Nickel Plate Road 763
| Company type | Steam locomotive |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | August 1, 1944 in Lima, Ohio, United States |
| Headquarters | Lima , United States |
| Products | S-2 series "Berkshire" steam engine |
Nickel Plate Road 763 is an S-2 series "Berkshire" steam engine constructed by Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio during August 1944. As the ninth unit produced in its class, this locomotive was designed for high-speed freight operations, primarily transporting perishable goods between Chicago and Buffalo, New York.
Operational use
Built in August 1944, Nickel Plate 763 was dedicated to rapid freight hauling, capable of reaching speeds up to 70 MPH. Renowned for its combination of power and velocity, it effectively moved perishables along vital routes connecting the Midwest with the East Coast. By 1958, due to diminishing parts availability and a transition toward more cost-effective forms of motive power, all S-2 locomotives were withdrawn from active service. Its counterpart, 765, was later reactivated to supply steam heat for a streamlined passenger train and became the final Berkshire to operate under steam for the Nickel Plate.
Decommissioning
Locomotive number 763 was officially taken out of service in June 1958 and categorized as "stored serviceable" until 1960, after which most Nickel Plate Berkshires were dismantled. Among six preserved units was 763, which was initially exhibited in a museum until 1966. At that time, Norfolk & Western—then-owner of NKP—relocated it outdoors to Wasena Park located in Roanoke, Virginia.
In 1976, the engine was moved to New Jersey with the intention of restoring it for use on the American Freedom Train alongside No. 759. This restoration project was ultimately abandoned in favor of Southern Pacific 4449. Following this decision, 763 returned to Roanoke and was displayed at the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
The Virginia Museum of Transportation eventually sold 763 to Jerry Jacobson, president of the Age of Steam Roundhouse and former CEO of Ohio Central Railroad, for $125,000. In 2007, Jacobson transported the locomotive back to Ohio aiming to restore it for operation on the Ohio Central Railroad. However, after Genesee & Wyoming Inc. acquired the railroad, those restoration plans were discontinued. Presently, 763 is preserved as a static exhibit inside the Age of Steam Roundhouse, with potential restoration still under consideration.
See also
- Nickel Plate Road
- Nickel Plate Road 757
- Nickel Plate Road 759
- Nickel Plate Road 765
- Nickel Plate Road 779
- Age of Steam Roundhouse