Nickel Plate 765

Nickel Plate Road 765
Power type	Steam
Serial number	8674
Build date	September 8, 1944
Configuration	2-8-4
UIC classification	1'D2'h
Gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading wheel diameter	33 in (0.838 m)
Driver diameter	69 in (1.753 m)
Trailing wheel diameter	43 in (1.092 m)
Length	100 ft 8 3⁄4 in (30.70 m)
Height	15 ft 8 in (4.78 m)
Weight on drivers	264,300 lb (119.9 t)
Locomotive weight	440,800 lb (199.9 t)
Locomotive & tender combined weight	802,500 lb (364.0 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	44,000 lb (20.0 t) 22 short tons (20.0 t)
Water capacity	22,000 US gal (83,000 l; 18,000 imp gal)
Boiler	89.0625 in (2.26 m) diameter × 42 ft (12.80 m) length
Boiler pressure	245 psi (1.69 MPa)
Superheater type	Elesco
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	25 × 34 in (635 × 864 mm)
Top speed	70 mph (113 km/h)
Tractive effort	64,135 lbf (285.3 kN)
Career	Nickel Plate Road
Class	S-2
Number in class	11
Number	765
Retired	May 4, 1963
Restored	September 1, 1979
Current owner	Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, New Haven, Indiana
Disposition	Operable at New Haven, Indiana

Nickel Plate Road 765 is a 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Original career

The 765 was first assigned to Bellevue, Ohio, where it was used primarily on the Nickel Plate's fast freight trains. After the war, she worked primarily out of a classification yard in the east side of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her final revenue run came on June 14, 1958, only fourteen years after her construction.

Retirement

Upon the decline of steam power, the Nickel Plate Road offered to donate a steam locomotive to the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana for display in Lawton Park. The city asked for S-2 767 because the 767 had officially opened the city's cross-town elevation project in 1955. Unfortunately, while sister engine 765 had been stored in the East Wayne engine house for the first part of its time after its last run, the 767 was stored outside and in far worse condition. Consequently, the Nickel Plate secretly switched the numbers, donated the disguised 765 on May 4, 1963, and scrapped the 767.

After many years of sitting outdoors, exposed to the elements, the 765 began to deteriorate. Then in 1972, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society (FWRHS) was formed, and began a campaign to save and restore the locomotive. In September 1974, the engine was leased to the FWRHS and towed by the Penn Central and the N&W to New Haven, Indiana.

Restoration

On October 25, 1975, the "767" was returned to its original number and restoration began. Through fundraising efforts, and many hours of volunteer labor, the group succeeded in returning 765 to service on September 1, 1979.

The 765 as it appeared in the 1980s and early 90s

First Excursion Period

Between 1979 and 1993 the 765 became quite famous, pulling 100,000 passengers over about 52,000 miles of special excursions in sixteen U.S. states east of the Mississippi River.

The 765 was first restored in 1979, but still required more repairs to run on the mainline. In 1982, the engine was finally in shape in time for the Southern Railway to lease the engine. The Southern's own rebuilt 2-8-4, ex-C&O 2716, was having mechanical problems, and 765 easily stepped in to handle these trips in its place. The trips brought the 765 as far south as Atlanta.

In 1984, the 765 participated with also freshly rebuilt Norfolk and Western 611 for the 1984 NRHS Convention in Cincinnati. The engines doubleheaded for part of the trip.

The FWRHS gained ownership of the engine in 1985.

Between 1986 and 1993, the 765 was the power for the "New River Trains" run by the Collis P. Huntington Chapter of the NRHS. These trips became very popular, and the 765 was annually given the ultimate test when it hauled trains of up to 33 cars (including water car and tool car) nearly 150 miles on a twisting route with a 0.5% grade through the scenic "New River Gorge".

In 1988, the 765 ran East to New Jersey for yet another NRHS Convention.

In August 1991, NKP 765 was partnered with Pere Marquette 1225 for the NRHS Convention in Huntingon, WV. The engines doubleheaded to Huntington, and later ran side by side between Huntington and St. Albans. The following day, the Berkshires doubleheaded 32 cars between Huntington and Hinton, WV.

In 1993, the 765 teamed up with Nickel Plate 2-8-2 587 between Ft. Wayne, IN to Chicago, IL. The two later doubleheaded as part of the NRHS Convention. Shortly after, the engine was briefly relettered and renumbered to C&O 2765. The engine pulled several excursions on CSX, concluding with the New River Train.

NKP 765 as C&0 2765 in Plymouth, Michigan during 1993

After completing her excursion season in 1993, 765 was rolled into the FWRHS' shop building in New Haven to be overhauled. Originally, the overhaul work was supposed to be focused on the running gear, but it was later decided to perform a full rebuild of the locomotive.

In Between Operation

The Fort Wayne Railway Historical Society ran other engines while they were raising the funds for 765's rebuild. In 1994, they operated the Milwaukee Road 261 for the New River Train. In 1996, they rebuilt the Chesapeake & Ohio 2716 under lease from the Kentucky Railway Museum. After several test runs and an excursion, it was discovered that the 2716 would require new flues for continued operation. The FWRHS decided that they would rather put the money into the 765, so the 2716 was returned to KRM. After several years of requesting grants, the group began the 765's second rebuild in 2001.

Recent times

After countless man hours, thousands of volunteer dollars, and a lot of sweat, blood and tears, the 765 was steamed back up on the last weekend of October 2005. The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society held an open house for members to get a look at their re-born engine. In March 2006, test runs were held on the CF&E to break in the bearings on the refurbished locomotive. The 765 was tested with a limited consist, and with a simulated train load provided by a GP40's dynamic brakes. The engine performed flawlessly, and the FWRHS is poised to operate the locomotive on fan trips later in the year. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the FWRHS, one of the East's most famous excursion engines has another lease on life, and has a bright future ahead of her.

The 765 and 1225 reunited at TrainFestival 2009

The 765 attended the largest railroading event of 2009 in America at the Train Festival in Owosso, Michigan, where it once again met up with PM 1225. Originally scheduled to pull just one all-day excursion to Alma, Michigan, on the event weekend's final day, the 765 ended up running both Saturday and Sunday when the PM 1225 broke down the day before her scheduled trip. The two Berkshires again teamed up for a photo freight in August and an excursion in October.

In 2010, the 765 received new roller bearings on the tender This allowed the 765 to become Amtrak certified, allowing for affordable mainline trips. After the upgrade, the 765 traveled from Fort Wayne to Cleveland, where she ran a series of excursions on the Cuyahoga Valley Line between Independence, Akron, and Canton, Ohio in late September. Several more trips based in Owosso were scheduled for October 2010.

2011 has proven to be a very active season. 765 has since returned to Hoosier Valley and run excursions there on Memorial Day, Father's Day & Independence Day weekends, before joining seven other steam locomotives in Rock Island, IL at Train Festival 2011. There, she hauled at least three excursions out of the Quad Cities, including a 17-car all-day excursion to Burueau Junction on July 22nd; her first "proper" mainline excursion since being rebuilt. After returning to Cuyahoga Valley Scenic in September, as well as two more trips in Michigan in October, 765 appears to be returning to a new era of excursions between now and when the FRA's 15 year rebuild will be required in 2020.

References

• 765 Official History" by Glenn Brendel & Wayne York. Published Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Inc.
• Official site
• News article
• [1]-TrainFest 2009.com

External links

• Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor