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Nickel Plate No. 765 to operate trips out of Steamtown National Historic Site

By Events, Excursions

SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA – One of the biggest steam locomotive stars in North America will roll into Scranton to celebrate RailFest 2015 and the 100th anniversary of the Nicholson Bridge, officially referred to as the Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct.

On September 5th-7th, steam locomotive No. 765 will operate trips to the Delaware Water Gap aboard a recreation of the famous Phoebe Snow, a trip to East Stroudsburg, and appear on static display for festival attendees during RailFest. The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society anticipates having open vestibules aboard the Phoebe Snow and a special photo runby during the layover. Each trip will feature accommodations aboard vintage passenger cars from the 1920s through 1940s.

Tickets for these excursions are on sale now at fortwaynerailroad.org/events-and-excursions.

[imic_button colour=”btn-default” type=”enabled” link=”https://fortwaynerailroad.org/?event=the-phoebe-snow&event_date=2015-09-05″ target=”_blank” extraclass=”” size=””]BUY TICKETS FOR THE PHOEBE SNOW[/imic_button]

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This summer will mark the first time in history No. 765 has operated out of the Scranton area in its history. Steamtown National Historic Site maintains several former Nickel Plate Road locomotives in its collection, including Nickel Plate Road No. 759, a sister engine to the 765. The 759 resides on static display inside the Steamtown roundhouse and at one time operated limited excursions out of the region in the 1970s.

“We are really thrilled to bring a mainline steam locomotive to Steamtown and work with the National Park Service, Norfolk Southern, and the various groups collaborating to make these experience for our passengers,” said Bill Otter, Society president.

 

Years of Progress, Miles of Celebration

By Events, News

Updated 8/20/12 – New dates for St. Louis deadhead

Updated! Track the 765 on its routes here!

On July 20th, steam locomotive no. 765 embarks on one of its busiest excursion season in recent history. July through September will see the 765 operating special passenger trains for Norfolk Southern’s 30th anniversary, hosting employees and their families across the northern routes of its system.

On each route, plans call for the 765 to carry a heritage whistle from the New York Central, Pennsylvania Railroad, Norfolk & Western, and Wabash Railroads with each whistle representing the route or territory that became part of Norfolk Southern’s system. Additionally, the railroad’s Nickel Plate Road Heritage locomotive no. 8100, will accompany the 765 for most of the season, while Wabash Heritage locomotive no. 1070 will travel with the 765 to St. Louis.

We’ll be releasing more news and special items to celebrate our 40th anniversary starting with the 765’s complete 2012 schedule. Discover the 765 trackside in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Missouri, and Illinois throughout the summer on the following dates below.

Please note that we cannot provide routing or times for deadhead moves as these are not scheduled and may change at any time.

Download the schedule.

 

July 20 – Fort Wayne, IN – Bellevue, OH (deadhead)

July 21 – Bellevue – Bucyrus, Ohio (3 trips)
July 22 – Bellevue – Bucyrus, Ohio (2 trips)

July 23 – Bellevue – Toledo (deadhead)

July 28 – Homestead Yard – Maumee (2 trips)
July 29 – Homestead Yard – Maumee (2 trips)

July 30 – Toledo – Portsmouth, Ohio (deadhead)
July 31 – Portsmouth, Ohio – Williamson, West Virginia (deadhead)

August 4th – Williamson, WV – Ought One (am) Naugatuck (pm) (3 trips)
August 5th – Williamson, WV – Ought One (am) Naugatuck (pm) (2 trips)

August 6th – Williamson – Columbus, Ohio (deadhead)
August 7th – Columbus, OH – Pittsburgh, PA (deadhead)

August 11th – Conway Yard – OC Bridge (2 trips)
August 12th – Conway Bridge – Homewood Junction (2 trips)

August 13th – Conway – Harrisburg (deadhead)

August 18th – Enola – CP Capitol (3 trips)
August 19th – Enola – CP Capitol (2 trips)

August 20th – Harrisburg, PA – Pittsburgh (deadhead)
August 21st – Pittsburgh, PA – Bellevue, OH (deadhead)
August 22nd – Bellevue – Fort Wayne, IN (deadhead)

September 5th – Fort Wayne, IN – Decatur, IL (deadhead)
September 6th – Decatur, IL – St. Louis (deadhead)

September 8th – Berkley, MO – St. Peters, MO (2 trips)
September 9th – Berkley, MO – St. Peters, MO (2 trips)

September 10th – St. Louis – Decatur, IL (deadhead)
September 11th – Decatur, Fort Wayne (deadhead)

September 29th, 30th – Open House, New Haven, IN

Help support railroad preservation by using this information safely and responsibly. Schedule is subject to change without notice.

Return on July 9th, 10th, 13th and 16th for more exciting news from the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and the 765.

765 to Help Celebrate Norfolk Southern’s 30th Anniversary

By Events, News

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.