NKP 765 Back Home Again in Indiana

Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 returned home to New Haven, Indiana, On Monday after spending much of September in Ohio.

The Berkshire-type locomotive pulled excursions on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in Northeast Ohio and then put in an appearance at the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue.

While in Bellevue, the 765 was reunited with one-time running mate NKP 757, which is being cosmetically restored by the Mad River museum.

It was the first time two NKP Berkshire locomotives were coupled together since the early 1960s when many steam locomotives were lined up waiting to be scrapped.

Museum officials said that more than 2,000 purchased tickets for caboose rides, hostling tours, and a night photo session.

They said several hundred more showed up just to see the two locomotives together.

During the event, the 765 crew ran a steam line to No. 757 to allow the latter’s whistle to sound. During the night photo session, a third Berkshire made a temporary appearance with No. 765 assuming the cosmetic role of Wheeling & Lake Erie No. 828, whose whistle has been featured on the 765 previously.

Some cosmetic changes to the 765 were undertaken to give it the appearance of a W&LE steamer.

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, which owns the 765 said planning is underway to celebrate the locomotive’s 50^th anniversary next year.

Society officials said they are talking with various possible hosts in locations the 765 might be able to visit.

FtWRHS Vice President Kelly Lynch said next year also is the 50^th anniversary of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, so plans for a special Steam in the Valley experience are in the works.

Sunday with NKP 765 in Bellevue

This past Sunday I was at the Berkshires in Bellevue event with my brother-in-law Karl West, his son (my nephew) Owen, and Jeff Troutman.

What had been forecast as an all-day rain turned out party cloudy and some sun the whole time we were there.

We had four tickets to ride in the cupola in Nickel Plate caboose 783 on the 1 p.m. shuttle behind with NKP 2-8-4 No. 765.

On an adjacent track on static display was NKP Berkshire-type No. 757, which I photographed from the caboose cupola.

I had two tickets for the 2 p.m. NKP 765 cab ride which I shared with Owen. We both enjoyed the experience.

After our shuttle excursions we visited the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum. Shown are images made from the cab of former Wabash F7 No. 671 and former NKP GP30 No. 900.

 It’s great to have some fantastic railroad museums that far from home.

Photographs by Edward Ribinskas

Steam Saturday: Another Bellevue Visit

Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 has been in Bellevue many times over the years. One of those visits occurred on May 12, 2013, when it pulled an excursion train into Bellevue from Rocky River.

That would have made it a total NKP experience given that the track used for the excursion once belonged to the Nickel Plate.

Bellevue was a major service point for the Nickel Plate and during the steam era the 765 and other Berkshire-type locomotives were frequent visitors there.

In the photograph above, the 765 is on a former Wheeling & Lake Erie line to Toledo with the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in the background.

Berkshires United in Bellevue

Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 arrived in Bellevue this week and was reunited with fellow Berkshire No. 757.

The two locomotives will be posed side by side over the next two weekends during a “Berkshires in Bellevue” event that will feature caboose rides, hostler experiences. and cab rides in the 765.

A night photo session also will be held and has already sold out.

The 757 is currently undergoing a cosmetic restoration by Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum, which is hosting the event.

The 757 and 765 are among six surviving Berkshires of 80 built by Lima Locomotive Works.

The 757 moved to the Mad River museum in 2019 from its former home at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

NKP 765 En Route to CVSR

Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 left its home near Fort Wayne, Indiana, this morning en route to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

Unlike during past ferry moves, the Berkshire-type steam locomotive is being led by a diesel, Norfolk Southern SD70ACe No. 1183.

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society posted on its Facebook page that although the 765 is capable of operating on its own it currently lacks its own positive train control system.

The society set there is no set scheduled but it is posting updates at https://fortwaynerailroad.org/track-765/?fbclid=IwAR17W052zrhbYWxRi-w_OuN0MOL_9pKmR87LemV2BQVgXHPj47zwHK45a1Q

At 1:05 p.m. the 765 was reported to be in Fostoria. The ferry move will reportedly run east of Bellevue on the Cleveland District and take the connection at Vermillon to the Chicago Line to head for Rockport Yard in Cleveland.

The steamer will reportedly move to the CVSR on Tuesday. Excursions behind the 765 on the CVSR have been scheduled for Sept. 3, 10-12, and 17-19.

After completing its time on the CVSR, the 765 will head for Bellevue and participate in a series of events at the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum between Sept. 24 and Oct. 3.

NKP 765 to Appear at Mad River Museum

Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 will be in residence at the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in late September.

