Lionel Reading T1, 2100

This is the Lionel, Reading Railroad T1, 4-8-4 Northern built in 1989 and equiped with Digital Railsounds. The product number is 6-18006 making it the sixth train Lionel ever made with Digital Railsounds (the first being the B6 switcher, number 6-18000). I hope you enjoy this train as much as I have been. It is a beautiful model and it will see a lot of run time on my layout.

[@tacomahunter]

Imagine being a kid in 1989 and seeing this in a hobby shop for the first time. You would’ve crapped your pants at the sight of this.

[@tomspencer3048]

I have a lot of post war, and a lot of TMCC steam as well. Steam is my favorite type of engines to run. I wanted to say I am thinking of picking up one of those t-1 2100. They look great,and I hear they are great pullers. Everybody thinks I am going to install TMCC and rail sounds 4 or 5. I think after seeing your video . I will keep it stock and just enjoy the looks of the drive rods moving along. I rigged a special coupler system up and run a post war 675,and it twin 2025 double headed. Pulling 18 to 22 cars. The driver action is great. I did convert the smoke units to liquid. Man do they puff. Thanks again. And keep up the good work

[@RevengeOfTheApocalypse]

I managed to score one that was brand new in the box never opened for 500 and I'm happy

[@Dronesword123]

Nice video. I’ve been considering getting one, as I’ve ridden behind a real T1 (number 2102).

[@cwhall01]

If you can find one for a good price I would definitely recommend it. I have since upgraded mine with Electric Railroad cruise control and Railsounds 4.0 which I would also recommend if you have the time, money and patience to make it work.

[@eriefinishing6378]

Great review. Now I need to pick one up.

[@legolayout44]

Beautiful the Reading was awesome

[@OldIronVideo]

I'm going to try to get one ITS MASSIVE

[@brendanstrains9725]

Nice engine I’m deciding to get one or the MTH premier version

[@trainroomgary]

Like 🚂

[@geraldmosley2195]

Hey, that was a GREAT VIDEO and you explained all the features of the engine, some people are too LAZY to at least let you hear the features, does it have magnitraction or rubber tracksion bands ? Thank you

[@cwhall01]

@geraldmosley2195 thank you! I'd have to double-check about magnification, but I know it doesn't have traction tires. I've never had an issue with grip, though. I run a lot of die-cast cars so my trains (although short) are heavy and the T1 doesn't even hesitate when starting out. Sorry for the late reply but I hope this helps

[@thecentralfloridarailroader]

Wow that cool, I have one in ho scale!

[@CreeperBroCMJ]

Nice review. I got the same one last year at a train show and love it. Gotta ask, how is your smoke unit so good? Mine will barely put any out

[@cwhall01]

When I recorded this video the smoke unit only kind of worked. I took it apart and realized the heating element was broken completely in half. So I have no clue how it worked at all. I have since ordered a replacement and installed it (You can see the new one in action in my Run-Around Track series). I saw a modification online where someone dilled out the hole at the bottom of the smoke stack to be a little larger and that thing smoked like crazy.

[@henryszubielski8601]

@@cwhall01 there are a couple things you can do. Besides replacing the resistor and batting, the modification is drilling a hole slightly above the bottom of the vertical divider. Or, purchase the whole smoke unit from Lionel that is for the NYC Mohawk that was produced a couple years later (6-18009 IIRC...). It is manufactured in the manor people update the original to. Hope this helps. P.S. I also have the Chessie Steam Special version and love it just as much as the 2100.

[@stephenswanberg2324]

0 gage referencing track, 0 scale referencing size.

[@OldIronVideo]

Will it work on r36

[@cwhall01]

It will run on 072 yes. If you mean O36, it can run on it but it is really unhappy.

[@OldIronVideo]

@@cwhall01 does it derail on o36

[@cwhall01]

@@OldIronVideo If you run it slowly it will not derail in my experience.

[@sfm_ferguson5033]

May I ask, what is the sharpest turn // curve radius for this loco I’m about to buy one in a few weeks!!

[@cwhall01]

@sfm_ferguson5033 Absolutely! I'm running it on O54 here. It will run on O36, but it does not like it at all. I have not tested it on O48, but it seems like that would probably be the tightest it can go without seriously binding up. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine!

[@sfm_ferguson5033]

@ SWEET THANKS FOR THE IMPUT!!! I was thinking about Menards track 0-48 cause I’d at least have space for that, but if it’s harmful for the engine then I’ll get the next next one up!!

[@brendanstrains9725]

I just got a Lionel T-1 from 1989. Do you know where the volume knob is I can’t find one on the T-1

[@cwhall01]

Unfortunately this locomotive doesn't actually have a volume knob. I had to install one when I converted the engine to tmcc.

[@brendanstrains9725]

@@cwhall01 oh ok

[@brendanstrains9725]

@@cwhall01 is there anyway to adjust the volume

[@cwhall01]

@@brendanstrains9725 there might be a way to add resistance into the speaker circuit but I am not sure. I would do some research on the setup of the Railsounds board. There may be forums out there were people have lowered the volume.

[@brendanstrains9725]

@@cwhall01 yea my T-1 it’s sounds are decently quiet but I am alright with it. Thanks I was just curious if there was anyway to turn them up.

[@skiiipawbs]

Tmcc?

[@cwhall01]

Unfortunately no. There are people that have converted it to TMCC but mine is completely original (which the exception of the replacement smoke unit).