Steam & Excursion > Nashville Steam meets initial fundraising goal, 576 to leave park

The Nashville Steam Preservation Society (NSPS) today announced that, thanks to the generosity of hundreds of donors from across the nation and globe, it has surpassed its initial fundraising goal of $500,000. Achieving this milestone enables NSPS to relocate the famous Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway (NC&StL) Steam Locomotive No. 576 from Nashville’s Centennial Park to a nearby shop facility for a complete restoration to operation. The highly anticipated relocation of the locomotive is planned for late 2018 or early 2019, once arrangements with the moving contractor have been finalized.

Known as the “Stripe,” No. 576 is the only remaining J3 Class 4-8-4 steam locomotive built for the NC&StL Railway. The locomotive was designed in the company’s office building on Broadway in the heart of Nashville and manufactured by the American Locomotive Company in 1942. The locomotive, long associated with Nashville’s Country Music roots, has been on display in Nashville’s Centennial Park since 1953. Fans of Johnny Cash will also recognize the locomotive from his 1969 Life Magazine Cover. “This is a true milestone for the history of No. 576,” said NSPS President Shane Meador. “We would like to thank everyone who has contributed thus far to get the project to this point. Through their generous contributions, No. 576 now has another lease on life.”As part of a 2016 lease agreement with Metro Nashville, owner of No. 576, NSPS was required to raise $500,000 prior to relocating the historic locomotive to ensure sufficient funding was in place. Now that this initial goal has been met, the locomotive will be moved from Centennial Park to live railroad tracks nearby.

No. 576 will then be moved to the Tennessee Central Railway Museum approximately five miles away, where the restoration is planned to take place.NSPS has held regular work sessions in Centennial Park since 2016 to inspect the locomotive and prepare it for relocation. Several components and appliances have been completely restored off-site and are ready for service. Each work session attracts hundreds of interested spectators curious about the locomotive and the work being done. In August, Nashville Steam volunteers successfully rolled the locomotive back about five feet. “Once the locomotive’s wheels broke free from the rusty rails, it rolled smoothly just like when it was first built 75 years ago,” said Meador.

More at the link:http://www.nashvillesteam.org/2018/10/nsps-steam-reaches-initial-fundraising-goal/

Donations can be made here:

http://www.nashvillesteam.org/donate/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/11/18 07:38 by nathansixchime.

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nathansixchime Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Nashville Steam Preservation Society (NSPS)
> today announced that, thanks to the generosity of
> hundreds of donors from across the nation and
> globe, it has surpassed its initial fundraising
> goal of $500,000. Achieving this milestone enables
> NSPS to relocate the famous Nashville, Chattanooga
> & St. Louis Railway (NC&StL) Steam Locomotive No.
> 576 from Nashville’s Centennial Park to a nearby
> shop facility for a complete restoration to
> operation. The highly anticipated relocation of
> the locomotive is planned for late 2018 or early
> 2019, once arrangements with the moving contractor
> have been finalized.
>
> Known as the “Stripe,” No. 576 is the only
> remaining J3 Class 4-8-4 steam locomotive built
> for the NC&StL Railway. The locomotive was
> designed in the company’s office building on
> Broadway in the heart of Nashville and
> manufactured by the American Locomotive Company in
> 1942. The locomotive, long associated with
> Nashville’s Country Music roots, has been on
> display in Nashville’s Centennial Park since
> 1953. Fans of Johnny Cash will also recognize the
> locomotive from his 1969 Life Magazine Cover.
> “This is a true milestone for the history of No.
> 576,” said NSPS President Shane Meador. “We
> would like to thank everyone who has contributed
> thus far to get the project to this point. Through
> their generous contributions, No. 576 now has
> another lease on life.”As part of a 2016 lease
> agreement with Metro Nashville, owner of No. 576,
> NSPS was required to raise $500,000 prior to
> relocating the historic locomotive to ensure
> sufficient funding was in place. Now that this
> initial goal has been met, the locomotive will be
> moved from Centennial Park to live railroad tracks
> nearby.
>
> No. 576 will then be moved to the Tennessee
> Central Railway Museum approximately five miles
> away, where the restoration is planned to take
> place.NSPS has held regular work sessions in
> Centennial Park since 2016 to inspect the
> locomotive and prepare it for relocation. Several
> components and appliances have been completely
> restored off-site and are ready for service. Each
> work session attracts hundreds of interested
> spectators curious about the locomotive and the
> work being done. In August, Nashville Steam
> volunteers successfully rolled the locomotive back
> about five feet. “Once the locomotive’s wheels
> broke free from the rusty rails, it rolled
> smoothly just like when it was first built 75
> years ago,” said Meador.
>
> More at the
> link:http://www.nashvillesteam.org/2018/10/nsps-st
> eam-reaches-initial-fundraising-goal/
>
> Donations can be made here:
>
> http://www.nashvillesteam.org/donate/