It will be reunited with another former NKP Berkshire steamer, No. 757, which is part of the museum’s collection.

No. 765 will be at the museum from Sept. 24 to Oct. 3 and will participate in a number of events, including caboose rides, hostler experiences and night photo sessions.

The event is being billed as “Berkshires in Bellevue.” The 765 will be appearing in Bellevue following a two-week stay on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

The 765 and 757 are among six surviving Berkshire type locomotives of a one-time fleet of 80.

Museum president Chris Beamer said it will be the first time since 2013 that the 765 has operated at the museum.

McCormack to Speak at Dinner in Bellevue

Conneaut native Doyle McCormack will be the featured speaker on Sept. 18 at the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association dinner to be held in Bellevue.

McCormack will speak at the second Legends of Steam dinner being hosted by the group, which is meeting at the Mad River & NKP Museum.

He will speak about some of the most significant preservation projects of the past half century with which he has been involved.

These include restoration to operating condition of Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 759 and Southern Pacific 4-8-4 No. 4449 for the American Freedom Train in 1976.

McCormack has also been involved in seeking to restore two former Delaware & Hudson Alco PA-1s. One of those, D&H 16, will be restored as Nickel Plate 190.

His railroad career began at Norfolk & Western as a clerk. He later worked for N&W as a fireman and engineer. He left the latter position to devote his time to restoring the SP 4449, yet also had stints working for Southern Pacific, Amtrak and Union Pacific. 

McCormack joined the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation, where he oversaw creation of the Oregon Rail Center, home to three steam locomotives.

Tickets for the dinner are $105 and the proceeds will be used to fund restoration of Reading 4-8-4 No. 2100.

The 2019 Legends of Steam dinner featured Ross Rowland but the 2020 dinner was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the day of the dinner, the museum will open to attendees at 3 p.m. Caboose rides will be offered between 4 and 5 p.m. with dinner set to begin at 5:30 p.m.

McCormack’s presentation will be followed by a question and answer session. Ticket sales end will end on Sept. 3, 2021. 

Bellevue Museum Meets Fundraising Goal

The Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue announced that it met its spring fundraising goal to benefit Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive No. 757.

The museum raised $7,478.14, which will be matched a $5,500 matching grant. The funding will be used for restoration and display of the 757.

The announcement said museum officials learned in late March that the organization would have enough support to build a display track this spring and started ordering materials.

The track was completed on April 27 and the 757 was rolled outside onto the new track. Plans are to display the Berkshire-type locomotive during June, July, and August.

Other events scheduled include on May 22 the Back on Track Car/Truck Show.

The museum will begin daily operation on May 29. Hours are noon to 4 p.m.

Vehicle Show Set for Bellevue Museum

A car and truck show on May 22 will be the first event of the year at the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue.

The event will be held between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Attendees must pay the museum’s regular admission fee.

Those who wish to display a car or truck must pay a $10 registration fee. All years, makes and models of cars and trucks are welcome.

The registration fee includes entry into the museum. Dash plaques will be presented to the first 100 registered vehicles.

There also will 50/50 raffles and co-sponsor Edward Jones Limited will have giveaways. Food will be provided by Miller’s Drive-In.

Another highlight of the event will be a static display of Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive 757.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions some parts of the museum may be inaccessible during the event.

Attendees must wear facial masks and frequent hand sanitizing is recommended as well as social distancing.

In a related development, the museum said it will open for the season on May 31.

It will be the first time the museum has been open since 2019. Hours will be noon to 4 p.m. through Labor Day.

McCormack to Speak in Bellevue on May 16

Another steam impresario is coming to Ohio to help raise money for the restoration of Reading Company steam locomotive No. 2100.

Doyle McCormack will speak on May 16 at the Mad River & NKP Museum in Bellevue as part of the “Legends of Steam” speaker series sponsored by the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association.

The ASRPA is restoring the Reading locomotive at a former Baltimore & Ohio roundhouse in Cleveland that is owned by the Midwest Railway Preservation Society.

McCormack is best known for his work with Southern Pacific 4-8-4 No. 4449 but will also speak about his experiences with the Nickel Plate Road.

He also was involved with the American Freedom Train, which toured the country in 1975-1976.

During his talk McCormack his expected to tell some of his stories about steam locomotives and his work to preserve vintage diesels.

Tickets to the event are $99 per person. More information can be found at FireUp2100.org.

The ticket price includes admission to the museum, caboose rides and a catered dinner.

Participants will be able to inside the cab of Nickel Plate Road locomotive 757, which the museum has acquired and plans to restore.