Reading T-1 no. 2100 Restoration - Legends of Steam Dinner with Gary Bensman! (11/9/22)

Hello everyone,

Progress on the 2100 has been phenomenal this summer! Let's take a look at what we've accomplished!

- Our contractors at Gemini Industries continue the process of welding our flexible and rigid staybolts into the firebox. To date, nearly 400 of them have been fully welded into place!

- Meanwhile, work is progressing in various other areas of the firebox project. Non-compliant staybolt sleeves on the outer wrapper and in the combustion chamber have been removed, and several are ready for welding. Additionally, the two new arch tubes have been made and are ready for installation.

- The 2100 felt a little bit lighter when she rolled back into her stall after a mid-June work session, when the sand dome was lifted off of the locomotive to facilitate ultrasound testing of the boiler. Testing has since been completed in this space.

- A careful inspection of the feedwater heater has commenced. The float has been inspected and tested, and various parts are in the process of being thoroughly cleaned.

- Of course, no steam locomotive is complete without its whistle, and we recently tested the 2100's Reading 6 Chime whistle on air! Take a listen in the video below!

Thank you for your support of Reading 2100 and American Steam Railroad.

That's an awesome whistle!!! The progress looks awesome!

Hey Nick, tell Rob Gardner  I said hi and thanks for the update

@BillYo414 posted:

That's an awesome whistle!!! The progress looks awesome!

The Reading T1s never carried that kind of whistle in regular service. They always had those typical Reading freight "peanut" whistles. Later Reading Iron Horse Rambles, different locomotives were fitted with a Reading G class passenger whistle.

Ah, so that's what you guys were up to on Saturday with the whistle.

Nick, thank you for the update and congratulations on the excellent continued progress.

@Hot Water posted:

The Reading T1s never carried that kind of whistle in regular service. They always had those typical Reading freight "peanut" whistles. Later Reading Iron Horse Rambles, different locomotives were fitted with a Reading G class passenger whistle.

Here is the 2102 sporting the authentic freight whistle. The opening shot has her blowing the chime whistle but in the shot departing Allentown and during the pacing sequences she is using the single note whistle. It does the job but it ain't pretty.

PS: This is my video. No copyright issues to worry about. I am YankInGa on Youtube.

@Nick Chillianis posted:

Here is the 2102 sporting the authentic freight whistle. The opening shot has her blowing the chime whistle but in the shot departing Allentown and during the pacing sequences she is using the single note whistle. It does the job but it ain't pretty.

PS: This is my video. No copyright issues to worry about. I am YankInGa on Youtube.

Thank you so much for sharing this video!  That just made my day.🙂

Thank you for these great updates on the 2100!

In an earlier post, there were two links given:  1) For the webpage of this rebuild  and 2) the webpage of the 2102 rebuild.

Neither one of these links are functioning today.   Could you be so kind to post both links here?

Thanks!

@Hot Water posted:

The Reading T1s never carried that kind of whistle in regular service. They always had those typical Reading freight "peanut" whistles. Later Reading Iron Horse Rambles, different locomotives were fitted with a Reading G class passenger whistle.

@Nick Chillianis posted:

Here is the 2102 sporting the authentic freight whistle. The opening shot has her blowing the chime whistle but in the shot departing Allentown and during the pacing sequences she is using the single note whistle. It does the job but it ain't pretty.

They could just about put a canned horn on there and I would be happy I come from a time and place where you're lucky to have swings on the swingset at the playground so I'll take a running steamer with incorrect whistle all day. Plus the original whistle in the video seems to have a distinctly automotive finish when it echoes back or maybe it's just me haha

@Allegheny posted:

Thank you for these great updates on the 2100!

In an earlier post, there were two links given:  1) For the webpage of this rebuild  and 2) the webpage of the 2102 rebuild.

Neither one of these links are functioning today.   Could you be so kind to post both links here?

Thanks!

Thank you for your interest!

To learn more about what is going on with the 2100, or to make a donation, visit fireup2100.org.

Updates on the 2102 can be found on the Reading & Northern Railroad's website under the tab, "2102 Updates".

Hello everyone,

This past weekend, American Steam Railroad hosted a fundraising banquet at the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum of Bellevue, Ohio, featuring none other than Doyle McCormack as our keynote speaker! Take a look at all we had to offer at this exciting event!

