It greifs me to see one of these last T-1's sitting in this state. I remember the Freedom train during the Bicentennial being pulled by the Chessie System's T-1 and Blue Mountain's excursions with their T-1 commanding the rails here in Berks County PA. My Grandfather might roll over in his grave( a PRR empoyee) for what I am going to say But these engines are among the most beautiful Steam Locomotive to ever grace those twin silver rails!

I'm also saddened by the condition they all seem to be in. Not just the 2100, but the others as well. Last I saw, the 2101, which was in a museum, was sorely in need of a paint job. I think 2124 is now the best of the bunch, I seem to recall she recently received a "dip job" coat of black paint at Scranton?

I'm also a huge fan of the T hogs. I've worked on three of the four remaining ones over the years, including on the Steam Tours, the AFT, the Chessie Steam Special and yes, the ill fated Golden Pacific operation. I never would have expected I'd get the chance to run a T1 in Washington state, but I did, and I enjoyed it immensely.

By the way, the Freedom Train was prior to the Chessie operation, they didn't get involved until 1977, when the AFT was over and Ross was looking for someplace new to run the engine.

That said... I love 'em dearly, but "beautiful" isn't a word that comes to mind when describing them, at least not for me. I like their looks, and think they're good looking, but in a rough and rugged sort of way. When it comes to beauty, I'm going to have to give the nod to a different loco, maybe the GS-4, maybe the N&W J's, maybe the Southern's Ps4, maybe one I haven't thought of at the moment. But probably not the T hog. ;)

Reading Company T. & H. S. is a 501c3 Non-Profit, and we will gladly accept the donation of the 2100... as is - where is.
Then we'll have to figure out how to move her home for prime display in the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum.
Someone else can have the G.N. tender.

Rdg 179, it would be a very, very long shot, but if the situation is as described, and you could locate the owner, would you and the Society consider making such a request for a donation? There is the chance the owner(s) just might be looking for a way to dispose of something that may have become a white elephant to them, but obviously is too valuable to just junk.

And if you did get the girl, I would bet the Society would be very, very motivated to bring her home. . .and that you would do it, too.

The donation suggestion is worth a shot. The worst you will hear is "no", and such an enormous donation value might easily be welcomed by a multi-millionaire, eager to wipe his feet of such an expensive legacy. The GN tender should stay in the Northwest, perhaps finding a permanent home there.
Test the waters. What is the worst thing you can otherwise be told?

I wonder if that had anything to do with its [not] excellent steaming properties when it was running in Washington?

Walt L.

I think this is best idea I have ever heard in regard to the 2100 except for one thing...The tender from the GN R-2 goes with it or the deal's off. Us WestCoasters need to get some payback.

Cheers, Dave

[quote="J3a-614"]Rdg 179, it would be a very, very long shot, but if the situation is as described, and you could locate the owner, would you and the Society consider making such a request for a donation? There is the chance the owner(s) just might be looking for a way to dispose of something that may have become a white elephant to them, but obviously is too valuable to just junk. [/quote]

From what I have heard, Mr. Payne is not finished with 2100 yet.
This is merely to get our cards on the table, as I think he will probably read this thread.
If and when that time comes, we will be glad to work out the details.
Just do not want scrapping to be an option.
2100 has faced that at least twice before.

What an admirable idea. 2100 could go from sitting unattended on a siding in Washington state with nothing happening to it, to sitting unattended on a siding in Pennsylvania with nothing happening to it. How many stories have we read here of donations to groups or museums and then said group whines that they can’t afford to do the needed work or even keep it from rusting away?
NO, if it’s a matter of long-term preservation of the locomotive until a PROPER owner can actually do anything with it, it’s best left where it is. Sorry, but I couldn’t care less that 2100 is sitting far away from its original stomping grounds. I rode behind 2100 during its short stint with the Golden Pacific and while I agree that it’s best to have locomotives close to their original homes, 2100 is better where it is as opposed to sitting on some siding in the hands of a group that pends all their time griping about how they can’t even preserve 2100 correctly, let alone operate her. The climate for 2100’s current location is as close to ideal for long-term preservation as a locomotive can get and not actually be in a desert. Can anyone here honestly say that anywhere in Anthracite country (in open air, which we all know would be a likely place) would be a better place than this if it’s not being readied for operation?

