C&O 2-8-4 "Kanawha" #2756, Newport News, VA

rock island lines · **Joined:** Mon Feb 17, 2014 4:20 pm **Posts:** 487

Since Les has put up some nice photos of C&O 2789 in North Judson, Indiana, I thought I
would put up recent news on sister 2756 in Huntington Park, Newport News, VA.

News report on the restoration (12/17/15): Locomotive to undergo restoration

Daily Press, 12/17/15 wrote:

The train is undergoing lead and asbestos abatement, and is covered with light gray
primer paint, city historian Mary Kayaselcuk said. The city is paying $199,943 for
the abatement work to Atlantic Environmental Company of Chesapeake, Kayaselcuk said.

Daily Press photo gallery #1. Asbestos abatement, paint removal, primed body
(21 photos): Pictures: Steam Locomotive in Huntington Park

Daily Press photo gallery #2. Old photos, including 1963 delivery and dedication
ceremony (33 photos): Look Back: Huntington Park locomotive

Large photo hosted from the Daily Press. Scroll to the right --->>
(I see paint being applied to rusted metal. Contractors...)

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Sun Dec 20, 2015 12:11 pm

Some years ago, prisoner trustees were employed to repaint and restore the locomotive. She really doesn't look all that bad. With all the Kanawhas preserved, you would think......!

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Sun Dec 20, 2015 12:40 pm

Is that the ghost of Polar Express past?

QJdriver · **Posted:** Sun Dec 20, 2015 8:23 pm

45 years ago, I was at the age where the opposite sex was suddenly way more important than steam engines. I lived in Newport News for most of a year, and fondly remember that "going to look at the engine" was teeny talk for sneaking off to our favorite make out locations in the dark shadows of Huntington Park.

We also actually went to look at the engine on many of these visits, and I was the only kid who had ever run something like that, or could explain how it had once functioned. The climate in the Hampton Roads area is HORRIBLE for just letting a steam engine sit outside with no covering or maintainance --- 2756 looked even worse than the T&NO 2-10-2 in Houston did back in those days. Only thing that had been done for her was weed control.

Back then I thought she would surely be cut up in a few more years. Thank you very much for this update, Mr. Rock Island Lines.

VIVA C&O 2756 !!!

j32885 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:36 am

Here's some videos of C&O 2756:

Chesapeake & Ohio 2756 (Park Tour), 07-26-2012, by jrahrig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnKw946l_1Q

Chesapeake and Ohio 2756, by Ryan RailFan Productions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZxQA-orWHM

Enjoy! ^_^

airforcerail · **Posted:** Tue Dec 29, 2015 2:48 pm

A friend of mine is involved in the cosmetic restoration and move. They plan to move the locomotive about 10 miles or so up the line to the newly restored Lee Hall Depot. A shame CSX won't let it move by rail.

The locomotive is in pretty decent condition from what he says considering its location. All the major goodies were still on the engine as well- bell, headlights, whistle, etc. That surprises me the most honestly.

airforcerail · **Posted:** Tue Dec 29, 2015 3:56 pm

That is what I was told by my friend involved in the project. It will have to go by truck.

Andrew Durden · **Posted:** Tue Dec 29, 2015 4:40 pm

Did they use Slurry, or wet blasting? Or is that just a really powerful pressure washer?