Doyle McCormack got hooked on steam in its twilight on the Nickel Plate Road, where his father worked as an operator and dispatcher out of Conneaut, Ohio. As he entered adulthood, he hired on as an engineer with the Norfolk & Western, which had absorbed the Nickel Plate, and it was then that he would find the perfect opportunity to become involved with preservation with the restoration of Nickel Plate no. 759 in Conneaut.

Since then, he has been a catalyst behind the revival of dozens of iconic locomotives, including Southern Pacific no. 4449, Nickel Plate Road no. 765, Spokane, Portland and Seattle no. 700 and many more! At 78 years old, he has accumulated countless priceless memories on the high iron, and he was able to share some of those memories with an engaged audience on Saturday, September 18.

Aside from sharing his railroading stories at our event, Mr. McCormack has also helped the restoration of Reading Company no. 2100 by getting us in touch with a vendor who supplied hundreds of copper gaskets for the locomotive's staybolt caps, which are currently in the process of being annealed. We would like to extend our greatest thanks to Doyle for his generous assistance to our project, and we hope to see him behind the throttle of the 2100 one day soon!

The backdrop for his exciting presentation was none other than a member of the Nickel Plate's famous fast freight haulers, Berkshire no. 757. Built in August of 1944, the 757 was originally to be preserved in Bellevue, but without a proper museum or display site available, the locomotive was donated to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania as their first acquisition, and was moved to Strasburg, Pa., in the mid-1960s.

With the elements slowly eating away at her, there she sat until 2017, when the Mad River & NKP Museum launched a fundraising campaign to bring the 757 back home to Bellevue and cosmetically restored for display. In 2019, the locomotive was moved over 500 miles back to Bellevue, and since then, a restoration shop has been erected and light cosmetic stabilization has taken place. Heavy restoration work is expected to begin soon.

At the event, guests could get up close and inspect the 757, tour the museum's one-of-a-kind collection, and take rides aboard historic Nickel Plate cabooses. Guests also had the opportunity to chat with Mr. McCormack about his life on the railroad, and there were plenty who took advantage of the opportunity. An O-Scale model train display was also featured, including a Lionel Legacy Nickel Plate no. 757 and an MTH Premiere Reading no. 2100. Dinner included a wide spread of barbeque meats, corn on the cob, sweets and treats and much more!

Before Mr. McCormack began his presentation, raffles were drawn! A few lucky guests won prizes including prints, merchandise and a custom-painted HO-scale Reading no. 2100! Remarks were also given by ASR President Rob Gardner and Mad River Vice President Dwayne Fuehring.

The instant Mr. McCormack began his presentation, the audience was hooked as he recounted riveting stories from his lifelong railroad career! He shared his experiences from the High Iron Company, the American Freedom Train, Train Festival 2009, building the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, reviving a rare ALCO Diesel, various excursions with the Daylight and countless others! An audience Q&A session concluded the evening, and there was no shortage of questions from those in attendance.

Once again, we would like to thank Doyle McCormack, the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum and all of our volunteers and caterers for their effort to make this event a real home run! We would also like to thank those that attended and those who donate every day for their support of Reading no. 2100 and American Steam Railroad. We couldn't do this without you!

I didn't read every word, but I did go to the RBM&N site.

Can we assume that the 2102 has operated in 2021?  Even Wikipedia doesn't know.  But very nice undated Youtube footage - thanks for that.

If so, is it the only operational Reading T1 at the moment?

@bob2 posted:

I didn't read every word, but I did go to the RBM&N site.

Can we assume that the 2102 has operated in 2021?  Even Wikipedia doesn't know.

It depends on how you define "operating". The engine is capable of steaming and has had a couple of stationary test fires, but she has not moved under her own power yet.

But very nice undated Youtube footage - thanks for that.

If so, is it the only operational Reading T1 at the moment?

Chances are the 2102 will be the first of the two under restoration out of the shop door. The 2100 will soon join her in service. With that being said, however, there is absolutely no race between the two projects. ASR and R&N frequently exchange advice and assistance, and we are both committed to performing quality restorations that would do right by the men and women who forged these magnificent machines into existence.

