Reading T-1 no. 2100 Restoration - Legends of Steam Dinner with Gary Bensman! (11/9/22)

TrainMan1225 posted:

Just looking for information about the 2 Reading T1s under restoration (2100, 2102) like restoration progress, plans, and when the restoration is expected to be completed. I'd especially like to hear information about 2100's restoration since I live about an hour south of that one. Anything helpful!

Concerning the 2100, you might try their website for up-dates. I can't remember their website, so you will have to Google it. Edit:  try www.americansteamrailroad.org for information about 2100

The 2102 is owned by the Blue Mountain & Reading RR, and their people have been quietly working on 2102, between their normal motive power mechanical responsibilities. They naturally don't release much information as they are a very busy railroad, plus they have their Pacific steam locomotive to maintain and operate.

Didn't see anyone else post this but here's the video for the 2100 summer update.

superwarp1 posted:

Didn't see anyone else post this but here's the video for the 2100 summer update.

I saw that a few days ago. I was expecting it to be something big, but it turns out they just turned 2100 around to perform work on the side sheets.

UPDATE: I will be seeing the 2100 at the Midwest Railway Preservation Society's open house on Sept 8th. I'll share pics and information as soon as I can.

American Steam Railways just sent out an update on their progress.  You can sign up for newsletters on their website.  Hope to see you at the Midwest open house.

Pete S

Here’s the updates from the Midwest Railway Preservation Society’s open house! Seeing 2100, Grand Trunk 4070, and all of the other pieces of equipment in the historic roundhouse was amazing. Here’s all the information I could gather about 2100’s restoration:

- The group is looking to hydro in Spring 2019 or sooner, if money allows

- The group wants the 2100 to be fully operable in Fall 2019, but the cost to finish the restoration is $255,000.

- Should everything go to plan, you will see 2100 running excursions starting in 2020, after all test runs with her are completed and all kinks worked out.

- While at one point they were looking for 3,000 people to donate $21.00/month, they are now looking for 975.

- The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has offered to let ASR test run 2100 on their line, and later participate in their annual “Steam in the Valley” event.

Pics below:

Bringing back an older thread of mine here, but it looks like we have somewhat of a status update on Reading T1 no. 2102! These photos were posted to the Facebook page "Fans of the Reading T-1", and seem to show the 2102's firebox and front tube sheet in particular. This is only a handful of the photos posted.

(Photos removed to comply with TOS. Consult "Fans of the Reading T-1" on Facebook to see photos.)

Additionally, this was posted to the Facebook page "Reading & Northern Railfans". This is from a recent Trains Magazine catalog. I find the photo of the 2102 next to Pacific no. 425 particularly exciting. However, I would take the text highlighted in red with a grain of salt, as Andy has been saying this for years now, and the locomotive is still not finished.

(Photos removed to comply with TOS. Consult "Reading & Northern Railfans" on Facebook to see photos. Highlighted text said Muller would like to have the engine on the road this year.)

Now, lets shift our focus on to sister no. 2100. I recently became a member of the American Steam Railroad and had my first work session just yesterday. Within the past 6 months or so, we lifted the newly fabricated inner side sheets into the firebox, welded these to the old plates, drilled out all of the staybolt holes, and riveted the sheets to the mudring, among many other projects. For our work session yesterday, we did something quite noticeable...as in we put the bell and bracket back onto the smokebox.

Other work included putting some of the ashpan brackets back on, and cleaning and painting of some of the stoker parts. We still need to raise $245,000 to complete the restoration, and $24,000 to complete the firebox project, which would allow us to do a hydrostatic test. Every little donation helps.

Finally, to answer your first question before it's asked, if possible, we would be more than happy to partner up with the Reading & Northern to get the two T1s back together again. That would be the first time since 1975 that two Reading T1s were together, and the first time since 1964 that two were steaming together...hard to believe!

2102 photos were posted 4/20, looks like a lot of heavy rebuilding which confirms my thoughts that this engine was really beat.
I added my photos of 2102 from April 2017.

Borden Tunnel posted:

2102 photos were posted 4/20, looks like a lot of heavy rebuilding which confirms my thoughts that this engine was really beat.

I figured that too. I believe the last time the 2102 had any major work was during the time she spent on the Reading. Check out this video from 1991. I wouldn't be able to tell any boiler problems just by watching, but the rods seem to exhibit a lot of clanking, so I think those will need to be re-machined if they haven't been already.

I found this issue of TRAINS and in the article along with this great cover shot, David P. Morgan writes that the 2102 had to be rebuilt in 1974-75 by Steam Tours, Inc. of Akron,OH.
He describes his trip around Horseshoe in Oct. 1976 in the usual DPM style, even quoting Scripture.
It must have been something to hear this hog pull an SD45 and 20 cars around the curve.
2102's flue time ran out in 1991, and was stored in several places before R&N's steam shop was built.

