Ohio Central Purchases NKP 763 From Virginia Museum of Transportation

[cmherndon]

From the Trains Newswire...

COSHOCTON, Ohio - Ohio
Central Railroad System announced Thursday it has purchased Nickel
Plate Road 2-8-4 Berkshire-type No. 763 from the Virginia Museum of
Transportation in Roanoke. To symbolize the agreement, Ohio Central
CEO Jerry Joe Jacobson stood in front of the 1944 Lima product with
museum Executive Director Bev Fitzpatrick following a meeting where
Ohio Central agreed to purchase the locomotive.

Several options were discussed for the swapping of steam locomotives
to bring the big "Berk" back home to the Buckeye State, where it ran
in fast freight service until Nickel Plate dieselized in 1958, but
both organizations were in agreement that a straight cash sale would
be better suited for all concerned. Details of the sale were not
announced.

When NKP dieselized its road power in 1958, the 763 was stored in
the yard at Bellevue, Ohio, for future donation to that town.
However, after the 1964 merger of NKP into Norfolk & Western, N&W
took the locomotive to its headquarters city of Roanoke, where 763
has been displayed until now.

Ohio Central has nine other steam locomotives, three of which are
operational, and will bring 763 to its Morgan Run Shop this spring.
Barring unforeseen mechanical hurdles, OC shop forces will rebuild
the 763 for service.

[Tweetsiefireman]

That is GREAT news. It is so nice to see a museum letting a steam engine go back into service. Now if we can just get the tighta$$e$ at NS to let her doublehead with her sister in Fort Wayne we will be in business! I wonder if Jerry asked about that big streamlined J 2 tracks over while talking about the 763?

[Enginecrew]

That is GREAT news. It is so nice to see a museum letting a steam engine go back into service. Now if we can just get the tighta$$e$ at NS to let her doublehead with her sister in Fort Wayne we will be in business! I wonder if Jerry asked about that big streamlined J 2 tracks over while talking about the 763?

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one Bart, nice thought but don't think it's likely from what my sources say.

[JCagle]

She's definately a beauty and it will be great to see her uncaged since you can't realy fully take in a stuffed and mounted engine.