HISTORIC FORT WAYNE LOCOMOTIVE TO attend NATIONAL FESTIVAL

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society is pleased to announce its partnership with the Steam Railroading Institute to bring historic Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive no. 765 to Owosso, Michigan for TrainFestival 2009, a mainline celebration of railroading with a special emphasis on passenger excursions pulled by mighty steam locomotives.

More than 30,000 visitors are expected to visit Owosso, Michigan for TrainFestival 2009. Owosso is home of the Steam Railroading Institute, owner of sister locomotive Pere Marquette no. 1225, which in 1991 joined no. 765 in an unforgettable excursion that saw both locomotives operating in tandem passenger excursion service in the New River, West Virginia. 1225 and 765, built in 1941 and 1944 respectively, are two locomotives of the same “superpower” design as pioneered by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio. The “superpower” concept ushered in an era of breakthrough steam technology that emboldened the war effort and propelled railroads toward effective high speed service.

Beginning July 24th, 2009 the 765 will be on live-steam display with a variety of visiting equipment, and operate a day long passenger excursion on July 26th. The possibility of additional operations during this three day event exists and details will be finalized in the coming months. TrainFestival will be held on the grounds of the Steam Railroading Institute July 24th-26th, 2009.

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society is excited to share in the celebration and work in collaboration with our Michigan colleagues. TrainFestival 2009 will no doubt be a highlight of next year’s operations.

As always, keep an eye on http://www.765.organd visit http://www.trainfestival2009.com to purchase tickets and learn more about next summer’s exciting event!

Tickets are now on sale for trips. Trips are expected to sell out, so take advantage of early bird discounts!

Awesome news! Thanks for posting.

Sounds good that the 765 will be coming to Michigan again. The 765 has been operable for a couple years, why hasn't it wandered far?

Chris,

To sum it up:

2006 - curvature on an interchange too tight to handle the locomotive
2007 - chartered trains postponed by host railroad
2008 - bridges needed repair, track work unfinished in time

The San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society and ATSF 3751 waited years to make its San Diego trip pending bridge work along the coast, and since making its trip during the summer, it's already returned to San Diego last month. Like the '51, the 765 intends to pounce in 2009 now that the track and bridge work in Indiana and elsewhere will be completed by the end of the year.

Thanks to our friends behind TrainFestival 2009, we've got even more places to go.

KL

Also keep in mind that the 765 has spent all of 2008 torn down to fix a syphon issue.

It be nice to see 765 back east again sometime, Last time I saw it was in 1987 at the Blue Mountain & Reading , I'll never forget it flying through my hometown of Pottstown, PA. on the old Reading Main line.

Len.