My whole view on the Reading Company T-1 2101 is that the owner(s) (B&O museum)should try to restore it.It is a manificant peace of history of the Reading Company.No matter what anyone says it couldn't have been so damaged by the fire while it was being stored for the winter in Kentucky.The reason I feel that is because steam locomotives were built to with stand maximum heat and presure.The museum only has the unit because they were the owners of the storage place where over the winter the unit caught on fire!They willfully traded C&O 4-8-4 614 to the owner of 2101 (Ross Rowland Jr.)as a good will gesture.They hide the engine from being seen in there almost all B&O collection.I feel the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society should step in and purchase or get it from donation and restore it into at least a static display.

winston_40@hotmail.com

> My whole view on the Reading Company T-1
> 2101 is that the owner(s) (B&O
> museum)should try to restore it.It is a
> manificant peace of history of the Reading
> Company.No matter what anyone says it
> couldn't have been so damaged by the fire
> while it was being stored for the winter in
> Kentucky.The reason I feel that is because
> steam locomotives were built to with stand
> maximum heat and presure.The museum only has
> the unit because they were the owners of the
> storage place where over the winter the unit
> caught on fire!They willfully traded C&O
> 4-8-4 614 to the owner of 2101 (Ross Rowland
> Jr.)as a good will gesture.They hide the
> engine from being seen in there almost all
> B&O collection.I feel the Reading
> Company Technical & Historical Society
> should step in and purchase or get it from
> donation and restore it into at least a
> static display.

THe B&O Museum is drowning in history--it has irreplacable equipment lying around, desperately needing conservation, anywhere you look. If they have only a limited amount of money to spend--and they do have very real limits on the amount of money they can spend--should it go to 2101 (one of four surviving sisters), or to the only remaing EA, the only remaining P-7 Pacific, the original USRA light Mikado-- well, you get my drift.

If anyone would like to come to Baltimore with people and paint and a credible work plan, I'm sure the Museum would be happy to have them work on 2101. If you have such a plan and want a contact at the Museum, Kevin or I can arrange it.

Alternatively, if someone can come to the Museum with a credible home for 2101 and enough money (several tens of thousands) to pay for transportation, well, a deal might very well be struck on that basis too.

Until then, however, just be glad that 2101 is safe from scrapping or major alteration, and please don't bite the hand that sheltered her in her hour of need.

My private opinions only.


eledbetter@mail.rypn.org

> No matter what anyone says it
> couldn't have been so damaged by the fire
> while it was being stored for the winter in
> Kentucky.The reason I feel that is because
> steam locomotives were built to with stand
> maximum heat and presure.The museum only has
> the unit because they were the owners of the
> storage place where over the winter the unit
> caught on fire!They willfully traded C&O
> 4-8-4 614 to the owner of 2101 (Ross Rowland
> Jr.)as a good will gesture.They hide the
> engine from being seen in there almost all
> B&O collection.I feel the Reading
> Company Technical & Historical Society
> should step in and purchase or get it from
> donation and restore it into at least a
> static display.

With all due respect, those are some pretty strong statements. A couple of days ago, you didn't even know the locomotive still existed; now you are an expert on it's condition and the amount and kind of damages it suffered? Wow!

I understand your affection for the Reading, we all have our favorite railroads and engines. However, your personal desires don't mean the museum or the RCT&HS must drop everything they are doing now and bow to your wishes. As the man said, do something yourself to improve the condition of the locomotive if it bothers you that much.

But, have you even seen it? Are you a member of the RCT&HS?

> With all due respect, those are some pretty
> strong statements. A couple of days ago, you
> didn't even know the locomotive still
> existed; now you are an expert on it's
> condition and the amount and kind of damages
> it suffered? Wow!

> I understand your affection for the Reading,
> we all have our favorite railroads and
> engines. However, your personal desires
> don't mean the museum or the RCT&HS must
> drop everything they are doing now and bow
> to your wishes. As the man said, do
> something yourself to improve the condition
> of the locomotive if it bothers you that
> much.

> But, have you even seen it? Are you a member
> of the RCT&HS?

Steam Man,

You bring up a good point. This appears to be a microcosm of how a lot of railfans act. One is quick to point out how so and so should do something about a particular structure or piece of equipment, yet he/she doesn't send any donations or give any volunteer time.

I won't however, limit this to railfans (it would be wrong of me). The general public is like this-not only to railroad related issues either.

