Introduced: 2024 (Paragon4 and Stealth versions)
BLI's fine looking and smooth running Reading T1's are available either DCC Ready or with factory-installed Paragon4 DCC Sound decoders. The decoder-equipped models also come with smoke generators and are designed to run equally well on both analog and DCC layouts (although analog users will need one of BLI's "DC Master" control boxes in order to take advantage of all the sound/smoke features). Support is provided for BLI's "Rolling Thunder" external sound system. As pictured above, they are available in three slightly different detailing packages (Type A - In Service, Type B - CSS/AFT, and Type C - D&H).
Internally, these T1's share many similarities with BLI's Mikado model (released five years earlier). The locomotive shell is metal (with numerous press-fit plastic detail parts). The chassis is metal and split-frame. The motor is a closed-sided can, so I can't really comment on its internal specificities (although one would assume that it's a five-poler with skew-winding). The motorshaft is equipped with a large brass flywheel. A plastic "notched cup" u-joint on the end of the motorshaft spins a "spiked donut" connector on the wormshaft. A plastic clip on top of the worm tower holds the worm in place.
Track current flows into a PC board screwed to the top of the worm tower (with right rail current arriving via a wire and left rail current arriving via a screw that holds the board to a weight attached the the left chassis half). Two wires from the PC board transfer current to the motor, an additional two wires transfer current to an LED board mounted inside the front of the shell, and a third pair of wires transfers current to the smoke generator (if so equipped).
The headlight is white and very bright. Six wires (for track power, motor control and lighting control) run from the PC board, through the drawbar, and ultimately to the decoder in the tender. The wires to the headlight LED board are nice and long, so it's possible to get a decent amount of separation between the locomotive chassis and the shell. Said wires are attached to a plug that connects to a socket on the PC board, so disconnecting them looks to be a simple operation. Similarly, the wires running between the locomotive and the tender are fixed inside of a plug that connects to a socket on the decoder board. So, to completely separate the tender and the locomotive you would remove the tender shell and pull out the wiring plug.
All eight drivers provide pickup, although the rearmost pair of drivers is equipped with traction tires and so are probably only marginally effective at collecting current (if they do at all). Current flows from the drivers, to the axles, and then ultimately to the chassis by way of round brass bushings that seat inside cutouts in the frame. The pilot and trailing trucks are electrically neutral. Only the #3 axle is geared, with the other three driversets being turned solely by the running gear. Apart from the brass worm, all gearing is white plastic.
The pilot is equipped with an operating coupler (I'm not sure what brand, but it looks something like an Accumate). A plastic stud holds the front of the drawbar to the locomotive chassis. The rear of the drawbar isn't held in place by anything (per se), although there is a nub on the drawbar that prevents it from pulling all the way through its slot. The wheels are blackened and low-profile (IE no problems on Atlas Code-55 rails). The pilot and trailing trucks are sprung, whereas the tender trucks are not. A small baggie in the box contains a couple of spare traction tires.
The tender chassis and shell are both metal. The coupler is chassis-mounted (and once again, sort of like an Accumate). All-wheel tender truck pickup comes courtesy of pointy-ended axles and dimpled axle-cup wipers. Wires soldered to the axle wipers transfer current to the decoder. The chassis has holes for the speaker. An on/off switch is provided for the smoke generator. If the switch is in the "on" position, F7 will turn the smoke on and off. The generator is completely disabled if the switch is in the "off" position.
For DCC-Sound models, the decoder is screwed to two posts inside the tender. Stealth versions have a Next18 DCC interface on the DC motherboard. As noted previously, wires to the locomotive are attached to a plug that connects to the front of the board. A second wiring harness plugged into the back of the decoder transfers current to the speaker and backup light. The free floating black wire is presumably the antenna for the Rolling Thunder external sound system. The speaker is mounted inside of a large plastic enclosure on the back half of the chassis -
Note that the behavior of the headlight is a little strange (as least as compared to what we're normally used to). When the locomotive is first put on the rails there is no sound and no headlight (regardless of whether F0 is selected or not). The sound comes on once the locomotive starts moving (and stays on until either you mute it with F8 or recycle track power). As for the headlight, that doesn't come on until about three seconds after the locomotive has started moving (and then, like the sound, stays on until you either deselect F0 or recycle track power). The headlight is directional insofar as it will get brighter when moving forward and turn off when moving backward.
Be it in analog or DCC mode, these are impressive runners in all respects. Right out of the box, mine performed flawlessly (no preemptive wheel cleaning or lengthy break-in period required). It ran smoothly and whisper quiet at all normal operating speeds. Slow speed creep (at speed step 1) is one-tie-at-a-time and the top-end speed is reasonable and realistic. Pulling power is impressive, with mine easily able to haul 50+ assorted freight cars through curves on level track. Pickup is superb, with mine able to creep through non-powered frog turnouts without so much as a stutter. I didn't have any problems with any of the wheels derailing (even on 9.75"-radius curves). The sound feature is decent and the smoke feature is a whole lot of fun. I did run into the typical Paragon decoder problem where the locomotive will slow to a virtual stop and then gradually speed back up again. However, it only did that once over the course of several days of continuous running, so I'm not going to expend a whole of energy worrying about it. Overall, these are outstanding looking models that perform admirably well.
Prototype -
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.
Locomotive Features -
- 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
DCC/Sound/Smoke Features -
- Paragon4 sound & control system featuring Rolling Thunder
- Integral dual-mode decoder with back EMF for superb slow speed operation in DC and DCC
- Accurate prototypical sounds for Reading T-1 Northern
- Operating smoke unit with on/off switch (note that N scale smoke units require a thin-viscosity smoke fluid such as JT's Mega Steam or Marklin's #02421 smoke fluid, and you'll need a syringe to load it up)
- Operates in DC & DCC with improved DC speed control (use DCMaster for DC Sound)
- 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
Shell Removal -
To remove the boiler shell, start by removing the four small screws underneath the trailing truck. Next, remove the single screw underneath the pilot truck. The shell should lift up and off at this point (you might have to pry the cab end up a bit to get it started). Do be mindful of the wires running to the headlight.
To remove the tender shell, remove the fours screws on the bottom of the chassis (one on each corner). Once removed, the shell should readily lift up and off.
Grade: A