A second Reading T-1 will honor the American Freedom Train (AFT) via it’s paint scheme. American Steam Railroad Preservation Association, Inc. (ASR) has announced Reading T-1 no. 2100 will debut as AFT no. 250 when its operational restoration is complete.
The locomotive was originally going to wear a black Reading freight scheme upon debut and then be painted into the AFT scheme for 2026. Upon reviewing the completion timeline of the restoration and the work/cost needed to repaint the locomotive, ASR decided to skip the directly the AFT scheme.
The scheme will be representative of the paint worn by sister locomotive no. 2101 in 1976 when she toured with the American Freedom as no. 1. It was recently announced that 2101 was going to be cosmetically restored by the B&O Railroad Museum as AFT 1. No. 2101 will instead wear the number 250 to represent the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.
It is not known how long 2100 will be painted as AFT 250 nor when the locomotive will have its restoration finished.
Image from the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association, Inc. Facebook page
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