American Freedom Train #1, formerly Reading 2101 and Chessie #2101, will be moved from its current location at the B&O Railroad Museum to the museum’s restoration facility as the museum begins an effort to restore the locomotive in time for America’s 250th birthday in 2026 and the 200th anniversary of the Baltimore and Ohio in 2027.
The locomotive has been on static display at the museum in Baltimore since 1979. It was moved to Maryland in that year after being damaged in a roundhouse fire. It was traded to the museum in exchange for Chesapeake and Ohio #614.
Originally built for the Reading as 2-8-0 #2037 in 1923, the locomotive was rebuilt to a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement in 1945 as part of a larger program that saw 30 total 2-8-0s converted to 4-8-4s between 1945 and 1947.
Prior to the fire, 2101 toured the eastern part of the country pulling the American Freedom Train, which was a special train organized as effectively a rolling museum of American history that toured the country from 1975 through 1976 behind AFT 1, Southern Pacific #4449, and Texas & Pacific #610.
Perhaps the most notable, certainly the fastest, example of steam restoration, 2101 returned to steam just 30 days after restoration efforts began. The undertaking by the folks in Baltimore will likely take a little longer.
This is not the first time the 2101 has been part of a B&O celebration, with the locomotive touring the Chessie System Railroads in 1978 commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Baltimore and Ohio.
The movement of the locomotive to the restoration facility will take place Saturday October 21, 2023 at 10am and the public is encouraged to attend.
Feature image is courtesy of the B&O Railroad Museum