The Reading built T-1's out of necessity and from older steam engines as new metal was difficult to get during WW2.
Lee Fritz
Not quite.
Before the T-1's, the Reading's last new steam locomotives were 10 huge 2-10-2's built by in 1932, Baldwin's first large order since the Great Depression had begun. They were copies of 11 locomotives rebuilt from plodding 2-8-8-2 Mallets in 1927 to haul freight trains faster.
Reading officials noted the advantages of EMD FT demonstrators around 1940, but World War II forced reliance on steam. Hence the final UP FEF-3's and Big Boys and B&O EM-1's. The Reading made do with locomotives on the roster.
In today's terms, the Reading qualifies as a regional railroad. It extended from Williamsport through Tamaqua and Reading to Philadelphia, and from Lurgan through Harrisburg to Reading, and from there to Allentown and Bethlehem. The "Dutch Line" jointly operated with the Western Maryland connected Lurgan and Hagerstown. Unlike the C&O, the N&W, the Nickel Plate, and other Class I roads, the Reading had no need for Super Power locomotives.
On January 1, 1942, E. P. Gangewere succeeded A. K. Galloway as Superintendent of Motive Power and Rolling Equipment (MP&RE). Soon after assuming office, he conducted a study of EMD FT diesels, 2-10-4 Texas types, and a high-speed 2-6-6-2. His recommendation led to the purchase of FT's. He advised that the Reading make do with existing steam locomotives and dieselize as quickly as possible after the war.
But in 1944, Revelle W. Brown, a former B&O engineer, replaced E. W. Sheer as President of the Reading. President Brown had a deep fondness for steam locomotives. He was responsible for rebuilding 20 (then 30) of the Reading's newest hulking I10sa 2-8-0's as T-1 4-8-4's (1945-1947) and 10 G3 4-6-2's (1948).
Nods to Lehigh Valley 4-8-4's ("Wyomings") were the class letter ("T") and the numbers (LV 5100 became RDG 2100, a nice fit after 2000-2049 assigned to I1-sa's).
The Reading was the only anthracite road to save some steamers. The T-1's were treated with respect. When railfans pleaded for steam-powered excursions in the late 1950's, the Reading had 3 serviceable T-1's on hand: 2124, 2100 and 2102.