Will it ever be operational?

Posted from iPhone

Did you click the links provided to find out?

It says above "...for a complete restoration to operation..."

Now, according to the usual TO script, we are supposed to start fighting about where it can run, right?

Kimball Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It says above "...for a complete restoration to
> operation..."
>
> Now, according to the usual TO script, we are
> supposed to start fighting about where it can run,
> right?

Probably could run on the Nashville & Eastern.  But don't worry TO people, it will pull unauthentic cars,  white driver tires, possibly even one of those horrendous flags, maybe the wrong type of ballast....all things we can fight about ad nauseum.

Kimball Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It says above "...for a complete restoration to
> operation..."
>
> Now, according to the usual TO script, we are
> supposed to start fighting about where it can run,
> right?
From what I understand the engine will be running on the Nashville & Eastern Railroad where the Music City Star commuter trains and the Tennessee Central Railroad Museum trains currently operate on.

I'm curious how far the 576 can go on that line. There's a few bridges east of Lebanon that probably couldn't handle a 4-8-4, even a small one like this.

Thanks for the update Kelly. That loco has been in the back of my mind lately. I'm glad to see that something is happening.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/11/18 18:22 by wabash2800.

Waaay long time ago, 1974.... Ross, and the early team leading the American Freedom Train, was establishing business relations with several prominent entertainment figures in Nashville.. They were curious about the operable capability of 576....

Ross sent me to Nashville to make a surbpvey and mechanical assessment of the 576.
After an in depth assessment of the 576, I reported that the engine was eminently restorable and could make a fine engine for use by the AFT.    I considered it a true GEM of a locomotive candidate for AFT’s use.  easily restorable and a perfect size.

Times changed, people changed and choices changed...

Today, 576, in my opinion, is STILL eminently restorable ....and similar to the CN U-2  4-8-4s
( and  sister classes of that design 4-8-4), 

it is a very well-proportioned locomotive and has the advantage of being able to travel almost anywhere.... it’s not a very heavy
“rail-masher”.... And should be very flexibile for varied rail excursions, over many less-than-perfect rail lines.

She will be an easy restoration to undertake and will a dramatic performer..
It will not require a lot of tinkering to get it up and running..... please don’t spend a lot of time taking everything apart  to play with it....we are not locomotive builders.... parts disappear,  get stolen, and exposed to the elements.
(1361, 3713, 1309.....13 is fairly unlucky number for restoration efforts..) ,

W.

 

That's great news, really interesting piece, but personally I've been escorted out of parks for a lot less than that!

Out

Kimball Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It says above "...for a complete restoration to
> operation..."
>
> Now, according to the usual TO script, we are
> supposed to start fighting about where it can run,
> right?
Gee I hope the cars are all painted green and match and the crew doesn't wear those safety vests and there's no diesel and.............fill in the blanks.

It's hard to beat this set up if you're a mainline engine:

http://www.nashvillesteam.org/faq/

Where will 576 operate?
We have a commitment from the Nashville and Eastern Railroad to operate the locomotive on its railroad.

Is the Nashville and Eastern Railroad the same rail line that Nashville’s Music City Star commuter train runs over?
Yes, 32 miles of the Nashville and Eastern Railroad have been upgraded to commuter track standards from Nashville to Lebanon.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/18 10:12 by nathansixchime.