ATTENTION, ANYONE ELSE WHO BLUNDERS INTO THIS POST FROM A RANDOM INTERNET SEARCH--IT, ALONG WITH OTHER POSTS ON THIS FORUM AROUND APRIL 1 EVERY YEAR, ARE APRIL FOOL'S SPOOFS.......... SEE http://server.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29151&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
In an effort to ameliorate both enthusiasts upset with the condition of former Reading 2101/American Freedom Train 1 in Baltimore and the lack of mainline steam in the East AND the "tragic" condition of Reading 2100 in Washington State, the B&O Railroad Museum announced today a joint effort to "right several wrongs" and advance the cause of rail preservation nationwide.
In a joint partnership with Ross Rowland, the Museum will temporarily acquire from Rowland the former C&O 4-8-4 614, currently stored in Port Clinton, Pa. Rowland will acquire former Reading 2100, in storage in Washington, and prepare it for his long-anticipated Yellow Ribbon Express project, a nationwide tour train featuring 2100 as motive power. The 2100 will be renumbered 2010 and painted in UP Armour Yellow for the tour, expected to last through the remainder of 2010. The loco will then be painted as Chessie System 2101, to stand in for its sister locomotive, and the 614 then removed to a future home, possibly the Virginia Museum of Transportation. American Freedom Train 1, the former Chessie Steam Special/Reading 2101, will be "returned" to Rowland for a thorough restoration as AFT 1 and future display at "a location to be announced." Rumors that the loco would go to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania were dashed by the reminder that the Pennsylvania museum was still under an acquisitions moratorium, mandated by state budget woes.
"If this is what it takes to get that french-fry oil burner out of 2100, so be it," said Rowland. "2100 will be rebuilt to our order by the [former] CEECO shop in Tacoma to burn coal, the way God and the Reading meant her to, before her historic trip." The B&O Museum plans to keep the "2101" operable for school trips on its "First Mile" in Baltimore.
Rowland has reportedly secured a lease on the former ArTrain display cars, last used by Disney for its "Christmas Carol" promotional train last fall, and is reportedly acquiring a couple "shell" cars from several Western excursion operators, including the Verde Canyon RR, the San Luis & Rio Grande, and/or the Grand Canyon Railroad..
Further details on the Yellow Ribbon Express are available at the project's website, http://www.yellowribbonexpress.com/about.htm and specifically the 2100 at http://www.yellowribbonexpress.com/THIS ... EFOLKS.htm.
