By Railfan & Railroad Staff
The Reading Company 4-8-4 currently being restored to operation in Cleveland, Ohio, will appear in American Freedom Train colors when it is complete, the group behind the effort announced Tuesday.
The American Steam Railroad Preservation Association has been working on restoring Reading 2100 since 2015. The group is hopeful that they will complete the restoration in late 2024 and that test runs will begin in early 2025. When the locomotive does enter service it will be painted like sister locomotive 2101 was in 1975 when it led the Freedom Train in the Northeast as AFT 1. Locomotive 2100, however, will carry the number 250, in honor of the United States’ pending birthday in 2026.
“Our initial plan was to debut the 2100 in the original black Reading freight scheme, and then apply the AFT scheme as we drew closer to 2026. However, with ASR working towards the goal of having the restoration completed by the end of 2024 and break in running occurring in the spring of 2025, it didn’t make sense to have the Reading scheme paint job applied for only one year, and then to completely redo it for America’s 250th Celebration in 2026,” said Rob Gardner, president of ASR.
Locomotives 2100 and 2101 were both saved from the scrap yard in the 1970s and then the latter was selected by Ross Rowland for the Freedom Train in 1975 and 1976. Parts from 2100 were used on its sister locomotive during that restoration. Later, when 2100 was being first restored in the 1980s, 2101 donated some parts to her sister.
“As the Founder and CEO of the American Freedom Train Foundation, I am very pleased that the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association has decided to have this magnificent steam locomotive carry the American Freedom Train paint scheme when she soon returns to service,” said Ross Rowland. “This will allow thousands to enjoy seeing her in the paint scheme carried throughout the nation in 1975-76 by her sister locomotive AFT 1 as it pulled the Freedom Train throughout the northeastern USA. Thank you American Steam Railroad, and here’s wishing you many miles of trouble-free steaming!”
If American Steam is successful in completing the restoration, there could be two American Freedom Train 4-8-4s in 2026; recently the B&O Railroad Museum announced it would be restoring Reading 2101 into its AFT 1 appearance.
American Steam officials say they need about $170,000 to finish the restoration next year. Donations can be mailed to the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association, 2800 W. 3rd St, Cleveland, OH 44113, or made online at www.americansteamrailroad.org.