Thank you.  So the video above was done years ago, or is the locomotive just being towed with added sound effects?

@bob2 posted:

Thank you.  So the video above was done years ago, or is the locomotive just being towed with added sound effects?

If you are referencing the video embedded below, which was shared earlier in this thread, it was taken on one of the locomotive's mainline excursions for the BM&R back in 1987, and there she is fully operational. This year's test fires were the first time the locomotive has steamed since 1991.

Hello everyone,

The 2100 project has reached several major milestones over the past few months. Let's take a look at what we've accomplished!

- All welding inside the firebox is done! This includes the welding of the new inner side sheets, all 548 new staybolts, a patch on the center thermic syphon, two patches on the outer wrapper sheet, 9 new flexible staybolt sleeves, and the rolling and seal welding of the two new arch tubes. A big thanks goes to the volunteers and contractors who worked together to make this possible! Great job team!

- We're approaching a hydrostatic test, but what work remains to button up the boiler?

Before squeezing the boiler, we have to replace two more sleeves on the upper portion of the wrapper and install two threaded staybolts. We also have to replace 85 staybolt sleeves in the combustion chamber, which will require the removal of the massive no. 4 driver leaf springs. We expect these repairs to be completed over the winter. We also must reinstall all of the flexible staybolt caps, and we are currently in the process of preparing them to go back on. After that, we'll be ready to go! Stay tuned!

- Recently, we cracked the boiler to perform an inspection of the existing tubes and flues, in preparation for the 1472-day inspection. Our contractors have begun this inspection and we are currently awaiting an evaluation report.

- The Worthington Feedwater Heater components have been cleaned and inspected, and all have been found to be in good shape. The unit has been reassembled and is ready for the road!

- Ultrasound surveys continue to be performed. To date, over 90% of readings have been completed, with just a few hard-to-reach areas remaining.

- It's always "grate" to see partnership in preservation. As part of the Reading & Northern Railroad's project on sister engine no. 2102, all new grates were made for the locomotive, but the R&N steam team has generously donated the complete set of original grates to ASR! We would like to thank the team in Port Clinton for their generosity to our project. We have begun to disassemble the grates for cleaning and inspection, and along with the 2100's originals, we will use the best grates in service and keep the ones we don't use initially as spares.

- Speaking of the 2102, I recently paid a visit to the Reading & Northern's Steam Shops in Port Clinton, Pennsylvania to check out their progress. The veteran locomotive has completed a hydrostatic test and two stationary test fires, and is now on the home stretch of her restoration. I was very impressed with the quality of work and I can already tell they'll have a very reliable locomotive for years to come. Great work steam team!

Thanks again for your support of Reading 2100 and American Steam Railroad. Donate and learn more: fireup2100.org

Nick,

Thank you for the continuing updates on both of these amazing restorations.  With the news on the 1309 coming out as well I see a pilgrimage in my future.   Can you just imagine, Steamtown, Strasburg,  Reading and Northern, East Broad Top, Western Maryland Scenic, Cass, and then out to Ohio to see the 2100 and maybe Age of Steam Roundhouse.  Could be just epic.

It looks like its going to be another great restoration, can you imagine keeping track of all those parts... i have a hard time keeping track of model train parts... great job guys, cant wait to see her running again.

Hello everyone,

The new year is looking to be exciting for the 2100! Let's take a look at what we've accomplished over the past few months.

- All 444 flexible staybolt caps have been installed on the firebox! This major milestone represents the conclusion of the side sheet replacement project, and one step closer to conducting a hydrostatic test on the boiler, which we hope to do early this year. Thanks to all who have donated in big and small amounts for making this possible!

- There are still a few things to get done before we hydro, however. There are still a couple of staybolts in other areas of the firebox that need to be replaced, and we also need to correct outdated repairs to several staybolt sleeves in the combustion chamber, which will require the removal of the leaf springs from the no. 4 driver. Your donations will get us closer to completing these important projects!

- Additionally, the firebox outer wrapper below the running board and the sand dome space on the boiler have been cleaned and given a fresh coat of boiler protectant paint. We will eventually apply this to the entire boiler.

