Berkshire steam engine

[solo1]

Number 765 is a Berkshire 2/8/4 steam engine built in 1943 at Lima , Ohio. It operated on the old Nickle Plate railroad, Ft. Wayne to Chicago. until 1947 when it was retired.   It has been rebuilt twice and now will be on the road this Summer and Fall pulling excursion trains in Pa, Oh. Mo, and Il.  It is based here in New Haven, In. and I've had the pleasure of seeing it operate and hearing that old steam whistle (Wow!)

Here's a photo that I took of it last year at an open house.

Tomorrow, 765 will start its tour from Ft. Wayne to Bucyrus Ohio.   You can look at the website and schedule here

www.fortwaynerailroad.org

Nope i'm not a member neither am I selling anything.  I just think that these steam locos were the epitome of mechanical machinery.

[Grumpy]

Dating just how old I am, rode them in my younger days. I can always reminder them high balling through our little town in Missouri, you did not dare stand close to the tracks. Still love them, and ride every chance I get. They were unique machinery, and very powerful.

[sugerbear]

thanks looks like a road trip. 

[Oss]

just a wonderful post Wayne thank you

It is my understanding that if an EMP  (a bomb exploded at high atmosphere) that only steam locomotives and vehicles with generators and no computers would still function

Irregardless there is a timeless beauty and functionality on these old engines, even if they are not as strong as the superdiesels

my brother's friend Marcus has a license to drive one of those bad boys and often does to his great satisfaction

[bigguy]

Thanks for the post Wayne. I hope somebody keeps some of those great old machines running.

[art]

Nothing like a giant big boy locomotive going about 100mph thru the sw desert.Check some youtube vidios of the steam locos,they are great

[solo1]

The younger generation missed this.  Oss, as you know, the diesel/electrics are much more powerful and less complicated but it's a little like comparing a GW to a Valk.   The Valk is more interesting.

A picture of a steam loco doesn't do it justice.  The size and smells (hot grease, wet steam, cinders) don't come across.  Songs have been written about the steamers whistles, a lonesome sound echoing off the New River Gorge (not a direct quote, can't remember the words or the song)

Art;  Yes, those 4/8/8/4's were the top horsepower producers in the era of steam.

[Jess Tolbirt]

that is one huge boiler!!