> ![](media/image1.png){width="7.875in" height="2.625in"}Steamtown
> National Historic inquiries regarding the restoration of our Reading
> T-1 2124
>
> locomotive, as well as other locomotives in the Steamtown NHS
> collection, that are similar
>
> to the following:
>
> "Since this locomotive is the only \"Anthracite Roads\" locomotive in
> your collection that can pull a train of any length up your hills, why
> isn\'t Reading No. 2124 being considered for restoration, and why is
> No. 759 being considered for restoration when it is reportedly in
> worse shape than 2124? PLEASE Respond. Thank You."

In answer to these and other similar inquiries, we are posting our
response on our Restoration web page. You are free to copy the following
information but you may not distribute it without express written
permission from Steamtown National Historic Site.

"September 24, 2000

![](media/image2.png){width="4.8125in"
height="2.6951388888888888in"}"The Steamtown NHS collection has 2 steam
locomotives from the Anthracite roads: the Reading 2124 and the
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western 565. RDG 2124 was put aside because a T-1
design locomotive (RDG 2100) is operational (Source: Elgin County
Railway Museum, St. Thomas, ON, Canada). Considering that both are from
Anthracite haulers, it may be a strong reason not to operate and cause
potential harm to either or both of them.

It is our understanding that the locomotive was removed from service due
to inspection (boiler interior) requirements and repairs. It, along with
the other 2100s, were supposedly the best of the T-1\'s left, and the
2124 was the last T-1 to be out-shopped (a major shopping probably in
1955 or 1956, not the minor running repairs, inspections and paint
before the Iron Horse Rambles) and the first to come out of "Rambles"
service.\< p\> "Regarding your question about the condition of the RDG
2124 vs. NKP 759, the 2124 shows signs of high mileage, meaning that
there are places where the machinery shows wear. Additionally, the
Worthington feedwater heater presently on the locomotive was traded from
another T-1 and is in poor shape. Lastly, the RDG 2124 has been stored
outside for many years, and the degradation conditions are probably
greater than the deterioration on the NKP 759's flexible staybolts, caps
& sleeves. This is a common condition on long-stored locomotive boilers.
As the 2100s have an almost complete application of flexible staybolts,
this would entail a very expensive change-out of the bolt, sleeve and
cap. We generally estimate a 75% replacement of caps, sleeves and bolts
when bringing a long-stored engine in for shopping. There are, of
course, other unknowns (i.e., were the superheater units blown out
thoroughly? etc.) It all amounts to time and money.

"As for the NKP 759, the mechanical condition is generally "good" with
about 30,000 to 40,000 service miles of wear. The boiler has some
problems, such as requiring a new set of superheater units, boiler tubes
and a few other items. It is more of a known quantity than the RDG 2124.

"A mechanical engineering survey determined that the B&M 3713 can be
restored with work well underway, and no other locomotive restoration
will be undertaken until the B&M 3713 is completed. It does not mean
that the RDG 2124 is not a candidate for possible operation. But in
reality, it will be a number of years in the future, as there are no
current plans for this restoration. The funding to both shop and
maintain any restored locomotive "in-service" with the additional shop
forces and materials that would be required to support the restored
locomotive are unavailable at present. Our shop force is stretched tight
to maintain and perform class repairs to the present power
"in-service".  Additionally, no one has come forward to donate a few
hundred thousand dollars to start the ball rolling, or sponsor a
locomotive restoration as the [Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley
Chapter](http://www.nps.gov/cgi-bin/intercept2?http://www.laurellines.org/)
of the
[NRHS](http://www.nps.gov/cgi-bin/intercept2?http://www.nrhs.com/) has
done with the B&M 3713. This group is very interested in the B&M 3713
and continues to work hard to raise the necessary funding to ensure the
eventual restoration of the B&M 3713.