Reading 2102 Restoration?

To me, the 2102 is a Northern in a universe of more impressive Northerns.

 

But if you put some dashes in the right spots, and make it a Reading 2-10-2, then I'd be more interested.  But there ain't any of them, so so much for that idea . . .

 

EdKing

All this time I thought it was your King Air.  I get to fly one occasionally - but my turbine days are essentially over.  Driving a steam engine?  I am jealous, but not jealous enough to spend a week in Ely.  I do have a 1.6" scale Pacific, and someday I will fire it up and take it around the pattern.

MY King Air? No way! I can't afford to OWN one of those things! I just get paid to fly 'em.

 

I fly four different King Airs for various owners. Two 90's and two 200's. It was BM&R owner Andy Muller who convinced Jerry Jacobson to purchase a King Air for the Ohio Central Railroad instead of a piston twin. I shall forever be grateful to Andy for that. Glad we bought the 90 instead of the Cessna 421 we also looked at.

 

And here in the United States we don't "drive" locomotives. We leave that to the Brits.  Here we "Run" locomotives.

 

Certainly did a good job of catching the wheel slip in the beginning!

 

Also noticed that one pop was lifted when he passed the camera.

There was an Ex Reading Company Steam locomotive engineer in her cab that day , The late Charlie Kachel and the Owner of the railroad Mr. Andrew J. Muller, Jr. who was operating the 02 for most of the whole trip exsept for some areas when Mr. Kachel was operting the 02.

Mr. Kachel worked for the Reading from 1942 through Conrail and retiring in 1987 . He then Volunteered with then the Blue Mountain and Reading now Reading Blue Mountain and Northern . Charlie past away in 1994 at age 78.

To see more information check out this page http://www.facebook.com/pages/...Club/116362381718927  .

Lenny, I'm not sure which video you are referring to, the one in Jim Thorpe in '87, or on the coal drag in 1991. I'm fairly sure you didn't mean the one of 2101 in Chessie colors.  I presume that was on the Sand Patch?

That video, posted above of 2101 on the Chessie Safety Express , may have also been on "17 Mile Grade". But, it is definitely NOT on the Blue Mountain & Reading RR.

Sorry Brian, I meant the Schuylkill Shifter .

I didn't realize there were two other video links posted.

 

Len.

 

Just looked at this again.  Are you all saying that a half mil will be enough to get this locomotive back on the road?

 

That is peanuts to the right crowd - a King Air engine overhaul is in the same vicinity.  Granted, it is not peanuts to most of us, but there are folks who drop that kind of money all the time.  A new Cirrus is over $600K, and is nothing more than a semi- fast four place single engine airplane.  They are selling like hotcakes to very normal looking people.

The question is not IF Andy can afford to overhaul 2102.  The question is if he wants it bad enough to write a big check.  *shrug*  In the end they're his toys and it's his money.

I would love to see one of the Reading T-1 steam engines restored!

There was some talk about restoring 2124 up in Steamtown but the money is not complete or something.

There are still four Reading T-1's remaining, in museums or in private collection, not sure what condition but at least three could be restored to running condition again, one of them would take some really hefty money as it was damaged in a fire.

 

Lee Fritz

Out of the 4, 2102 is the only one with a chance to run in the near future.  All the pieces are there: a place to run, a crew to run it, and a bank account deep enough to pay for it.  It's just a question of Andy wanting it.  2100 is being held in lien of Tom Payne's debts, and we'll be lucky if she isn't scrapped in place out of spite.  2124 was VERY worn out when retired, and is too big for Steamtown's turntable..  she's not going anywhere.  2101 had a fire on the outside instead of the inside,  and apparently that turned steel into pool noodles.  Quite frankly no one KNOWS if there is anything structurally wrong after the fire, but I suspect at this point deterioration caused by age would have matched any non-structural fire damage... but she's in a museum that can't even prioritize putting paint on her, so don't expect operation!

Right, we've been over all of this before.  

Yes, I was hoping to sum it up and preempt a rehash.

It should be noted that 2100 was heavily damaged when it was improperly converted to oil.  I don't think she will run coal or even oil again without a big time sponsor.  2102 is the last best hope.  If you want to see her in action be sure to support 425.  

 

I'm not sure that "damaged" is the correct word, but the oil conversion was not engineered well and she does not steam well.  Last I knew the grates were still laying on the ground at St. Thomas along with the whole stoker.   

No, damaged is correct.  Lots of issues with her firebox and siphons, metal fatigue from improper heat application.    

The word "damaged" is definitely correct! The last few times that 2100 was under steam, the water was running out of the firebox like a lawn sprinkler. Also, the coal grates are still in the firebox, and all Payne did was lay sheets of steel over the grates as part of his "oil burning conversion". The poor 2100 was one massive rolling FRA defect!