Matthew Bolyard photo

- In other news, American Steam Railroad is excited to debut a brand new website! This new and improved site features more information about our organization and equipment, a completely revised gift shop, hundreds of never-before-seen photos of the 2100 and the 1352, and for a limited time, a digital copy of our members-only newsletter, The Rambler! Take a look around, and make sure to contribute to our cause while you're there!

Thank you for your interest and support of Reading 2100 and American Steam Railroad. Donate and learn more: americansteamrailroad.org

Nick, thanks for post and congrats on fruitful 2021!  Here's hoping you can get to hydro test and reassembly soon🙂

How do you restore a large mainline steam locomotive in the 21st Century?

Check out the video below and take a closer look into the passion behind the Fire Up 2100 project.

Another full update is coming soon! Thanks again for your interest and support of Reading 2100 and American Steam Railroad.

Donate and learn more: americansteamrailroad.org

Hey Nick that was a great video. I look forward to your next update 🙂

Hello everyone,

We've started the new year on the right foot with the 2100! Here is a brief overview of some of our most recent progress.

- The boiler is nearly complete! We recently completed the welding of 85 new staybolt half-sleeves to the underside of the combustion chamber, new copper gaskets have been installed inside, and the staybolt caps have been torqued to a secure fit. It won't be long until we give the boiler a squeeze with a hydrostatic test!

- Many of the combustion chamber sleeves in need of replacement were located in a tight area between the boiler and the spring rigging, so back in January we removed the spring rigging from over the no. 4 driver. This opens up plenty of room below the boiler to perform these repairs in a safe environment.

- Our volunteers also recently cracked into the smokebox. To facilitate the removal of tubes and flues for the upcoming 1472-day boiler inspection, we will soon be removing the portion of the stack within the smokebox, known as the petticoat. The locomotive's previous boiler time came up for renewal in the summer of last year, and performing these inspections ensures that the boiler will be ready to go for another 15 years in steam!

- Another requirement of the 1472-day inspection is the ultrasonic thickness testing of the entire boiler and firebox. Our volunteers have been kept busy with these readings for quite some time, but we're finally coming down the home stretch! Brackets and appliances, such as the running boards and the power reverse, are being temporarily removed to facilitate the final few readings. We will soon enter the analysis phase, ensuring the entire boiler meets its federally required factor of safety.

- In other news, we've recently received a set of brand-new butterfly doors for the firebox. These doors were manufactured by our good friends at the Nashville Steam Preservation Society, caretakers of Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis steam locomotive no. 576. We'd like to give a huge shout out to Nashville Steam for producing these doors, which will be the linchpin of the 2100's return to burning coal. We look forward to seeing the 576 become a beacon for tourism in middle Tennessee, just as the 2100 will become for the regions she serves!

Make sure to check out our latest video update for a closer look into our progress — and if this one looks a bit different, that's because it's been produced by yours truly!

Thank you again for your support and interest of Reading 2100 and American Steam Railroad. We look forward to making great progress again in 2022!

Donate and learn more: americansteamrailroad.org

Hello everyone,

Long time, no update — but that doesn't mean work has stopped in Cleveland! Let's review the latest progress on the 2100.

- Our focus for the past several weeks has been the inspection and testing of the locomotive's superheater units. These units, which raise the temperature of the steam destined for the cylinders, must all be pulled from the boiler and subject to a thorough process of examination, ensuring that each unit is safe for the 2100's next career. As of this writing, 30 of the 50 units have been tested and passed, and we're looking forward to wrapping up this tedious task in the next month or two!

- On average, inspection and testing of a single unit takes our volunteers one hour. Check out our most recent video update for an in-depth look into this process!

- The smokebox has been a beehive of activity ahead of the 1472-day inspection. The petticoat, which funnels exhaust steam up out of the smoke stack, was removed back in April to facilitate the removal of the superheaters and eventually tubes and flues. The petticoat was modified for the locomotive's previous conversion to oil burning, so it will need further attention so that she drafts properly as a coal burner. Forrest Nace photo.

- Since the last post in this thread, many major milestones with the firebox have been met! Projected work on the firebox was completed in late March, and immediately after that, the boiler was put under pressure!

