NKP 587 to be sold at auction

Daylight25 · **Joined:** Wed Mar 23, 2022 11:00 pm **Posts:** 187

BWills wrote:

I can't imagine buying / restoring another locomotive would be worth it for that very fringe scenario. That's what the 425 is for, they'll just add a diesel if they need more power. Then the 2102 trips are flexible in terms of how many times they are run annually.
Plus, while not a museum with no major historical focus, the 2102 does make sense operating there, I know the 425 isn't from a PA rr, but I don't see how a NKP mike really fits in either. Now if it was a PRR 2-8-2, or something else regionally significant, it could maybe be something that was looked harder at.

And what I suspect for 587 (if Andy were to purchase her) would end up a static display like CP 1098

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

BWills wrote:

Only 1 USRA heavy mikado survived right?

BWills -

No USRA Heavy Mikes survived although one came close! From what I have heard, the Nickel Plate Road earmarked one of the ex-Wheeling & Lake Erie Heavy 2-8-2's for donation to Canton, Ohio. The folks in Canton however, wanted a steamer that was built in the nearby W&LE Brewster shops and thus ex-W&LE 0-6-0 # 3960 (NKP # 360) was donated to Canton instead.

Les

Steamguy73 · **Joined:** Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:15 pm **Posts:** 635

Steamlocomotive.com lists C&O 1189 as a "near miss" locomotive. That heavy mike lasted into the 1970's but was scrapped in Russell KY.

https://www.steamlocomotive.com/places/russell/

Rob Gardner · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:50 pm **Posts:** 576

I'm not going to claim that these are true USRA Heavy Mikes, but two surviving 2-8-2s come awfully close:
1. C&IM 2-8-2 No.551 at the National Museum of Transport
2. WP 2-8-2 No.334 at the Western Railway Museum

Rob Gardner

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Rob Gardner wrote:

I'm not going to claim that these are true USRA Heavy Mikes, but two surviving 2-8-2s come awfully close:
1. C&IM 2-8-2 No.551 at the National Museum of Transport
2. WP 2-8-2 No.334 at the Western Railway Museum

Rob Gardner

Rob -

In listings of Light USRA Mikes (originals and "copies"), C&IM #551 is included. So, a "copy" of a Light USRA 2-8-2, not considered a Heavy. I don't know much about WP #334. I am sure that there were 2-8-2's designed and built that were heavier than the USRA design, and the 334 might be one of them.

Les

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2605

Any interest in the engine from Age of Steam, I wonder?

Would look good next to NKP 763, I would think.

TheDukeofDank · **Joined:** Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:40 pm **Posts:** 46

Loosely related, but I remember reading some locations the ITM considered moving to in the 1980s and 90s. Other than the NKP Frankfort roundhouse, what other locations were considered?

Patrick Fahey · **Joined:** Tue Dec 06, 2022 8:31 am **Posts:** 82

Hi
I would like to see the NKP 587 returned to service,, also the locomotive would make a good addition to the Essex Steam Train, & Riverboat, at Essex, Ct.
The locomotive is heavy enough to haul a good sized passenger train, on the Valley railroad..
I know the Essex Steam Train was interested on buying the Frisco # 1352,,I don't know if the railroad decided to back out of the deal. because I read either on Facebook or this website, the locomotive has been moved to a another location, but not to Connecticut.
Maybe someone from the Valley railroad can update this,??? Pat.

John D · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:28 pm **Posts:** 485

Patrick Fahey wrote:

Hi
I would like to see the NKP 587 returned to service,, also the locomotive would make a good addition to the Essex Steam Train, & Riverboat, at Essex, Ct.
The locomotive is heavy enough to haul a good sized passenger train, on the Valley railroad..
I know the Essex Steam Train was interested on buying the Frisco # 1352,,I don't know if the railroad decided to back out of the deal. because I read either on Facebook or this website, the locomotive has been moved to a another location, but not to Connecticut.
Maybe someone from the Valley railroad can update this,??? Pat.

Pat-while I don't recall seeing any public announcement on this, comments and photos in numerous sources indicates that the Frisco locomotive ended up in North Carolina, property of the Aberdeen Carolina and Western. I don't know if it will get a cosmetic or operational restoration.

DavidKaplan · **Posted:** Fri Jan 31, 2025 9:10 pm

As it currently sits in pieces, NKP 587 isn't worth much. But reassembled and on display, she's quite a nice display piece.

It's a shame that fees are needed where she is now. Currently, 587, C&O 2716, and L&N 152 are all sitting there in pieces. What's one more loco? I don't hold out much hope that things in Ravenna will change much in the next few years.

Seems 587 would be a perfect fit there, at AoS, or with 765 in Ft. Wayne. Even Spencer could display her well and indoors. Currently at Spencer, there's an ACL 4-6-0, Shay 1925, and an ex-SOU consol. But that's it.

This engine has such potential.

PaulWWoodring · **Posted:** Fri Jan 31, 2025 11:16 pm

If AoS doesn't want it, I think Mad River would be a great home for it, with #757. At least Bellevue was a major NKP terminal that it might have visited more than once.

mrwalsh85 · **Joined:** Sat Feb 02, 2013 3:55 pm **Posts:** 100

Regardless of who thinks where the engine will best go, the highest bid that is accepted will be where it goes.

That being said, if you have a big enough bank account, your opinion certainly matters - if you write a check to the organization of your liking to support the purchase, move, and probably (at the org's request) funds to help with the restoration and sustainment of operating said steam program.

I look forward to seeing where 587 winds up. I will always advocate for restoration to steam and operating steam, so I hope it goes somewhere with that intent.

o anderson · **Posted:** Sat Feb 01, 2025 9:37 pm

David Kaplan said:

Quote:

As it currently sits in pieces, NKP 587 isn't worth much. But reassembled and on display, she's quite a nice display piece.

I beg to differ - potentially. This engine was an operating excursion engine that went down for a rebuild before an organizational meltdown.

If...HOPEFULLY... all the parts, drawings and documents are on hand and work done was good, this COULD be a quick restoration project for a skilled shop. Would be great to see anywhere it can stretch its legs.

Recent operational photos (on one of the few active RR Blogs) here:
https://akronrrclub.wordpress.com/2025/01/23/glad-i-got-it-when-i-did-2/

https://akronrrclub.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/nkp587-nkp765-7-20-1993-03.jpg?w=1024

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3011

DavidKaplan wrote:

As it currently sits in pieces, NKP 587 isn't worth much. But reassembled and on display, she's quite a nice display piece.

It's a shame that fees are needed where she is now. Currently, 587, C&O 2716, and L&N 152 are all sitting there in pieces. What's one more loco? I don't hold out much hope that things in Ravenna will change much in the next few years.

Seems 587 would be a perfect fit there....

Agreed, and I can't help but wonder if that's part of the plan. They'll come out fine either way. If somebody else wins the auction, they gain income. If they have the high bid, they would then have legal ownership of the locomotive, removing any future issues. Given that they don't have to ship it, they could have an advantage on the other bidders. I guess the real unknown is how bad they want it.

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2876

This post fits nicely here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=48582

Bohne123 wrote:

I may have missed some news: what about the auction for NKP 587?

I looked on their website and facebook page and it hasn't been updated since the 25th, when the auction closed. The suspicion is that it will be a "I will remember to pay it to myself" type auction, where KS keeps it but accounts for the storage fees in any determination of what, if anything, the last owner is owed.