Reading RR 4-8-4 No. 2101
Baltimore, Maryland, United States 		Location: B&O RR Museum
Status: Cosmetic Restoration
Related Notes
Photo Copyright © Jeff Terry
Here are the notes for Reading RR No. 2101, a 4-8-4 located in Baltimore, MD. If you have additional information about this locomotive, and would like to share it, click the Add Note button.
Posted: Oct 30, 2023 @ 23:10:30 by Tyler Fenderson
As of October 2023 it was announced publicly that the B&O Railroad Museum is cosmetically restoring the American Freedom Train 1. This locomotive is long overdue
Posted: May 30, 2020 @ 01:05:48 by Bad Randy
Please help us lovers of steam that do not know enough about it to understand how an engine made of metal that must be periodically replaced from wear and tear can be so damaged by a fire to be beyond repair? I ask it that way because my understanding is even engines that have sat outside in the weather and have had serious vandalism and weather damage done are still able to be restored. Thank you
Posted: Apr 29, 2008 @ 19:04:40 by Brady
The whistle on the 2101 during the Chessie Steam Special was custom made for the Chessie System to hit the same notes as their locomotive horns. After the fire, it was put on the C&O 614, however it sounded different, since even though the 2101 was superheated, the whistle was on the rear end of the boiler and the steam going to it was not superheated. On the 614, the whistle is on the front end of the boiler and the steam is superheated going to the whistle. The whistle had also gone through a very hot fire which may have changed it a bit. It sounded great on both engines, but in my opinion it sounded better on the 2101 as it was deeper.
Posted: Apr 20, 2008 @ 16:04:47 by Brady
The 2101 was built in 1945 by the Reading Railroad for freight service. Retired in the late 1950's it was saved for possible use on the Readings Iron Horse Rambles with other T-1's. 2101 was never used on these trips and was sold to a scrap dealer in Baltimore. The dealer never cut it up though and in 1975 Ross Rowland bought it for use on his American Freedom Train along with Southern Pacific 4449 and Texas & Pacific 610. Repainted red, white & blue the renumberd 2101 was now the #1 for this 1975 & 1976 outing. In 1977 The Chessie System and Ross Rowland teamed to run some excursions celebrating 150 years of American Railroading called the Chessie Steam Special. With its original number again 2101 was painted red, yellow and blue. The train was run again in 1978 and put on another great show. At the end of the 1978 season, 2101 was stored in the roundhouse at Silver Grove, Kentucky. On March 6th 1979, the roundhouse caught fire, burned to the ground, and badly damaged the 2101. The 2101 was cosmetically restored as American Freedom Train #1, and traded to the B&O Museum in Baltimore for the Chesapeake & Ohio 614. 2101 will never run again but will never be forgotten even after thirty years
Posted: Nov 19, 2006 @ 17:11:38 by MP
This engine is outside and in awful(I mean awful) condition.
Posted: Sep 16, 2004 @ 14:09:55 by Mitch Brown
After having been damaged beyond repair in the Kentucky (not Hagerstown) roundhouse fire, 2101 was cosmetically restored to its American Freedom Train #1 colors and has been displayed at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore ever since. 
Posted: Aug 23, 2004 @ 13:08:16 by James

WHile being used on Chessie System excursions it was stored in the roundhouse in HAgerstown(?) and a fire broke out and kind of destoryed the engine.

The B&O museum traded C&O 4-8-4 614 for the 2101.

Posted: Jul 13, 2004 @ 11:07:30 by craig
#2101 was built by reading shops 1945. in 1975 - 1977 it pulled the American Freedom Train as #1 along with SP 4449 and T&P 610. In 1977 - 1978 it pulled the Chessie Steaam Specail as #2101. In 1978 it was sold to the B&O railroad museum in Baltimore, Maryland witch makes a static display today.