Reading 2124

Reading 2124 is a preserved American class "T-1" 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive that was built by the Reading Company in January 1947 using parts from "I-10sa" class 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type locomotive number 2044, which was originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1924.

Reading 2124
Reading No. 2124 on static display at Steamtown National Historic Site.
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 58329 Build date 1924 (As Class I10sa 2-8-0 Consolidation #2044) Rebuilder Reading Company Rebuild date January 1947 (Rebuilt as : T1 4-8-4 Northern 2124)
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte New: 2-8-0, Rebuilt: 4-8-4 Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 70 in (1,778 mm) Length 110 ft 6 in (33.68 m) Adhesive weight 278,200 lb (126.2 tonnes) Loco weight 441,300 lb (200.2 tonnes) Total weight 809,000 lb (367.0 tonnes) Fuel type Anthracite coal Fuel capacity 52,000 lb (23.6 tonnes) Water cap 19,000 US gallons (72,000 l; 16,000 imp gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 94.5 sq ft (8.78 m^2) Boiler pressure 240 lbf/in^2 (1.65 MPa) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 27 in × 32 in (686 mm × 813 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort Loco: 67,984 lbf (302.4 kN), Booster 11,100 lbf (49.4 kN)
Career Operators Reading Company Class New: I-10sa Rebuilt: T-1 Number in class 24 out of 30 Numbers RDG 2124 Retired 1956 (revenue service) 1963 (excursion service) Restored October 1959 2019 (cosmetically) Current owner Steamtown National Historic Site Disposition On static display, based in Scranton, Pennsylvania

History

The locomotive that became 2124 was originally built as Reading Company class "I-10sa" 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type locomotive number 2044 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1924.[1] Starting in 1945, Reading began building a new class of 4-8-4 "Northern" type locomotives using the boilers and fireboxes from the I-10sas, designating these new locomotive the T-1 class. 2044 underwent this rebuild in late 1946 and emerged in January 1947 as the number 2124.

For the majority of its working life, the 2124 was used on freight trains, primarily coal trains throughout various parts of the Reading's network before being retired from active service in 1956.

The 2124 was brought back into service in October 1959 to pull a series of railfan excursions known as the "Iron Horse Rambles." In December 1959, shortly after the beginning of the Iron Horse Rambles, 2124 was filmed at the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal for the Mark Robson film, From the Terrace.[2] In 1963, 2124's flue time ran out and it was retired from active service and was sold to locomotive collector and owner of Blount Seafood, F. Nelson Blount for his Steamtown, USA, museum in North Walpole, New Hampshire, later relocated across the Connecticut River to Bellows Falls, Vermont.

The 2124 was displayed in Vermont until Steamtown moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania, during the winter of 1983–84. In 1986, Steamtown was taken over by the National Park Service and became Steamtown National Historic Site. 2124 was placed on display near the entrance to the park and was one of the first things visitors would see upon entering the park. In 2010, the 2124 was removed from its longtime display spot and moved into Steamtown's back-shops in order to have its asbestos insulation removed. The 2124 also received a cosmetic restoration in 2019 and was returned to the parking lot display track.

References

1. Duley, Richard; Llanso, Steve. "Philadelphia & Reading 4-8-4 "Northern" Type Locomotives". SteamLocomotive.com.
2. "Reading Company No. 2124". United States National Park Service. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011.