I haven't found an official press release yet, but the B&O Railroad Museum just released a Facebook "reel" of Executive Director Kris Hoellen standing by the (well-rusted) "Great Seal" on the tender of their American Freedom Train 1 (ex-Reading 2101, later Chessie Steam Special 2101) announcing plans to restore the locomotive in time for the nation's 250th anniversary in 2026, sponsored in part by a "Saving America's Treasures" grant from the "Institute Museum and Library Studies" (sic), and soliciting additional private donations to the project.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/987032860139508

FYI, because I know it will be asked - I got the usual fundraising email from the B&O Museum asking for funds to "restore" the locomotive. Clicking on the "Donate Now" link brings up a PayPal page where it specifically says "Help to cosmetically restore the iconic..." etc etc. So this is not an operational restoration, cosmetic only.

While it would certainly be fun to see her under steam - it wouldn’t make lots of sense unless there was somewhere for her to run. With the AFT heritage she could probably make the occasional move over Amtrak rails like the 3751 does - something is better than nothing but in this case - cosmetic only certainly makes sense and is great news for a locomotive that was ignored for too long.

While I certainly wish the B&O would operate steam again (in general) - the cosmetic restorations they do are quite stunning and I’m sure she will look great when finished.

Which is why it’s a good thing that Reading 2100 will be dolled up as AFT 250 for a while…it can represent the #1 (in spirit and paint) for a while and be under steam to do so…

Whatever you're smoking or chewing has to still be illegal.

To get ANYWHERE out of the B&O Museum on railroad wheels involves CSX, notoriously hostile to the idea of even short movements on their rails by steam or "non-conforming" equipment in the 21st century. Then to get to Amtrak, which should be considered equally hostile in the case of the Northeast Corridor, would involve running either to Washington DC or through the now-being-rebuilt Howard Street Tunnel to Bayview, on the east side of Baltimore, and even there actual interchange between CSX and Amtrak is pretty convoluted. There used to be two moderately possible "short cut" connections between the railroads in western Baltimore (Fulton Junction to the ex-WM, and the Claremont Branch between Frederick Junction and Mt. Clare "A" Yard; both are completely unusable even to foot traffic now.

I don't want to say "never." Ross Rowland (who is reportedly still alive) supposedly got very far with his AFT pitches (as did a lot of major Bicentennial projects then) with the idea of "once in a lifetime" and "we're never going to be back asking you again, just this once....."

I have a scientific curiosity about what a detailed inspection would show about the results of the fire on the engine.

As to 2101, the boiler will be 100 years old this year (on a 2-8-0 built in 1925). Add the unknown effects of the fire to that.

As to CSX, they and NS will be towing 614 to East Strasburg this year, including AMTK Lancaster to Leaman Place.

As to 614. a respected operator wanted to run it on the NEC. AMTK measured it and it does not clear. 614 is a big engine. Reading T-1's are remarkably compact for 4-8-4's with the 2nd highest TE.

As to Ross Rowland, he regularly posts on rypn.com.

Phil Mulligan

Reports of my being " still alive" are true. I am SO GLAD that the B&O museum is FINALLY doing the long overdue cosmetic restoration of AFT 1. The awful condition they let her get to was shameful especially when you consider that she is undoubtedly the most photographed engine in their collection having pulled the AFT throughout the populous Norheastern USA in 1975-76.

It will be such a pleasure to see her looking great again.

Ross Rowland

I can still remember 2101 and sisters sitting at Striegels (sp?) in Baltimore in the early 1970's before it was restored for service on the Freedom train. There was a lot of retired
Pennsy E7's there too. A friend of mine from the Baltimore Streetcar Museum (John Engleman) took me and a couple of other friends on mine to see them. Somewhere John still has a picture of me in the cab.

Baltimore used to have other ways of interchanging cars with the then B&O. There used to be a crossing and interchange track from Pennsy's (later PC) yard at Mt. Vernon which crossed the B&O belt line between Mount Royal station and the bridge over Jones Falls (almost under the North Ave. Bridge). The exchange was removed i think in late PRR days and Mt. Vernon yard was removed when the MTA wanted it for light rail maintenance. This track ran to the Northbound freight track in front of Penn station which i think they never should have done for the parking lot and that God awful statue thats there now.

Another way before that was the interchange Pennsy had with the Ma & Pa. A switch off of "F" track North and West of Penn station went to the Ma & Pa. Closer to Ma 7 Pa''s round house was a track that went up the hill to B & O's belt line. The grade still exists. Going even further back in time the B & O used to run down Pratt St. and interchanged with the then PW & B (later PRR) at President St. station on the East side of downtown Baltimore. All this trackage is long gone although the headhouse of the station still exists.

Makes me wonder how they got GG1 4890 in and out and 4876 in to the museum.

Remember, Ed Striegel also saved B&O 4500 (1st USRA engine) and 5300 (President Washington). B&O had closed the Museun for financial reasons and needed the money. When C&O money became available, B&O bought them back and reopened the Museum with those two on display. They also ran RDG 2100 for a weekend of Iron Horse Days. Trips were Phila-Balto 1 RT, Balto-Wash several RT's.

Phil Mulligan

Historical accuracy says "Repaint it as Reading 2101".
Now here come the hail of bricks!

Explicit agreement says "Repaint it as AFT 1"

Then repaint into 2101, in 2030?

Per my 1979 agreement covering the exchange of the AFT 1 for the C&O 614 the B&O museum is obligated to maintain her in AFT colors.

End of debate.

Ross Rowland

Ross, there are other Reading T-1s painted for the Reading. I agree with you that they don't all have to look the same.