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Description
After WWII, the Reading Railroad Company needed a new strong engine for freight service, but no spare money could afford something new and brought into service.
So the company decided they would convert all thirty of their 2-8-0 Consolidations into Class 'T-1' 4-8-4 Northerns for about two years of work until the newly-redesigned locomotives were put to the test.
Successfully, these engines accomplished both freight and passenger service for eleven years until 1956.
At that time when steam was coming to an end, nearly every steam engine on the Reading Railroad was scrapped except for only five 4-8-4 Northerns that were kept from being sold as junk.
At the Reading Roundhouse, 'T-1' no. 2101 stood as a standby locomotive for the popular excursion run; the "Iron Horse Rambles" which lasted for seven more years before retirement plus the rising operational costs
and declining tracks had pulled the special fan trips into turmoil.
By the 1970's however, the 2101 was decorated and re-painted for the American Freedom Train special, where as yet also it was renumbered exactly to "1".
After the A.F.T. excursion, the 2101 was repainted once again for the accurate locomotive candidate of the Chessie System Steam Special in 1977.
This was arranged by the man responsible for the plan; Ross Rowland.
Unfortunately the Kentucky roundhouse was on fire, damaging the poor 2101 in 1979, thus changing plans to replace the locomotive with another 4-8-4 Northern from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad in 1981.
Ever since that event, Reading 2101 was decorated as the American Freedom Train Northern - this time before it was put on display at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum.
In the meantime, the 2101's original tender was swapped with its sister engine 2100.
After the next decade being sold from owner to owner, the 2100 made its final stand running on the Golden Pacific Scenic Railroad at Tacoma, Washington in 2007.
Years later in 2015, the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association bought the 2100 for a new career at the former B&O roundhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
Sister-engine no. 2102 was also under restoration a year later at Port Clinton, Pennsylvania until she was back under steam after 2020.
So now in the coming years to follow, 2100 will have her new career received while two of their sister locomotives remain on display in museums while 2123 deceased a few years back.
Additionally 2100 will once again be converted into burning gallons of oil, destined to be renumbered as 250 for the coming of the American nation's anniversary.
2102 on the other hand operates today on the Reading & Northern along with stablemate 425 for the railroad's "Iron Horse Rambles" as she accomplished these special runs long ago.

Models by: Steve Lerro - Manager of K&L Trainz in association with NV3/Auran/Trainz Simulator
Route by: Nick Ozorak (etozorak)

Description
After WWII, the Reading Railroad Company needed a new strong engine for freight service, but no spare money could afford something new and brought into service.
So the company decided they would convert all thirty of their 2-8-0 Consolidations into Class 'T-1' 4-8-4 Northerns for about two years of work until the newly-redesigned locomotives were put to the test.
Successfully, these engines accomplished both freight and passenger service for eleven years until 1956.
At that time when steam was coming to an end, nearly every steam engine on the Reading Railroad was scrapped except for only five 4-8-4 Northerns that were kept from being sold as junk.
At the Reading Roundhouse, 'T-1' no. 2101 stood as a standby locomotive for the popular excursion run; the "Iron Horse Rambles" which lasted for seven more years before retirement plus the rising operational costs
and declining tracks had pulled the special fan trips into turmoil.
By the 1970's however, the 2101 was decorated and re-painted for the American Freedom Train special, where as yet also it was renumbered exactly to "1".
After the A.F.T. excursion, the 2101 was repainted once again for the accurate locomotive candidate of the Chessie System Steam Special in 1977.
This was arranged by the man responsible for the plan; Ross Rowland.
Unfortunately the Kentucky roundhouse was on fire, damaging the poor 2101 in 1979, thus changing plans to replace the locomotive with another 4-8-4 Northern from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad in 1981.
Ever since that event, Reading 2101 was decorated as the American Freedom Train Northern - this time before it was put on display at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum.
In the meantime, the 2101's original tender was swapped with its sister engine 2100.
After the next decade being sold from owner to owner, the 2100 made its final stand running on the Golden Pacific Scenic Railroad at Tacoma, Washington in 2007.
Years later in 2015, the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association bought the 2100 for a new career at the former B&O roundhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
Sister-engine no. 2102 was also under restoration a year later at Port Clinton, Pennsylvania until she was back under steam after 2020.
So now in the coming years to follow, 2100 will have her new career received while two of their sister locomotives remain on display in museums while 2123 deceased a few years back.
Additionally 2100 will once again be converted into burning gallons of oil, destined to be renumbered as 250 for the coming of the American nation's anniversary.
2102 on the other hand operates today on the Reading & Northern along with stablemate 425 for the railroad's "Iron Horse Rambles" as she accomplished these special runs long ago.

Models by: Steve Lerro - Manager of K&L Trainz in association with NV3/Auran/Trainz Simulator
Route by: Nick Ozorak (etozorak)