The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society is proud to announce that restored Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive no. 765 has been tapped to help celebrate Norfolk Southern’s 30th Anniversary. The locomotive will pull a special business train, operating out of the railroad’s terminals in Fort Wayne, Elkhart, and Muncie, Indiana as well as in Bellevue and Toledo, Ohio.

Created in 1982 with the merger of the Southern Railway and Norfolk and Western Railway, the railway operates 20,000 miles in 22 states with 28,000 employees. As part of its celebration, Norfolk Southern is honoring its corporate heritage by painting 18 of its locomotives in historic paint schemes that commemorate the dozens of railroad companies that were eventually merged into the system Norfolk Southern presently operates. Included will be a vintage livery that pays homage to the New York, Chicago, & St. Louis or Nickel Plate Road, the railroad that the 765 was originally built for.

Founded in 1972, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Inc will also be celebrating its own 40th Anniversary in 2012. The railroad historical society was the first all volunteer, non-profit to restore and operate a mainline steam locomotive after removing no. 765 from Fort Wayne’s Lawton Park in 1974 and rehabilitating it to operating condition in 1979. The 1944-built locomotive has traveled over 50,000 miles in public exhibition and excursion service and was recently rebuilt in 2005.

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Every year the society hosts a variety of events for the public and its members. Here are the dates for 2012′s Open House and Santa Trains, and information for members on training, volunteer meetings, and more. We’ll be posting information and news about our excursions with the 765 in the coming weeks.

OPEN HOUSE AND MEMBER’S PICNIC
August 17th-19th
15808 Edgerton Road
New Haven, Indiana
46774

Enjoy our annual open house with $4 caboose rides and the 765 under steam all weekend long. Tour the cab, blow the whistle, and learn about our ongoing restoration efforts. Our member’s picnic will be held August 17th at 6PM.

SANTA TRAINS
December 1st, 18th, 15th
15808 Edgerton Road
New Haven, Indiana
46774

Santa returns again aboard his historic caboose for a 30-minute ride. Tickets are $4 and special chartered trains are available each evening for up to 15 people for $200.

VOLUNTEER MEETINGS
May 5th, August 4th, November 3rd
15808 Edgerton Road
New Haven, Indiana
46774

Meetings will be held on a quarterly basis this year on the first Saturday of each month after the day’s work session has concluded. We’ll review upcoming work, operations, and open the floor for comments and suggestions.

TRAINING SESSIONS
March 17th, March 24th, 4PM – 6:30PM
15808 Edgerton Road
New Haven, Indiana
46774

March 31st, 10AM – 12:30PM 648
New Haven Public Library
Green Street
New Haven, Indiana
46774

We’ll be covering a variety of topics at our training sessions this year, which are required for members interested in crewing our excursions and operations. Topics include:

• Excursion operating plans
• Drug & Alcohol Testing
• Society Operating Rules
• Railroad Signals
• Railroad Safety
• Online training

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On October 28th, we’ll celebrate six years of having the 765 under steam after its major rebuild. Declared as “Engine 765 Day” in Fort Wayne and Allen County in 2005 by county commissioners, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society will host a special fall open house at its restoration facility in New Haven. Visitors can explore an operating 765, tour the society’s workshop, take a caboose ride, and and much more. Admission is free, caboose rides are $4.

Beginning Friday, October 28th, the 765 will be fired up for display and operation. Caboose rides will be offered Saturday and Sunday.

Where:
15808 Edgerton Road
New Haven, Indiana
46774

When:
Friday, October 28th 12PM – 4PM (no caboose rides offered on Friday)
Saturday, October 29th 10AM – 4PM
Sunday, October 30th 12PM – 4PM

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