To add commentary on a few comments.....

I would suspect that there is damage to the firebox, sidesheets are likely cracked as well as potential for similar damage to the rear fluesheet. The damage done to the syphons is likely there in the metal, just readily visible.

The Thailand "caps" are indeed iron pipe plugs, iron is not a legal material for that application.

The entirety of the boiler is uninsulated, was throughout the operation.

Note what looks to be flame or at the least mass heat contact to the stoker engine.

I had contacted whom was originally posting about this locomotive when it made the move out there. I had offered advice as to the fact that the commercial burner arrangement would nnot work and would likely cause damage.... An instance where I do not enjoy lacking inaccuracy. The response i got back was something to the effect of: the burner arrangement had been designed by a "qualified" person and that not I nor anyone on this forum had enough knowledge to challenge the opinion of their "expert"
I wish much luck to the locomotive and the individual whom owns it...

Cheers, Jason

[quote="p51"] "What an admirable idea. 2100 could go
from sitting unattended on a siding in Washington state with nothing happening to it,
to sitting unattended on a siding in Pennsylvania with nothing happening to it.
How many stories have we read here of donations to groups or museums and then said group whines that they can’t afford to do the needed work or even keep it from rusting away? ...
Can anyone here honestly say that anywhere in Anthracite country (in open air, which we all know would be a likely place) would be a better place than this if it’s not being readied for operation?[/quote]

Uhh, yeah, I can honestly say that. If its not going to run out there any more. Back home, 2100 would be enshrined, not ignored.

I don't care what you have read about any other groups problems.
RCT&HS has made (for over 25 years now) and continues to make progress on the restoration and maintenance of the locomotives and equipment in our collection, and slow but steady progress in establishing our museum with ongoing construction...even in this poor economy. There are pages here on RYPN and elsewhere that show our various projects underway.

RCT&HS is currently diesel-oriented. We have no steam locomotives. An entirely different special interest group (steam) would come to life to embrace 2100 (or 2101, or 2102, or 2124, if any of them came to us. That's not likely).
I'm not saying that we would have 2100 restored to run...
and I'm not saying that would be out of the question either. But she would absolutely NOT be left to sit and ''rust away''.

2100 is to Reading what 611 is to Roanoke, 4449 is to Portland, etc. 2100 would be pampered and polished and maintained cosmetically at the very least... and would be one of the first things to go inside the buildings at our museum, which are coming soon.

Our's is an OFFER, not a demand. If the current owner(s) of 2100 still have plans to make use of her, I'm glad to hear it.
We simply want it to be known, that - IF and WHEN - 2100 becomes available, we would like to bring her home.

There is another T-1 not far from your museum. I would suggest making the owner an offer he can't refuse and get her first. If you can't do that maybe with the right conversation she could be loaned to the museum until her decides to do something with her.

Yes 2102 is only a few miles up the road. Some of us have been ''up close and personal'' to the '02 before she was sold to the current owner in 1986.
But 2102 is a trophy to her owner and the most we can expect is a visit from the '02 to our museum.

But, then again, there's no ''Limit One'' sign on a T-1.

Yep, payback. I swear if I hear the phrase "Back where it belongs" (which has been uttered in every post pertaining to the 2100 since it was shipped out here to the Northwest by seemingly everyone east of the Mississippi) I will scream. That being said, I would like to be able to complain at length about the treatment of our beloved GN Vanderbilt Tender, alone and discarded on some obscure siding in PA as if had been stolen in the night...That's the deal, take it or leave it.

Cheers, Dave

Huzzahs and hurrahs and "mega-dittos" on the "payback" concept.

On the other hand, maybe we could swap it out in the middle of the night for that C&O Vanderbilt STILL rusting away (last I looked) in CSX's Locust Point yard in Baltimore, and who would be the wiser...... >;-D