1 class 4-8-4 types, I am glad that there is video footage on RU-vid of the 2101 in excursion service during the 1970s.

@F40M07 Месяц назад

I know we have 2100 and 2102 but let’s get just ONE more T1 restored, the most famous one.

@FreihEitner 9 месяцев назад

For decades I thought the toy (I don't recall if it was Tyco, Bachman or LifeLike) of the Chessie System steam locomotive was totally bogus, just one of those things those companies frequently released which never actually existed. Just a couple of years ago now I learned there was this one. And, being in Chessie System paint, it looked marvelous!

@kylezebert8338 9 месяцев назад

Its in sad shape down in Baltimore. Its just sitting there rotting there in a parking lot.

@bwallace5945 9 месяцев назад

What I always thought was interesting was that only 4 not 5 Reading T1's were saved 2100, 2101.2102 &2124. So we have the first 3 and the newest. I would have to assume the first 3 had been ran threw the shops and perhaps had new flues and 2124 which was the newest and longest remaining flue times.

@nicholasuszko 9 месяцев назад

2100 currently has had all the tubes replaced, however the flues are still good. That was a lot of ultrasound work.

@rickm8003 6 месяцев назад

recently 2101 has been put back in the shop for another cosmetic restoration

@MrCateagle 9 месяцев назад

Perhaps there should be book on the various American Freedom Train locomotives.

@mikeyhowell5449 6 месяцев назад

Steam engine #2101was moved from B&O railroad museum to site in Baltimore Maryland to get cosmetic restored I saw it on RU-vid this year

@davidng2336 9 месяцев назад

2101 is now getting a cosmetic restoration.

@vaclavmacgregor2464 9 месяцев назад

I heard that it was semi streamlined in excursion service aka Chessie System.......Also how unfortunate(ei the fire.)By the way does anyone know how many engines from the ERIE rr sruvive(Barring the 4-6-2 which is MIA in korea.)

@09JDCTrainMan 9 месяцев назад

Sadly, there are no surviving Erie Railroad steam locomotives

@survivingworldsteam 9 месяцев назад

I know someone who went to Korea to look for the Erie 4-6-2. Sadly, she no longer exists.

@nicholasuszko 9 месяцев назад

2100 still has 2101s tender, and 2101 still has 2100s.

@SMichaelDeHart 9 месяцев назад

I rode behind 2101 in 1977 on the Chessie Steam Special from Huntington, West Virginia to Hinton, West Virginia and back. I was 13yo railfan. It was in October 1977.

@crystalrock18 9 месяцев назад

Is the story of Frisco 1522 on the list to talk about?

@jimmyhook4852 9 месяцев назад

Heh... if that happens, odds are that yours truly will be there to comment on it and of course.... still believe that one day she will run again. ;)

@crystalrock18 9 месяцев назад

@@jimmyhook4852 one can hope dude. I hope the same, but time will tell.

@jimmyhook4852 9 месяцев назад

@@crystalrock18 Yeah. It's just.... seeing the chance for Frisco 1522 to run again is obviously high on my list of railfan dreams. Cause after all... and if ain't obvious on my RU-vid channel: Frisco 1522 is easily My No. 1 Favorite Steam Locomotive. ;)

@crystalrock18 9 месяцев назад

@@jimmyhook4852 dude it’s been my favorite since I was a kid. Funny part is I wrote a ballad about the 1522 and put it into song. The 1522 was a bad ass locomotive, and always will be. It was always a joy to see her running down the line she use to tear up on a daily basis. Watching her blaze through Pacific and St Clair MO was always a really treat.

@jimmyhook4852 9 месяцев назад

@@crystalrock18 And of course without a doubt: Still being The Loudest Steam Locomotive in the World for her amazing shotgun exhaust =3

@jeffreycalderwood9893 4 месяца назад

I think all steam locomotives should be restored and running on the rails again

@StephentrainboyRailfanbrony 9 месяцев назад

Hi history in the dark I got good news for you the b&o railroad museum is restoring reading 2101

@TB587.3 3 месяца назад

Poor 2101 🥺😢😔

@calebsswagtrains9111 9 месяцев назад

I just got a model of her

@kamokev_92 9 месяцев назад

I have one too, BLI 2101 in her original gray with yellow striped tender scheme

@calebsswagtrains9111 9 месяцев назад

I have the 2101 chessie steam special and matching cars

@ChrizKeyz 9 месяцев назад

Ok this video can be good evidence against the 2 Henrys theory

@CoalChrome 6 месяцев назад

The funny part of 2100, 2101 and 2102 surviving is they were last minute purchases because 4449 was too fat

@harrisonallen651 9 месяцев назад

2101 shouldn’t have changed her class number I reckon

@monsterdemolitionman1235 9 месяцев назад

2101 2102 2124 2100

@rannicel 9 месяцев назад

Hey.I can look pretty tooooooooooo!

@bleeksbentbits3150 9 месяцев назад

Why did the screen get sliced up part way through? Felt like I was watching with Dazzle Cammo filter applied! :v ;)

@Trainfan1055Janathan 9 месяцев назад

I always thought it was weird that all trains are female. Like, I get why (because we call all machines female in English), but in my head-cannon, since in the animal kingdom, females are usually larger than males, larger steam locomotives are female, but smaller ones are male, except locomotives with male names like Big Boy, and King Arthur Class. In case you're wondering, for diesels, Cab units (such as the F7A are female, but booster units (such as the f7B) are male. Other than that, it's a bit random. Most freight locomotives (such as the Dash 9) are male and most passenger locomotives (such as the P42) are female, but the F40PH is male, and so is the GP40PH-2B and the GP40FH-2. For EMU trains, the power units are female and the trailer units are male. Non-powered cab cars can be male or female. On subways, the cab units are female and the middle units are male. For train sets (such as the TGV), they can be either male or female. For electric locomotives in general, it's a bit random. The AEM-7 and ALP-44 are male, but the ALP-46 is female. The Siemens ACS-64 is female.

@fanofeverything30465 9 месяцев назад

Locomotives with very clearly male names are often referred to as male

@mistermadmachine6311 7 месяцев назад

😢

@cykablyatman6242 9 месяцев назад

2100 and 2102 are about to be together again

@nicholasuszko 9 месяцев назад

2 more years most likely.

@JD-hh9io 8 месяцев назад

What about 614?

@ToyInsanity Месяц назад

Hope 2026 gets a Freedom Train

@solidgroundministries6469 9 месяцев назад

They are going to move it here soon to do cosmetics works at the b&o Shop

@StephentrainboyRailfanbrony 9 месяцев назад

I know I commented on the video about the b&o railroad museum restoring reading 2101

@gretchenchadwick8343 9 месяцев назад

My son is special needs and he loves trains 🚆🚂🚃🚄🚅🚇🚈🚉🚊🚝🚞🚋🛤 especially Steam locomotives like 2101 he has seen films 🎥📽🎞 of it pulling the Chessie System Steam Specials and hopes and prays 🙏 that someday soon 2101 will be restored to operation in its Chessie System livery but he does not want that to be wishful thinking he wants it to be a reality! He has read on Wikipedia that most of the damage from the roundhouse fire 🔥 is cosmetic but it will a complete overhaul and he recommends FMW Solutions for help in restoring it because steam locomotive restoration is one of their specialties. And always remember that with God ✝️ all things are possible and you can take that to the bank.