Nickel Plate Road 763

Nickel Plate Road No. 763 is a class "S-2" 2-8-4 "Berkshire" type steam locomotive. It was built in August 1944 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio, as the ninth engine of its class. It is a high powered fast freight locomotive that carried perishables between Chicago and Buffalo, New York.

Nickel Plate Road 763
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Lima Locomotive Works Serial number 8671 Build date August 1944
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-4  • UIC 1'D2'h Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 36 in (0.914 m) Driver dia. 69 in (1.753 m) Trailing dia. 43 in (1.092 m) Length 100 ft 8 ^3⁄4 in (30.70 m) Height 15 ft 8 in (4.78 m) Adhesive weight 264,300 lb (119,900 kg; 119.9 t) Loco weight 440,800 lb (199,900 kg; 199.9 t) Total weight 802,500 lb (364,000 kg; 364.0 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 44,000 lb (20,000 kg; 20 t) 22 short tons (20.0 t; 19.6 long tons) Water cap 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 Elesco Cylinders Two Cylinder size 25 in × 34 in (635 mm × 864 mm)
Performance figures Maximum speed 70 mph (113 km/h) Tractive effort 64,135 lbf (285.3 kN) Factor of adh. 4.12
Career Operators Nickel Plate Road Class S-2 Number in class 9 Numbers NKP 763 Last run 1958 Retired August 1960 Current owner Age of Steam Roundhouse Disposition On static display, awaiting restoration, based in Sugarcreek, Ohio

763 was retired from service on the NKP and is currently awaiting restoration at the Age of Steam Roundhouse.

Original career

Nickel Plate 763's career consisted of pulling fast freights of perishables between Chicago and Buffalo. Pulling trains at up to 70 MPH, these engines quickly gained a reputation as high-speed brutes on the track. In 1958, due to lowering part supplies and the demand for more cheap and efficient motive power, the Nickel Plate removed all of its S-2's from service and sat dormant. The sister engine of 763, 765 was recommissioned to provide steam heat to a streamlined passenger train, and was the last Berkshire under steam for the Nickel Plate.

Retirement

Number 763 was ultimately retired at the end of 1958, and sat for nearly 2 years with the label of "stored serviceable" until 1960, when most of the Berkshires on the Nickel Plate were sent to scrap yards. Six berks were preserved, including 763. The 763 was put in a museum until in 1966, when the Norfolk & Western, NKP's new owner moved her to outdoor display at Wasena Park in Roanoke, Virginia.

AFT Plan and Fall Through

In 1976, 763 was moved to New Jersey for a possible overhaul as it was a contending locomotive to pull the American Freedom Train. Once the engine arrived it was to be checked over and restored to working condition and double head with no. 755. However, this plan fell through and 763 was sent back to Roanoke with Southern Pacific 4449 being chosen instead.

Back In Roanoke to Present

After the AFT fall through, NKP 763 was returned to Roanoke, where it was placed on display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. The VMT ended up selling 763 to Jerry Jacobson, president of the Age of Steam Roundhouse and then CEO of Ohio Central Railroad for $125,000. In 2007, Jacobson returned 763 to her home state Ohio. The 763 is currently on static display awaiting restoration at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio. 763's restoration will cost more than $1,000,000.

References

• Age Of Steam Roundhouse
• Nickel Plate Road Technical and Historical Society
• Trains Magazine Article 763 Purchase
• Trains Magazine 763 On the Move
• Roanoke Times: Track Change For NKP 763

See also

• Nickel Plate Road
• NKP 759
• NKP 765
• NKP 779
• Age of Steam Roundhouse