- First up was a low-pressure air and soap test, where the boiler was pressurized to 50 psi and watered-down soap was sprayed over the entire firebox. The formation of bubbles around rivets, staybolts and other welds indicated leaks, allowing us to easily catch problem areas before moving on to the next step. Forrest Nace photo.

- After the leaks identified from the air test were sealed, water was pumped into the boiler and allowed to set, exposing any remaining pinhole-sized leaks in need of sealing. This practice was once performed by the mighty Lima Locomotive Works on their new boilers!

- On April 29, the long-awaited day was upon us at last — the boiler's first hydrostatic test! This test did expose some additional leaks, but this is to be expected the first time the boiler is put under high pressure. Over the next several weeks, the observed leaks were dealt with in preparation for the second hydrostatic test. Speaking of which, that will be coming very soon, so stay tuned to our social media channels for more news on that!

- Once the firebox is watertight, the tubes and flues will be pulled from the boiler for an interior inspection — and you can help us fabricate replacement tubes through our new fundraiser! Starting now, you're able to pledge money to sponsor new tubes, either in one foot segments or in complete 20-foot tubes. Visit our gift shop online to find out more and make your sponsorship today!

- Elsewhere on the locomotive, various small projects are keeping our volunteers busy. The outer firebox wrapper and combustion chamber are receiving new coats of protective paint, as are sections of the running boards. Ultrasound thickness surveys continue in the tight confines between the boiler and the frame. To facilitate the last few readings, additional brackets are being removed from the locomotive to access the boiler shell underneath. The tender was also moved alongside the roundhouse in preparation for further work later this year.

- There are countless ways you can support efforts on the 2100, but one of them could win you $21,000! Our latest 50/50 raffle is underway — half of the proceeds go to the winner, while the other half supports the 2100 and other ASR projects. Find out more here!

- And of course, how could we forget about all that's been going on back east? Since April, the 2100's sister engine, no. 2102, has been rambling again on the Reading & Northern, a Pennsylvania regional railroad which uses original anthracite tracks! Early that month, the locomotive was broken in on caboose hops to various locations on the system, and late April saw the locomotive take on the challenge of a 50-car hopper jet from Reading to Jim Thorpe. Since Memorial Day Weekend, the 2102 has led two Iron Horse Rambles between those two towns, and the third, coming up in just a few weeks, will feature the '02 doubleheading with the R&N's iconic no. 425! American Steam Railroad extends its congratulations to the Reading & Northern steam department for this remarkable achievement, and we look forward to joining our sister engine in steam one day soon! Jake Stockmal / Business Car 10 Productions photo.

Once again, thank you for your support of Reading 2100 and American Steam Railroad. Donate and learn more: americansteamrailroad.org

Have you ever daydreamed about the experience of a doubleheaded Iron Horse Ramble? Wondering what sights, sounds and smells defined these trips?

Last weekend on the Reading & Northern Railroad, a new generation of railfans found the answer! Owner Andy Muller's 75th birthday present to himself was an extravagant doubleheader of his freshly-restored Reading T-1 no. 2102 and his fan-favorite Pacific no. 425 on a sold-out Ramble! Check out this video to see what the experience was like.

Wow, that's awesome!

Ahh yes, a steam locomotive actually doing some work. Good stuff!

Thanks to all those who donated and/or were involved with bringing this engine back to life.

@RickO posted:

Ahh yes, a steam locomotive actually doing some work. Good stuff!

Thanks to all those who donated and/or were involved with bringing this engine back to life.

To be clear, both #425 and #2102 are owned, maintained/overhauled by Andy Muller of the Reading & Northern Railroad, i.e. "donations" were not involved as with the #2100.

@Hot Water posted:

To be clear, both #425 and #2102 are owned, maintained/overhauled by Andy Muller of the Reading & Northern Railroad, i.e. "donations" were not involved as with the #2100.

I stand corrected. Great work nonetheless!

Hello everyone,

Work has not slowed down on the 2100 as we dive into the next phase of the restoration! Read on for a recap of what we've been up to:

- On July 30th, the 2100's boiler was put to the test once again! Following up on a preliminary test performed in April, we conduced a second hydrostatic test on this day to check the integrity of recent major work to the firebox. After building pressure to the full FRA-required 300 PSI, we were pleased to find that our repairs held up quite well, with just a few minor leaks to tend to. With our contractor's approval, we've finally concluded the firebox project!