TrainMan1225 posted:

Borden Tunnel posted:

2102 photos were posted 4/20, looks like a lot of heavy rebuilding which confirms my thoughts that this engine was really beat.

I figured that too. I believe the last time the 2102 had any major work was during the time she spent on the Reading. Check out this video from 1991. I wouldn't be able to tell any boiler problems just by watching, but the rods seem to exhibit a lot of clanking, so I think those will need to be re-machined if they haven't been already.

"Clanking rods" are not necessarily a sign of wear, especially if you hear them when the locomotive is just  drifting.  The last thing you want is no noise, because that would mean they are too tight and the bearings would overheat.  Roller bearings, yes, they should be quiet, but not plain bearings.  

A certain individual had new bearings made with tighter specs than the factory for a certain locomotive. It did not work out at all, what a surprise.

Also, a little "slop" is good for going around tight curviture.

Rich, Jack, and others can give you much more information.

Hello everybody,

Here with an update on no. 2100. We have accomplished quite a bit these past two work sessions. Last week, we painted the front of the engine black. Now she looks the best she has in years! Other work included the installation of the new wooden pilot steps.

This is essentially how the engine will look when it’s done. The paint scheme we’ll start out with is basically Reading Freight Black, but occasionally we’ll paint her up in special schemes (Iron Horse Rambles, for example).

During today’s work session, we worked to remove the “Ferroequus” lettering from the tender. It was a hot day outside, so thank God the tender was inside for today!

Here’s what we started out with...

And here’s what we had at the end of the day.

The lettering was basically industrial-grade reflective tape rather than paint, so many volunteers essentially spent the whole day on a ladder scraping away!

As far as 2102 goes, my understanding is that they just put the flues back in. The engine was pretty beat, so they’ve been doing very intensive work, including replacement of one (or both) of the flue sheets. It seems they’ve replaced the same section of the firebox that we have by looking at photos.

Regardless, they’ll have a very reliable locomotive when they’re done!

We rode behind 2100&2124 October 1960 on a Reading Ramble!

Thank you all so much for your ongoing work restoring 2100 and 2102!

My pic

Can’t wait to have TWO steaming Reading T1’s within the next few years! How much is needed to complete 2100?

NS6770Fan posted:

Can’t wait to have TWO steaming Reading T1’s within the next few years! How much is needed to complete 2100?

$245,000 to completely finish the engine. $24,000 more and we'll be doing a hydrostatic test!

Hi everyone,

Thank you all for your nice comments. We should have another update to bring you this weekend!

TrainMan1225 posted:

Hi everyone,

Thank you all for your nice comments. We should have another update to bring you this weekend!

Cool! Thanks for the update Nick... can't wait to ride this Beautiful T-1. I trode the #2102 back in the late 80s and loved it... #2100 is going to be such a cool ride!

David

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the long wait on an update, but here we are! First off, I’m sure you have seen our past two video updates showing the progress on 2100’s restoration.

But here, I’m showing you work that hasn’t been seen yet in these updates. In the August work session I attended, we did not pay much attention to the 2100. Instead, we helped out our friends at the Midwest Railway Preservation Society with track work that needed to be done before an open house the following weekend.

Needless to say, it was quite an experience. Not everyone can say they helped lay railroad track for a day! We were able to get 75% of the job completed that day, with the rest done during the week.

The September work session I attended was extremely productive. Work included removal of the brackets that once held the oil bunker in place, removal of rust on the eccentric rods, and hooking up the bell to air and testing it!

Are you looking for a way to support Reading 2100? Consider buying a ticket to our open house and banquet with a legend of steam as the keynote speaker: Ross Rowland! This will be held on Saturday, September 21, and seating is limited! The doors open at 2:00, and at 3:00 train rides will begin with a 69-year-old ALCO RS-3, and a vintage Pullman car that was featured in the movie, “The Natural”, starring Robert Redford.

At 4:30, dinner will be served, provided by the famous Ohio City BBQ. At 5:30, Ross will begin a photo and video presentation about his experiences with operating Reading T1s on the American Freedom Train, High Iron Co. excursions, and Chessie Steam Special, among others. Following this presentation, a night photoshoot will begin, featuring special lighting and smoke effects to make 2100 appear like she is actually under steam!

Other attractions include live steam models of a Chesapeake and Ohio T1 2-10-4 and a Reading G1 4-6-2, and a LEGO model of a Reading T1 4-8-4. Tickets are $99 and can be purchased at www.fireup2100.org. I hope to see you there!

     Midwest volunteers will also be on site to show and answer questions about the roundhouse and  equipment on site. Hope to meet some fellow forumites then.