Here's an interesting photo from the Fallen Flags website:

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nkp/nkp-s171lba.jpg

This is a photo that could, theoretically, almost be replicated. NKP Hudson #170 at MofT could stand-in for sister 171 and there are six existing Berks that could take 751's spot, with #765 at Ft. Wayne presently operational. Monon boxcars exist at Linden, Indiana and ITM in Noblesville, although neither carry the "white stripe/The Hoosier Line" paint scheme. Maybe there is another one out there somewhere. There is a PM boxcar at Owosso, although it may be 50' rather than a 40' car. Not sure what road the stock car came from, but a few (very few) still exist.

May not be feasible today, but sure is nice to contemplate something happening in the future.

Les

Great shot; nice dream!

Oh, Les. You tempt us so! Those NKP Hudsons sure are beautiful.

A gentlemen I know was at one time contemplating the purchase/lease of NKP #170 some years ago, but apparently inspections found a boiler course to be thin enough to warrant looking elsewhere for a restoration project.

While it is often joked that a New York Central Hudson lies waiting to be discovered in a barn somewhere, and that with it reside any number of Pennslyvania Railroad T-1s, the Nickel Plate Road has enjoyed considerable reincarnation with the preservation and operation of rolling stock, big and small, steam and diesel, nameless and famous.

-Nickel Plate Berkshire 759, the first steam locomotive to enjoy a prominent, but brief second-life as a passenger excursion engine from 1968 to 1973.
-Sister Berk 765 helped spur grass-roots restoration efforts as it entered mainline passenger excursions in 1979 and is now rejuvenated from a complete rebuild.
-In the meanwhile, Mikado-type 587 was freed from an Indianapolis Park and restored and undergoing more work.
-NKP Hudson 170 has found security at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation.
-NKP GP-9 was signed over to Steamtown and still operates, and various pieces of rolling stock continue to weave in and out of operations and preservation efforts.
-Lest we forget the faux NKP PA 190, or the arresting City of Lima passenger car or the countless idle but preserved pieces in Mad River, Ohio and elsewhere...

What are some other roads that have also seen varied and sumptuous preservation for posterity?

KL

KL-

Interesting. Somewhere I read, or at least I THINK I did, that when MofT decided to restore a steam locomotive a number of years ago, there were two candidates. One was NKP 170 and the other was SLSF 4-8-2 #1522. An inspection was made, and the engines were both found to be in about the same condition, and both were deemed restorable. Supposedly, the Frisco engine was ultimetly chosen over #170 account of higher tractive effort (56,800 for the 1522 vs. 42,000 for the 4-6-4). If the story about a thin boiler course is true, then perhaps this was the REAL reason that the Hudson was not chosen.

Les

Les,

I recall hearing this too, but I can't honestly say when this inspection was made, but it's from the CMO report. Higher tractive effort on a Mainline Class 1 in those days would surely be a bit handsomer in the books, boiler work withstanding or not.

Speaking of NKP, heard you from our friends at the NKP 624 lately?

KL

Kelly -

Yes. I'll send you something off-line.

Les