BLI 8249 N Scale 4-8-4 T1 Steam Locomotive Independence Day 7476 Stealth – DC

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 BO 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.

Broadway Limited is building their 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. BLI is offering 2101 in the Chessie Steam Special livery and also its later Reading Northern paint scheme. They are offering one model in the 1976 American Freedom Train paint. and one model decorated like the Delaware 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 Paragon4 version of the two fantasy models will have unique soundsets. and the others will have prototypically accurate Reading T1 Northern sounds. In addition to the Paragon4 Series models. BLI is offering most of the models in Stealth Series. The Stealth Series models are No-Sound / DCC-Ready models that operate on DC out of the box. or a modeler can easily install their DCC decoder of choice. Out of the box. front and rear lights are directional. and other lights are always ON with track power. Additionally some lighting functions may be missing depending on selected aftermarket decoder the modeler installs.

FEATURES:

• Stealth Series – Model is DCC-Ready out of the box. No sound.
• Out of the box. front and rear lights are directional. Other lights are ON with track power
• Model comes with 8 ohm speaker installed for easy installation of DCC/Sound decoder
• Precision Drive Mechanism engineered for continuous heavy load towing and smooth slow speed operation
• 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
• 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