BALTIMORE — The B&O Railroad Museum is beginning its full cosmetic restoration of American Freedom Train No. 1, the former Reading Co. 4-8-4 that pulled the train celebrating America’s Bicentennial, and expects to complete the work this year, in time to mark the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026.
The museum had first announced plans for the restoration last fall when it moved the locomotive from its long-time display location in the museum’s front parking lot to the facility’s restoration shop [see “B&O Railroad Museum schedules move …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 19, 2024].
One of three steam locomotives that powered the Freedom Train on its tour of the nation in 1975 and 1976, No. 1 — originally Reading No. 2101 — is the only one of the engines that remains in its Freedom Train paint scheme. Damage in a 1979 roundhouse fire in Silver Grove, Ky., ended its operational career.
“The AFT No. 1 is a symbol of patriotism and unity and captured the hearts and minds of millions of Americans during its nationwide tour,” Kris Hoellen, the museum’s executive director, said in a press release. “We are proud to bring this icon of American history back to its former glory and to contribute to the America 250 celebration.”
The restoration is supported by a Federal Save America’s Treasures grant, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The locomotive was built by Baldwin in 1923 as a 2-8-0, but rebuilt to a Class T-1 4-8-4 in 1945 in Reading’s shops, in collaboration with engineers from Baldwin and General Steel Casings Corp. Sold for scrap in 1967, No. 2101 and sister locomotive 2100 sat in a scrapyard until they were purchased by Ross Rowland in 1975, with No. 2101 restored for the Freedom Train service it shared with Southern Pacific 4-8-4 No. 4449 and Texas & Pacific 2-10-4 No. 610.
The Freedom Train’s 21-month from April 1, 1975 to Dec. 31, 1976 included display stops in 138 cities in the 48 contiguous states, carrying historic artifacts ranging from George Washington’s copy of the Constitution to a NASA lunar rover. No. 2100 also survives and is currently being restored for operation as Freedom Train No. 250 by the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association in Cleveland.
— Updated Jan. 23 at 8:15 a.m. with correct information on the other American Freedom Train locomotives.
The third Freedom Train engine was ex-Texas & Pacific 2-10-4 number 610. After Freedom Train use it served in Southern Railway’s steam excursion program. It is now back in Texas stored at the Texas State Railroad.
After the roundhouse fire, Chessie traded ex-C&O 4-8-4 number 614 for AFT No 1. Rowland overhauled 614 in the Hagerstown roundhouse. It then served to power the Chessie Safety Express train.
Thanks, that has been corrected.