Low steam pressure "would cause the operators to"... pick up the mike and say "Give me another notch, JB!" and have the diesel do even more of the work than it already was. Then again, we usually didn't have to do that, he simply did what was needed to maintain the desired speed. Got enough steam to blow the whistle? We're good then. Yes, the burner had problems at times. It got better with practice, and it wasn't fired in a manner that would hurt the boiler.

However, apparently even a thorough examination by an independent third party isn't enough to prevent some of these fine gentlemen from proclaiming gloom and doom and how the engine is so totally ruined that an entire new boiler is needed. Yes, the operation had problems and errors were made, such as the schedule 40. Very few operations can claim perfection. But for some reason, this is a pet whipping boy.

Tom Payne purchased a grease gun from someone locally when it was in St. Thomas. I assumed it went west with 2100.

Hats off to the 2100 group for the report and more importantly their supreme and dedicated efforts to bring the engine back to life. A lot of effort from a dedicated base is what I see going on, we should take care to offer help via good words and encouragement and where possible... donations.

I rode behind the T-1's from 1959 to the end in 1964 including a lot of trips(16) behind 2100. The trips to Gettysburg and West Milton were the best.
I have nothing but fond memory's of the Reading Company and the fan base they built over time. Let's all help this group build the same memories for the next generation of railroad fans.

I rode behind 2100 and the other T-1's on several Iron Horse Rambles, too. The Rambles were the standard to which all other such excursions must be compared. I haven't found their equal yet.

I rode behind AFT1 (2101) aboard the AFT, Kankakee to Homewood, IL, 1975. Saw her later on the Chessie steam special and have visited her in Baltimore.

As expected, some areas of the locomotive are better than expected, while others are worse. Welcome to steam preservation. The great news is that the 2100 crew will be doing minor repair work on the boiler instead of building a new firebox. Kudos to them for doing the legwork and bringing the old girl (closer to) home. Can't wait to see this one under steam.

Okay, 2100 is no longer in the evil clutches of Tom Payne and has been removed from it's unholy tomb in the Evergreen State. Can we now just collectively focus on what's gonna happen next? Please?

Agreed. It's threads like this that give this site a reputation (unwarranted or not) for being a "foamer site" (in a very negative way) and it's one reason (the main reason, really) why I don't post anything related to ATSF 2926 or NMSL&RHS here; I have a nasty feeling that the same rock-throwers who took aim at Mr. Payne and company would gleefully do so with us as well.

I respect and freely invite other person's opinions, but there's a major difference between opinions and outright attacks, and I have a hard time respecting those who attack others without carefully reviewing all available facts and analyzing the situation from all sides. Having dealt with professional railroaders and many other professional types over the past several years, I can well understand why many look down upon sites like this with disfavor and ridicule, especially after looking at threads like this and seeing posts which contain lots of hype and hyperbole and little or no established facts. I dunno about the rest of y'all, but it's stating to feel a mite drafty in here....

Thanks for posting the report. It's nice to finally hear an accurate report regarding the condition of this locomotive from truly reliable source. There doesn't seem to be any deal breakers so far. I wish them the best of luck and look forward to her return to service.

I think we can all agree that having Reading 2100 back in capable hands is the most critical aspect of this whole topic. Thank God the speculation on her condition has proven to be far less than tragic. Potentially, two T1 4-8-4's might see service in each others company someday.

Hello,

Many years ago, my dad took a photo of my mother holding me assuming I was two or three with a T1 approaching in the background. The house where I was born was just over the hill from Starners station at Idaville PA. My house was maybe 1/2 mile from the Reading road crossing. Many years later. I stood at that same crossing to see the 2102 stall heading south as it tried to assault the grade from Goodyear.

To this day I cannot believe T1s traversed the Gettysburg line with all the curves and grades. Of course Wolf Pit may have been the most formidable grade/curve on the line. On the BM&R return trip, with the 02 backing and the Gettysburg Alco leading they both hit the grade at Wolf Pit in an absolute downpour, it was an event I'll never forget. The 02 had no booster and was violently loosing its grip. They both finally got over the grade as the crew poured sand from bags on the pilot of the Alco.

I suspect the 00 or 02 will never travel the old Reading again to Gettysburg but maybe we will seem them together again on the main.

To me the T1s seemed overly loud and booming when they were accelerating hard, maybe from the long large smokebox? Beautiful music it made!

Good to have her back east again.

Cheers!

Randy

Following the release of the inspection report, ASR has officially kicked off its fundraising:

http://www.fireup2100.org/2015/10/fundr ... aign-2100/

They're promoting a feature that allows donors to contribute $21.00 a month for a year.

Also, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has offered its railroad to the 2100 for operations.

KL