This has become a point of frustration to me in my everyday adventures. I'll speak for my organization (which seems to be loosely representative of others). We are tight on labor and tight on funds. To have folks direct and naysay without providing any help is saddening especially when such potential is wasted on inaction. Today's society has become very individualistic. It was refreshing to see Bush call for volunteerism (in my opinion--don't let this start a Bush praise/critism thread).

As long as the idea of charitable organizations and volunteerism is around, I'm afraid we'll always be burdened with this problem. I guess the best way to deal with the issue is to welcome those that do more than talk and work to keep them involved within the organization. Money, er, that's issue that we have discussed before so I won't even try to summarize that.

Thanks,
Gerald Kopiasz, President
Heartland Railroad Historical Society


Heartland Railroad Historical Society
hrrhs@aol.com

> The reason I feel that is because
> steam locomotives were built to with stand
> maximum heat and presure.

Yes, but only when the boiler is full of water. Fire can do a lot of damage to an boiler with no water in it.

> Yes, but only when the boiler is full of
> water. Fire can do a lot of damage to an
> boiler with no water in it.

Until a survey is done on this locomotive any specualtion as to the condition of this locomotive is unfounded. Making plans for operating restoration by B&O or RHTS or anybody else might be a pleasant pastime, but have no basis in fact or potential until the real condition is discovered.

Thanks to the Reading, Rowlands and the B&O for keeping her intact as possible. There has been a recent change of management at B&O, with any luck they will consider their collections and a rationalizing plan to maximize their bang for their buck someday soon. It may well be that a Reading T1 doesn't fit in with their plans, and could be available to a responsible and able conservator.

Since I had an uncle that ran T1s out of Philly and have inherited his books and some old photos, i have an emotional attatchment to this class of engine but I have no plans to move her to Savannah for it doesn't fit in with our interpretive program and therefore shouldn't be a part of our collections. Emotional reactions should be what brings the public to our programs and drives their interest and support our way, but never the basis for a business or collections decision.

I would like to see her running again someday on anthracite pulling a rack of Reading clerestory roofed coaches through eastern PA, or properly conserved under roof by whatever entity ends up having the resources and programming to make it happen. Until then it is another priority waiting for resources or a responsible disposition, in the care of highly capable owners.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

> Until a survey is done on this locomotive
> any specualtion as to the condition of this
> locomotive is unfounded. Making plans for
> operating restoration by B&O or RHTS or
> anybody else might be a pleasant pastime,
> but have no basis in fact or potential until
> the real condition is discovered.

> Thanks to the Reading, Rowlands and the
> B&O for keeping her intact as possible.
> There has been a recent change of management
> at B&O, with any luck they will consider
> their collections and a rationalizing plan
> to maximize their bang for their buck
> someday soon. It may well be that a Reading
> T1 doesn't fit in with their plans, and
> could be available to a responsible and able
> conservator.

> Since I had an uncle that ran T1s out of
> Philly and have inherited his books and some
> old photos, i have an emotional attatchment
> to this class of engine but I have no plans
> to move her to Savannah for it doesn't fit
> in with our interpretive program and
> therefore shouldn't be a part of our
> collections. Emotional reactions should be
> what brings the public to our programs and
> drives their interest and support our way,
> but never the basis for a business or
> collections decision.

> I would like to see her running again
> someday on anthracite pulling a rack of
> Reading clerestory roofed coaches through
> eastern PA, or properly conserved under roof
> by whatever entity ends up having the
> resources and programming to make it happen.
> Until then it is another priority waiting
> for resources or a responsible disposition,
> in the care of highly capable owners.

> Dave

Nobody's posted the actual B&O Museum site, so here it is.

The B&O's steam collection is probably the best in the USA, but it had holes in it, as often people will feel an ancient piece of equipment is historical, but one just now being retired isn't. Do you think a GP-40 is a historical artifact, or just an older Diesel?

Thus, in the 1890-1900 era they saved the ancient engines, but not a contemporary; in 1927 they did not save the first US Mallet although it had been displayed at the Fair of the Iron Horse. Similarly, in 1960 they couldn't afford to save either an EM-1 2-8-8-4 or a T-3 4-8-2 to represent modern B&O steam. The C&O collection serendipitously filled some of the holes in the B&O collection, with the 2-6-6-6 repersenting the EM-1 as a modern articulated (okay the H-8 came from Roanoke).