- Since the last update in this thread, our volunteers have been laser-focused on preparing the locomotive's boiler tubes for removal — all 291 of them! First, the seal weld on the rear tube sheet is removed with a specialized cutting tool, and once this is done, the remaining weld is ground flat with a grinder. Then in the smokebox, the beaded end of the tube is torched away, and a final slice with a torch on either end breaks the tube free. The first of these has already been pulled from the boiler!

- The boiler is also equipped with 50 flues, which are larger in diameter than the tubes and have the superheater units suspended inside. The hot exhaust gases inside these flues are what heat the superheater steam to a higher temperature before it is sent to the cylinders. Unlike the tubes, not all of the flues need to be removed for the boiler inspection — but why is that? Take a look at our most recent video update for an close-up overview with Crew Chief Gordon Hartschuh!

- If you haven't made your sponsorship for a new tube yet, it's not to late to contribute! We still have $16,000 left to go before placing an order — we're counting on you to get our steam engine steaming again! Visit our gift store to find out more and become a sponsor.

- Various other projects have been on our radar as well! Now that the end is in sight with our ultrasound of the boiler, our volunteers labor away to remove the large air reservoir brackets from the sides of the boiler for thickness readings underneath. The underside of the locomotive's sand dome has been mediablasted and given three coats of high-temperature paint, and with the sand dome space on the boiler also coated with paint, the dome is ready to be reinstalled on the boiler. Wrapping up work in the firebox, volunteers have finished smoothing the edges of the newly-welded staybolt ends on the inside sheet to mitigate cinder erosion. Brian J. Smith photo

- Have you ever daydreamed about working on the railroad? Are you fascinated with the industrial history of America? Or are you just plain curious as to how a steam locomotive works? If this sounds like you, we invite you to volunteer with us at American Steam Railroad! Our team comes from every background and skillset imaginable, from airline pilots, to military veterans, to computer technicians, to firefighters, and everyone else who loves steam railroading — and we could use help from you! No prior railroading experience is required, just a willingness to help and a good-standing ASR membership. Visit us online to find out how you can join!

Thank you for your continued support of Reading 2100 and American Steam Railroad!

Donate and learn more: americansteamrailroad.org

American Steam Railroad is excited to announce the next speaker in our Legends of Steam fundraiser series: Gary Bensman!

Gary's career in steam railroading spans nearly half a century. He's been involved in the operations of Nickel Plate Road no. 765 ever since the earliest days of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, and you can still regularly see him firing and running the engine today. In the early 1980's, he founded the steam contracting firm Diversified Rail Services, and since then he's had a hand in dozens of rebuilds for locomotives big and small — including our own no. 2100 during the restoration by Richard Kughn! His latest accomplishment with Diversified is the reactivation of Western Maryland Scenic's massive Mallet no. 1309, which at over $3 million is the most costly steam restoration ever undertaken by a non-profit.

We hope you can join us on Saturday, January 14, for this one-of-a-kind event!

Doors open to the Midwest Railway Preservation Society's roundhouse in Cleveland, Ohio at 2:00 p.m., and guests can tour this historic site and get up close to the 2100 to inspect the work that we're doing. ASR officers and volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions about the rebuild, or just to have a quick chat! Several other pieces of equipment will also be on display, most notably former Grand Trunk Western steam locomotive no. 4070 under rebuild by Midwest — and Gary was involved with that engine, too!

At around 4:30 p.m., we'll be moving down to the Holiday Inn in Independence, Ohio, for a four-course catered dinner, followed by a presentation by the man himself! Gary will be discussing his adventures with the 765, 1309, 2100 and other locomotives, and telling captivating stories that have never been told before and might not be told again! To conclude the evening, you'll get to ask Gary your questions in an audience Q&A session.

All proceeds from ticket sales will directly benefit American Steam Railroad and the restoration of Reading Company T-1 no. 2100. Tickets for this event are $95 per person, and space is extremely limited! Click here to get your tickets before they're gone!

Thank you for your continued support of Reading 2100 and American Steam Railroad!

Gary is a GREAT story-teller! And he's got a lot of stories to tell.

Everyone attending this gathering is sure to have a great time.