N 4-8-4 T1 Locomotive, Independence Day And Sounds, Paragon 4

Introduction

The new T-1’s entered service between 1945 and 1947 and were used primarily in fast freight service. Their operating territory included most of the Reading system, and they were also used in pool service with the Western Maryland Railway. The first 20 units were equipped for freight service. The last 10 were equipped for passenger service, but still primarily used for freight service.

The Reading T-1’s did not last long in service. All 30 were in storage by 1954, with a few returning briefly in 1955 due to a surge in traffic. Most were sold or permanently retired and scrapped by 1958. The Reading Railroad kept four of the T-1’s for an excursion service that they called the Iron Horse Rambles. The plans were for 2100 and 2124 to pull the excursion trains, and they would keep 2101 as a back-up and 2123 as a source of parts. 2123 was scrapped in 1966, and 2124 was replaced by the recently purchased 2102 in 1962. The Iron Horse Ramble excursions last until 1964, and the remaining locomotives were sold in 1965.

The four T-1’s used in the Iron Horse Rambles still survive today. 2101 was famously restored and used to pull the American Freedom Train in the mid-1970’s. It was then repainted into the Chessie System livery in 1977 to pull the Chessie Steam Special, an excursion train running to celebrate the 150th birthday of the B&O Railroad. 2102 ran various fan trips for several decades, and is currently owned by the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad and is occasionally brought outside for display. 2124 is currently on display at Steamtown USA in Scranton, PA.

Features

Overview

In 2022, Broadway Limited is building the first production of Reading T-1 4-8-4 steam locomotives in N scale. They are building three in-service Reading models and three “Iron Horse Ramble” models. They are offering 2101 in the Chessie Steam Special livery and also its later Reading and Northern paint scheme. They are also offering one model in the 1976 American Freedom Train paint, and one model decorated like the Delaware and Hudson #302 locomotive. Finally, they are offering two fantasy paint schemes: one with a unique Christmas theme and a second with a United States Independence Day theme. The two fantasy models will have unique soundsets, and the others will have prototypically accurate Reading T1 Northern sounds.