Chessie Steam Special Steam Locomotive 2101 was built in 1945 by the Reading Railroad in their shops using an older consolidation-type locomotive as its foundation. This new 4-8-4 was given the classification T-1 and was designed for heavy-duty freight and passenger service. 2101 was used by the railroad until 1955 and kept ready for excursion service until 1967 when it was finally retired. Image: Aaron W. Farmer |
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The locomotive was headed for the scrapper's torch when Ross Rowland purchased it for use on the American Freedom Train, the Nation's largest Bicentennial celebration in 1975-76. The locomotive is seen here in fresh CSS paint at White Marsh, MD on its "Press Run" from Philadelphia to Baltimore on 4/23/1977 with cars 1, 7, 8, 16, 17 & 18 in tow. Image: Chessie, courtesy of William F. Howes, Jr |
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The locomotive had a brass eagle above the headlight in the last half of its American Freedom Train journey in 1976. When the CSS began, there was no eagle, though it did make a return in 1978. Also, for a time, the cylinder jackets were black instead of blue with yellow outline. Image: August 1977 by Russell T. Sharp, courtesy of Laura Sharp and Bill Gwodz |
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26 TONS COAL.... Image: August 1977 by Russell T. Sharp, courtesy of Laura Sharp and Bill Gwodz |
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Just a nice shot of 2101 and Amtrak 724. Image: August 1977 by Russell T. Sharp, courtesy of Laura Sharp and Bill Gwodz |
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The locomotive was extensively overhauled in the off season (winter 1977-78) and returned for the second season in spring 1978. Seen here in April 1978. Image: Randall C Aldrich, courtesy of William F. Howes, Jr |
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April 1978. The overhaul of the locomotive was well chronicled in the book Revival of the 2101 by Stephen Hart. Image: Randall C Aldrich, courtesy of William F. Howes, Jr |
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Out-shopped at Reading, PA in April 1978. Image: William F. Howes, Jr |
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Looking good at the end of its second and last season. Taken at Huntington, WV. The second season saw the return of the brass eagle above the headlight from its American Freedom Train days. Image: Randall C Aldrich, courtesy of William F. Howes, Jr |
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The locomotive is seen here on Tour #52 of its second season (1978). Taken on a photo run-by at Thurmond, WV. Image: Randall C Aldrich, courtesy of William F. Howes, Jr |
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The special departs Pittsburgh, PA in its second season (1978). Image: Rich Genszler |
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The locomotive is seen here on Tour #34 of its second season (1978). Taken at B&O's Clark Avenue Yard at Cleveland, OH. Image: Randall C Aldrich, courtesy of William F. Howes, Jr |
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After the run of the AFT, the locomotive again faced an uncertain future when the opportunity arose to pull the Chessie Steam Special, which it did quite successfully in 1977-1978. After a roundhouse fire in 1979 ended its second life, the locomotive was cosmetically restored to American Freedom Train paint and resides today at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore. It's main tender was deemed too damaged to restore, so the one in AFT paint at the B&O was taken from T-1 2100. Ironically, the burned tender was eventually restored to operation (converted to oil) along with locomotive 2100. The pair led excursions from Tacoma, WA in 2006 and they now reside in Richland, WA. Image: Aaron W. Farmer |
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