The B&O operated the Royal Blue Route between Washington and Jersey City over the RDG and CNJ. CNJ 4-4-2 592 in the collection handled Royal Blue Route trains between Philadelphia and Jersey City. RDG T-1's handled Royal Blue Route freight trains between East Side (Philadelphia) and JC, and 2101 also represents the B&O T-3's as the "rebuilt old engines" for the B&O Museum.

B&O Railroad Museum

I would like to second Eric's opinion. The three engines he mentioned are the museum's first priority, and I totally agree with that priority. Do I want to see #2101 deteriorate any further than it has? Of course I don't. I was there the day it came to the museum in September, 1979.

I know that the current Board of Directors will not consider any trade that would involve losing a steam locomotive. I would personally like to see Clinchfield #1 go to Spencer in exchange for the ex-Western Maryland Baldwin switcher, but I have been told that will never happen.

I am sure however, that anyone who approached the museum with a credible restoration plan and money would at least get a fair hearing. I would indeed be happy to facilitate such a contact.

kevingillespie@usa.net

> Until a survey is done on this locomotive
> any specualtion as to the condition of this
> locomotive is unfounded. Making plans for
> operating restoration by B&O or RHTS or
> anybody else might be a pleasant pastime,
> but have no basis in fact or potential until
> the real condition is discovered.

> Thanks to the Reading, Rowlands and the
> B&O for keeping her intact as possible.
> There has been a recent change of management
> at B&O, with any luck they will consider
> their collections and a rationalizing plan
> to maximize their bang for their buck
> someday soon. It may well be that a Reading
> T1 doesn't fit in with their plans, and
> could be available to a responsible and able
> conservator.

> Since I had an uncle that ran T1s out of
> Philly and have inherited his books and some
> old photos, i have an emotional attatchment
> to this class of engine but I have no plans
> to move her to Savannah for it doesn't fit
> in with our interpretive program and
> therefore shouldn't be a part of our
> collections. Emotional reactions should be
> what brings the public to our programs and
> drives their interest and support our way,
> but never the basis for a business or
> collections decision.

> I would like to see her running again
> someday on anthracite pulling a rack of
> Reading clerestory roofed coaches through
> eastern PA, or properly conserved under roof
> by whatever entity ends up having the
> resources and programming to make it happen.
> Until then it is another priority waiting
> for resources or a responsible disposition,
> in the care of highly capable owners.

> Dave

It's fascinating to speculate on RDG #2101 at 60 mph on a Main Line, with a 16 or so RDG coaches but the engine's been in a fire, and the B&O Museum doesn't have the cars or anyplace to run them.

Reading and Northern has the 2102 in their shop, has a string of ex-DL&W coaches and the track to run them. Their web site explains the status.

R&N Passenger

As a person who was a #2101 volunteer during the unbelieveable 30 some day rebuild for the freedom train and then the cosmetic job after the fire, I'd like to consider some facts not brought up to date. The roundhouse burned down around the loco, and all the coal in the tender went with it, tearing the tender side sheets apart. All wood was burned up in the cab, such as roof lining, window frames, etc. But the concern that kept all involved from considering attempting an operational rebuild was not knowing if the frame was warped by the intense heat. I never heard any mention of the boiler being a concern. There was no way to be sure that a test run, after spending the time and funds needed for a rebuld, would not reveal that the frame had been warped and the bearings would be out of line. This engine's main driver bearing were a frequent problem and misalignment of the frame would have just made them far worse. I suppose we could have stripped the loco down to the point that the frame could have been measured very carefully but the railroad and Ross decided that the risk was too great and the trade for #614 was made instead. We repaired the fire damage and repainted the engine for placement in the museum and work began on #614 while this was being finished. And today we still don't know if the status of the loco's frame, although it gave no problems during the tow to Hagerstown or Baltimore. Now, if you have a stray $250,000 or so to risk on a rebuild of this loco I'd like to talk to you about erecting some buildings to protect exhibits at the B&O Museum, Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, and a few other places. That's where the money needs to go, instead of letting a single loco suck it all up, along with the intense labor needed to keep that loco operational. Protect the many pieces of equipment that need shelter instead of spending a fortune on just one. Or some day they all will look like the one you are interested in.

Museum of Transportation
rdgoldfede@aol.com