Nickel Plate Locomotives Work Excursion Train

A pair of former Nickel Plate Road locomotives recently teamed up during an Indiana Rail Experience trip.

Last weekend saw 2-8-4 No. 765 and SD9 No. 358 work an excursion that ran over Indiana Northeastern Railroad track in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan.

The 765 was returning to service after having its left No. 2 spring hangar replaced.

A crack in the component was discovered during an inspection on May 26 that forced the substitution of diesels for steam on a ice cream train special.

Last weekend’s excursions began in Edon, Ohio, and ran to Hillsdale, Michigan, but on Sunday the excursion continued north of Hillsdale to Jonesville.

It was the first time an excursion train laid over in Jonesville rather than Hillsdale.

The 358 was placed on the end of the excursion train and handled most of its assembly and positioning moves.

The 358 has been undergoing restoration to operating condition in recent years and operated under its own power earlier this year for the first time in 15 years.

Officials at the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society told Trains magazine that some additional mechanical issues need to be addressed on the 358.

The diesel is expected to pull future excursion trains as part of the Indiana Rail Experience.

Last weekend also saw the debut of Centlivre Park, an open-air table car recently converted from a former Ringing Bros circus car. It ran behind the tool car.

NKP 765 Concludes 2023 Excursion Season

Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 No. 765 has pulled its last excursion trains for the Indiana Rail Experience in 2023.

Future planned excursions in the program this year will be powered by diesel locomotives.

A report published on the website of Trains magazine said the fall foliage excursions pulled by the 765 in Indiana and Michigan were sell outs.

The steam locomotive’s owner, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society is already looking ahead to the 2024 Indiana Rail Experience schedule but has a list of things to do in order to get ready.

This included completing the restoration of former NKP SD9 No. 358; rehabilitating the former New York Central depot in Pleasant Lake, Indiana; raising money for and restoring passenger cars recently acquired by the Society; and recruiting new volunteers.

Society officials said longer range plans include rebuilding a siding on Indiana Northeastern Railroad to be used for passenger car maintenance and storage, and exploring acquiring additional real estate beyond the Pleasant Lake Depot.

The 358 is expected pull Indiana Rail Experience excursions next year while the 765 may visit some rail lines beyond the Indiana Northeastern system.

FtWRHS Makes First Use of Indiana Depot

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society used a recently acquired depot in Indiana for the first time last Sunday.

The society, which owns and operates Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765, used the 141-year-old former New York Central depot in Pleasant Lake, Indiana, as the departure point for a diesel-powered excursion that raised money for the Dekalb [County] Humane Society and Community Humane Shelter of Steuben County.

The Pleasant Lake station will serve as the departure point for many Indiana Rail Experience excursions on the Indiana Northeastern Railroad.

FtWRHS plans to spend $50,000 to renovate the depot. The work includes site engineering and surveying for a resurfaced parking lot, foundation work, painting, and a boarding platform.

In time the society plans to build a passenger car servicing facility near the depot.

Although the summer excursion schedule of the Indiana Rail Experience has concluded, plans are underway for fall and holiday excursions this year.

A FtWRHS spokesman told Trains magazine that a third weekend may be added to the fall color schedule with the new trips being of shorter duration.

Most of those trips will feature the 765, but not former NKP SD9 No. 358, which FtWRHS is in the process of restoring to operating condition.

The 358 still needs some truck and traction motor work and must undergo several weeks of testing.

NKP SD9 Nearly Operational

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society is nearing completion of restoration of a former Nickel Plate Road SD9 to operating condition.

Some of the mechanical work in the restoration project was performed at a Progress Rail facility in Muncie, Indiana.

No. 358 was built by EMD in 1957 as part of of 20 such diesel locomotives ordered by the NKP to replace steam motive power.

The Fort Wayne group owns one of those locomotives, 2-8-4 No. 765, which has been an excursion service mainstay for years.

The six-year restoration effort on No. 358 included restoring it to its 1957 appearance.

The 358 was donated by Norfolk Southern in 1910 to the FtWRHS and is the only operational ex-NKP SD9.

The 358 is slated to move from Progress Rail to the shops of the Indiana Northeastern Railroad in Hudson, Indiana, where final restoration work will be completed.

That includes work on the locomotive’s electrical system. Once that is complete, FtWRHS officials said the 358 will be used to pull Indiana Rail Experience trains.

More than 12,000 volunteer hours went into the 358’s restoration. FtWRHS raised more than $100,000 in financial and in-kind contributions.

Other supporters of the 358 restoration effort included Steel Dynamics, Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway, Nickel Plate Railroad Historical & Technical Society, Crown Battery, Horizon Rail, and numerous private individuals with locomotive expertise.

Donations to help complete the restoration can be made at fortwaynerailroad.org/donate.