I was at the museum in November. My last visit was probably 10 years ago. It was far more cleaned up than I remember it. The 2101 was really the only steamer that looked rough. My 3 sons were enamored with the Berk, as it is quite close to their favorite 1225, thanks to the Polar Express.
We took the short train ride, and while it wasn't much for me, the kids enjoyed it and it was just enough for the rest of the family to stomache as well. The neighborhood through which the ride passes is not great, but it looked better than when I worked just up Falls Rd. in '97.
My impression was that 2101 would get it's resto in due time, as the rest of the museum appears to have been upgraded as time, money and efforts allows. Personally, I'd rather see them repair the 2 locos still unrestored after the roof collapse, but since they are inside, they are no worse for wear than they were post collapse vs. the 2101 exposed to the elements.

Mike Stillwell
Buena Vista, VA.

Here's the answer to that question:
http://www.freedomtrain.org/html/whereabouts.htm

I really hope that the Mt Rainier Scenic can some day acquire the ones now owned by the nearby dining company. (On the same line, but not affiliated with MRSR and they no longer operate their dinner train.)

Out of curiosity, how is that a majority of the AFT cars were scrapped in 1995 after surviving for nearly 20 years post use on the nationwide train?

I appreciate the view(s) of seeing the 2101 in Chessie System, and AFT#! colors, for the reasons cited, but historically, she's a Reading locomotive that made her bread and butter in Reading colors. She should be restored as a Reading locomotive. Her frame should be examined as well, and if she's road worthy, make future operation part of the eventual game plan. If she would need as much work as another static locomotive from the collection, that sort levels the playing field. Her fire damage did give us a beautiful and technologically superior, true C&O locomotive, and I respect Ross's reasoning for the swap. Rowland need not explain anything to anyone regarding the retirement.
I would sure like to see that big Greenbriar with pressure in her boiler once more!

With regard to the neighborhood, I would say "the other side" of Pratt Street is still very seedy, but directly in front of the museum are old buildings being rebuilt as residences. Cleaning up regions of a city has to begin somewhere, along with a commitment from the local government. The B&O Museum can and should be the center of a consistent urban renewal plan.

I personally don't care what the B&O Museum restores 2101 as, just as long as she is restored.

My two cents.

Martin M

We've been over this a hundred times, it seems like.

You have 2124 at Steamtown. You have 2102 in basically operable condition in a roundhouse just a stone's throw from Reading and the RCT&HS collection.

2101 survived because of the American Freedom Train. Why do some of you obsess over what you can't have?

The subject of which paint scheme she carries at the B&O museum was settled when we made the deal in 1979. She was given to the B&O museum with the proviso that she would represent her role as the Eastern engine of the American Freedom Train in perpetuity. This is part of the Deed of Gift from myself ( as her then owner) to the museum.

As she was seen and enjoyed by approx. 3 million on site visitors and at least that many more trackside during her 21 month carreer on the AFT I see every reason to stay with that plan.

I can understand the tiny minority of purest Reading Company fans wanting her to go back to the original RDG. getup, but in this case the greater good will prevail.

Respectfully, Ross Rowland

Please define "basically operable condition." I think you may have had more to drink tonight than my roommates.

As one of the guys that would be moving her to the shop, I hope the management takes Ross up on his offer. We are still playing "catch up" after the roof collapse and I think its a good idea as long as it doesn't put other projects on hold. Keep in mind though, that there are other costs involved. The amount of man hours involved in the switching to free her from the front yard alone is enough to make major headway on any one of many other projects. Again, don't get me wrong, I think it would be worth it but there are always a lot of little barriers that add up.

As to even thinking of running it again......Where? We have a mile and a half of track. Trying to keep a big engine like that operational would cost way more than we could recoup in a 20 min 3 mile round trip, and that's just one of the rational reasons why you'll never see it.

You may not be able to fire her up right now, but the only thing, as far as I know, that keeps her from operating is money, and the time spent once said money has been spent. We're not talking a misaligned frame, a paper-thin boiler or crownsheet, cracked drivers or axles, lack of cab signal equipment, freeze-cracked cylinders, etc. It's on a railroad that runs another steam locomotive. Replace flues, big deal.

Does anyone know of any reason, other than money and time and the will of its owner, that 2102 can't or won't operate? I've heard/read rumors about many steamers, and some of them even have a grain of truth to them, but I've never heard anyone say that 2102 could never run again.

Of course 2100 rumors are rumbling again as well. And we can't forget the T&P 610 either!

steamlocomotive.com says its operational (2100)

thud... didnt know there was yet another Reading 4-8-4

Any engine given time money and desire and work will get any engine to run, given the condition of the engine.

A big engine like 2101 is meant for big mainline. A mile or so of track, a little engine, 0-4-0 or small, a few cars or so works better.

If B&O Museum had wanted to fully restored and operate 2101 again, they are going to need to find a regional railroad in the area which has a good amount of track, and is willing to take on the effort.

B&O would need something similar to what we got here in Michigan, where you got a relationship between railroad preservation group (Stream Railroading Institute) and local regional railroad (Great Lake Central).

This is enlightening. I might visit the museum 3-4 times a year and it is always interesting to watch how the equipment is moved around between visits. Given the tight conditions and varied condition of the equipment, I've always wondered who does it, how it is planned and just how difficult it is. A casual observer might think the stuff is moved around just for fun. The move a couple of years ago to put 490, 5300, 4500 and others in the south building must have taken a lot of planning.

Museum is keeping four boilers under code now. All four are very nicely matched to how they operate and the mission of the place. Perhaps as recent as a decade ago, they weren't operating any thing, let alone steam.

My personal pipe dream would be to see one of the grass hoppers operate, just because there isn't anything else like them. It would be VERY cool to see one at Ellicott City Station in a "photo charter," parked on a rebuilt turn table by the engine stall that still has the exhaust stack in the center and not at the end of the stall.

Bob

In response to my "basically operable" crack, I received the following back-channel from a "trustworthy" source up 2102's way:



Assuming this is true, the loco could be in the same boat as 1361: no place to go, nothing to do worth the $$ once she is repaired........ and if this is true of 2102, it also doesn't bode well for 2100 or 2101's long-term odds.

The correspondent also alluded to other "distractions" in the locomotive owner's life that would keep attention or priority away from 2102.

Nonetheless: IF we were dealing with the equivalent of another American Freedom Train or a Norfolk Southern heritage steam program, 2102 could certainly be "made right" and run again.