As
WWII was drawing to a close in 1945, the Reading Railroad examined
their existing roster of motive power and realized they did not
own any of the super-power steam locomotives that most other railroads
owned and operated. The decision to obtain some of these locomotives
was paramount, but with wartime restrictions still in place, the
Reading had to look to their existing fleet for conversion. The
I10-sa Class 2-10-0 locomotive fit the bill, and Reading started
the in-house conversion of 30 of these I10 locomotives to the new
class T-1 Northern.
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.
In 2022,
Broadway Limited is building our first production of Reading T-1
4-8-4 steam locomotives in N scale. We are building three in-service
Reading models and three "Iron Horse Ramble" models.
We are offering 2101 in the Chessie Steam Special livery and also
its later Reading & Northern paint scheme. We are also offering
one model in the 1976 American Freedom Train paint, and one model
decorated like the Delaware & Hudson #302 locomotive. Finally,
we 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.
FEATURES:
ALL-NEW
Paragon4 Sound & Control System featuring Rolling Thunder
Integral
Dual-Mode Decoder with Back EMF for Superb Slow Speed Operation
in DC and DCC
Precision
Drive Mechanism engineered for continuous heavy load towing
and smooth slow speed operation
Extra
Built-in Capacitance for more Consistent Elecrical Pick-up
Die
Cast Locomotive Body with Die Cast Chassis for Heavier Weight
and Maximum Tractive Effort
Rubber
Tires on One Driver for Additional Tractive Effort
Premium
Caliber Painting with Prototypically Accurate Paint Schemes
and Road Numbers
Prototypical
Light Operation with Separately Controllable Headlight, Rear
Light, and Cab Light
Many
Separately Applied Details such as Handrails, Ladders, Piping,
Whistle, and Bell
Operating
Microtrains-compatible Couplers
Will
Operate on Code 55, Code 70, and Code 80 Rail
Minimum
Operating Radius: 9.75 inches
Accurate
Prototypical Sounds for Reading T-1 Northern
Broadway
Limited Imports is proud to introduce Paragon4: The new benchmark
for premium HO sound-equipped locomotives. These DC and DCC-Sound
equipped locomotives feature the ALL-NEW Paragon4 sound and
control system. Each Paragon4 locomotive comes with BLI's
own integral DCC Decoder factory installed. Paragon4 locomotives
offer Dual Mode DC and DCC operation with superb back EMF
motor control, improved DC motor control, built-in capacitor
pack for more reliable electrical pick-up, industry best on-board
sound with Rolling Thunder functionality, Pro Lighting Mode
for prototypical light control, Switcher model for precise
low speed control, recordable DCC operation for automated
playback, and the same excellent detail level as Broadway
Limited's Paragon3 Series models.
Paragon4
Sound & Control System Features:
Operates
in DC & DCC with improved DC speed control (use DCMaster
for DC Sound
Built-In
capacitor pack to navigate imperfect track
Capacitor
Pack automatically disabled on program track for full compatibility
with JMRI Decoder Pro
Pro Lighting
Mode offers individual control of all lights on model
Switcher
Mode for precise low speed control.
Record
& Play Operation - Records and plays back sounds and movements
once or repeatedly for automatic operation
High
Resolution Audio
Quillable
Whistle for various whistle lengths and patterns
Choice
of 3 selectable Horns
Alternate
Whistle / Horn where applicable for locomotive with air horn
and steam whistle - both the main whistle and alternate can
be easily played
Adjustable
bell ringing interval for faster or slower bell
Numerous
user-mappable functions with available keys
Johnson
Bar Sound at Direction Change
Multiple
realistic passenger and crew sounds play on command
Grade
Crossing Automatic Signal
Automatic
Forward / Reverse Signal - When activated, stopping triggers
and stop whistle toot. When moving forward from a stopped position,
toots twice. When moving in reverse. toots three times.
Chuff
sound intensity varies with load
Individually
adjustable sound volumes for each effect
EZ Reset
Button for quick return to factory default settings
