Nickel Plate 765

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**Nickel Plate 765**
Power type	Steam
Builder	Lima Locomotive Works
Build date	September 8, 1944
Configuration	2-8-4
UIC classification	1-D-2h
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm)
Leading wheel size	33 in diameter
Driver size	69 in diameter
Trailing wheel size	43 in diameter
Length	100 ft 8.75 in
Height	15 ft 8 in
Weight on drivers	264,300 lb
Total weight	440,800 lb
Locomotive and tender combined weight	802,500 lb
Fuel type	coal
Tender capacity	22 tons coal, 22000 gallons water
Boiler	89.0625 in diameter × 42 ft length
Boiler pressure	245 psi
Superheater type	Elesco
Cylinders	2
Cylinder size	25in diameter × 34 in stroke
Top speed	70 miles per hour
Tractive effort	64,100 lbf
Career	Nickel Plate Road
Class	S-2
Number in class	11
Number	765
Retired	May 4, 1963
Restored	September 8, 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.

1 Original career
2 Retirement
3 Restoration
4 Excursion period
5 The future
6 External links
7 References

[edit] Original career

The 765 was first assigned to Lima, Ohio, where it was used primarily on wartime passenger trains. After the war, she worked primarily out of a classification yard in the east side of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her last run came only fourteen years after her construction on June 14, 1958.

[edit] Retirement

Upon the decline of steam motive power, 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 disguised 767.

In September of 1974, the engine, no longer in operable condition, was leased and towed by the Penn Central and the N&W to New Haven, Indiana by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society (FWRHS), which intended to restore her.

[edit] Restoration

On October 25, 1975, the "767" was returned to its original number and restoration began. The largest locomotive ever restored outdoors was completed on its 35th birthday: September 8, 1979.

[edit] Excursion period

Between 1979 and 1993 the locomotive was 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 FWRHS gained ownership of the engine in 1985.

[edit] The future

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 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 breaks. 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.