Nickel Plate Road 759
| Company type | Steam locomotive |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | August 1944 |
| Founder | Lima Locomotive Works |
| Defunct | 1959 (retired from active service) |
| Fate | Preserved, static display |
| Headquarters | Scranton , United States |
| Products | Steam locomotive (S-2 class "Berkshire") |
| Owner | Steamtown National Historic Site |
Nickel Plate Road 759 is a conserved S-2 class "Berkshire" steam engine constructed in August 1944 by Lima Locomotive Works (LLW) located in Lima, Ohio for the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad (commonly called Nickel Plate Road or NKP). Engineered primarily for high-speed freight service, No. 759 operated under NKP until its retirement in 1959, after which it was placed into storage. In 1965, F. Nelson Blount acquired the locomotive to exhibit it within his Steamtown, U.S.A. collection based in North Walpole, New Hampshire.
Restoration to working condition was achieved in 1967 by commodities trader Ross Rowland, enabling No. 759 to lead the Golden Spike Centennial Limited train that marked the centennial of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1969. Following that event, it pulled numerous excursion trains for both Rowland and Steamtown before being retired once more to static exhibition in 1977. As of 2025, the locomotive remains showcased at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania, while its counterpart No. 765 continues to operate mainline excursion runs.
Revenue service and preservation
Constructed in August 1944 by Lima Locomotive Works in Ohio, No. 759 was delivered to the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, known as the Nickel Plate Road (NKP). It was among a total of 80 2-8-4 Berkshire type engines manufactured between 1934 and 1949 specifically for rapid freight operations. No. 759 was part of the third production batch classified as S-2.
While detailed records of No. 759's initial service are scarce, it is documented that in May 1958 the locomotive underwent a comprehensive overhaul at NKP's Conneaut shops in Ohio—marking the final steam locomotive rebuild on the railroad. Following this extensive maintenance, it was placed into storage without being returned to active use.
Steam enthusiast F. Nelson Blount purchased No. 759 on October 16, 1962, incorporating it into his Steamtown, U.S.A. collection located originally in North Walpole, New Hampshire, before subsequently moving it to Bellows Falls, Vermont.
Excursion service
In 1967, Ross E. Rowland, a commodities broker, arranged for No. 759's restoration so it could be used for steam excursions organized by his High Iron Company (HICO). Selected for its strength and dependability over other locomotives Rowland had previously operated, No. 759 was refurbished at the former Nickel Plate roundhouse situated in Conneaut, Ohio. Its inaugural excursion took place on August 30, 1968—a fifteen-car journey to Buffalo, New York.
For the Golden Spike Centennial Limited in 1969—which celebrated the 100th anniversary of completing the transcontinental railroad—No. 759 was repainted in blue and gold livery. This commemorative train traveled as far west as Omaha, Nebraska. Afterward, the locomotive reverted to its original paint scheme and continued pulling excursions for Steamtown, including trips reaching Scranton, Pennsylvania.
During 1970, No. 759 hauled a High Iron excursion from Hoboken to Binghamton via the Erie Lackawanna Railway and later operated an excursion along the Western Maryland mainline between Cumberland and Hagerstown.
On May 1, 1971—the inaugural day of Amtrak service—No. 759 led Norfolk and Western Railway’s final Pocahontas passenger run from Roanoke to Norfolk, Virginia. For this assignment, it was repainted black with "NORFOLK AND WESTERN" lettering on its tender and equipped with a distinctive Hancock long-bell three-chime steam whistle originally from an N&W class J locomotive.
After completing late-1973 excursions over Boston and Maine and Central Vermont routes, No. 759 was stored during winter months at Delaware and Hudson Railway’s roundhouse in Rouses Point, New York. Due to neglect by D&H personnel, water inside the boiler froze causing serious damage to tubes. Steamtown successfully pursued legal action against D&H; repairs were undertaken as part of a settlement agreement with additional restoration work completed at Steamtown before test firing occurred in 1975.
Further repairs were attempted in 1977 aiming to return No. 759 to operational condition; however, a boiler flue failure during testing resulted in permanent retirement as a static display piece.
In 1984, No. 759 relocated with the Steamtown collection from Bellows Falls to Scranton, Pennsylvania where it has been exhibited within the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western rail yard area. By 1988 Steamtown and most of its artifacts were incorporated into the newly designated Steamtown National Historic Site (NHS).
Disposition
Nickel Plate Road 759 currently serves as a static display at Steamtown, predominantly housed within the renovated DL&W roundhouse. Visitors can view it from a dedicated walkway designed to provide a clear perspective of ongoing restoration projects. Being the largest locomotive inside the roundhouse, it has very limited space at both ends, which complicates capturing full-length photographs.
Among two American-built steam engines under consideration for operational restoration at Steamtown—No. 759 and Boston and Maine 3713—the latter was ultimately chosen. This decision was likely influenced by turntable clearance issues, as No. 759’s size necessitates removing safety railings around the turntable pit to fit properly.
In 2010, No. 759 underwent removal of asbestos insulation, a material commonly used in historic locomotive boilers. During this process, it also received new boiler jacketing, and its bell, which had been stored separately, was reattached.
While restoring No. 759 to running condition is achievable, Steamtown shows limited interest in pursuing this due to its considerable size and the availability of an operational Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4, No. 765. Notably, No. 765 appeared alongside No. 759 during Railfest 2015 at Steamtown. Presently, No. 759 remains safeguarded indoors as one of the three largest non-articulated steam locomotives exhibited at Steamtown National Historic Site, sharing this distinction with Reading 4-8-4 No. 2124 and Grand Trunk Western 4-8-2 No. 6039.