The Chessie Steam Special is being prepared for its roundtrip to Garrett, Indiana. Tom Golden photo.

The Chessie Steam Special makes its planned stop at Garrett, Indiana. Tom Golden photo.

The Chessie Steam Special traverses the former Pere Marquette/C&O through the diamonds at Wellsboro. Tom Golden photo.

Awaiting completion of the passenger boarding process, the Chessie Steam Special is on the east end of Barr Yard for departure with a round trip to Michigan and back. Tom Golden photo.

Chessie System Steam Special laying over in the yard at Norwood, Ohio

Reading’s big, home-built T-1 4-8-4s never looked so festive hauling Pennsylvania coal. But in 1977, steam entrepreneur Ross Rowland has decorated the 2101 in vermilion, yellow and blue for a su... (more)

The first movement of the Chessie Steam Special, a ferry move to Philadelphia and Baltimore, has come to a halt in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. If I recall correctly, the 2101 had an overheated ... (more)

The Chessie Steam Special makes its preinaugural ferry move south along the former Reading North Penn Branch. Here 4-8-4 2101 emerges from the south portal of the Perkasie tunnel.

The Genesis of the Chessie Steam Special

Although it won’t commence paid excursions for another two weeks, the locomotive and six cars of the Chessie Steam Special ... (more)

Ready to Go

Former Reading T-1 4-8-4 2101 has completed its metamorphosis from American Freedom Train 1 to Chessie System 2101. Here it leaves the former Reading Company Saucon rou... (more)

Emerging from hibernation after its duties as one of the stars of the American Freedom Train, Reading T-1 2101 is taking its first steps as Chessie Steam Special 2101. The changeover... (more)

"The American Freedom Train Eagle"

RDG #2101 toured the eastern portion of the United States as the "American Freedom Train" between April 1, 1975 to September 1976. ... (more)

"READING ALIBI"
FROM WWW.BORAIL.ORG In 1923, the Baldwin Locomotive Works built a class I-10a for the Reading Railroad. Originally numbered No. 2101, the locomotive had an oversized Wo... (more)

RDG #2101: "The American Freedom Train"
An amazing read - trust me!

The Baldwin Locomotive Works built a class I-10a for the Reading Railroad in 1921. Orig... (more)

Dressed for the Chessie, former Reading T-1 2101 hauls the Chessie Steam Special east out of Chesterton on a round-trip from Chicago to Hartford, MI to help celebrate the Sesquicentennial of the f... (more)