Broadway Limited Imports is pleased to announce the return of the N scale Reading T-1 Northern locomotives.
History & Development
As World War II drew to a close in 1945, the Reading Railroad evaluated its existing fleet of motive power and realized it lacked the “super-power” steam locomotives that many other railroads owned and operated. The need for more powerful locomotives became increasingly urgent, but wartime restrictions limited the railroad’s ability to acquire new engines. As a result, the Reading turned to its own roster for a solution.
The rugged I10-sa Class 2-8-0 Consolidation proved to be an ideal candidate for conversion. Reading began an ambitious in-house rebuilding program, transforming 30 of these locomotives into the new T-1 Class 4-8-4 Northern.
The newly rebuilt T-1 locomotives entered service between 1945 and 1947 and were primarily assigned to fast freight service. They operated across much of the Reading system and also participated in pool service with the Western Maryland Railway. The first 20 locomotives were configured for freight service, while the final 10 were equipped for passenger service, though they continued to spend most of their careers hauling freight.
Despite their impressive performance, the T-1s had relatively short service lives. By 1954, all 30 locomotives had been placed into storage, with a few briefly returning to service in 1955 to handle a temporary surge in traffic. Most were eventually sold, retired, and scrapped by 1958. Fortunately, the Reading Railroad preserved four of these powerful locomotives for excursion service, operating them in the famous Iron Horse Rambles.
Production Run Highlights
For this production run, we are excited to bring back several fan-favorite versions of the legendary Reading T-1, celebrating both preservation and modern-day excursion railroading. Among the highlights is American Freedom Train No. 1, presented in its beautifully restored appearance as displayed at the B&O Railroad Museum. This historic locomotive played an important role in the preservation of the famous American Freedom Train equipment and remains a fascinating chapter in the story of American steam preservation.
We are also proud to include Reading No. 2102, modeled in its striking modern-day configuration as it operates today hauling excursion trains on the Reading & Northern Railroad. Restored to operation and thrilling railfans once again, No. 2102 represents the continued legacy of the powerful Reading T-1 class in the modern era of mainline steam excursions.
Together, these models celebrate the enduring appeal of the Reading T-1—from preserved museum exhibits to the dramatic return of steam power on today’s rails—making them outstanding additions to any N scale roster.
Models will be available equipped with Paragon4, featuring sound, DC/DCC compatibility, and smoke, or in our Stealth Series. Stealth models include a factory-installed speaker and a Next18 DCC interface, making decoder installation quick and easy.
Model Features
- 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
- Operating Smoke Unit with On/Off Switch (Note: N scale smoke units require low-viscosity smoke fluid such as JT’s Mega-Steam or Märklin No. 02421 smoke fluid)
- Extra Built-in Capacitance for More Consistent Electrical Pickup
- Die-Cast Locomotive Body with Die-Cast Chassis for Heavier Weight and Maximum Tractive Effort
- Rubber Tire on One Driver for Additional Tractive Effort
- Premium Caliber Painting with Prototypically Accurate Paint Schemes and Road Numbers
- Prototypical Lighting with Separately Controllable Headlight and Rear Light
- Many Separately Applied Details including Handrails, Ladders, Piping, Whistle, and Bell
- Operating Micro-Trains® Compatible Couplers
- Operates on Code 55, Code 70, and Code 80 Rail
- Minimum Operating Radius: 9.75 inches
- Accurate Prototypical Sounds for the Reading T-1 Northern
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