Steam & Excursion > Chasing an NKP Berk Today - 765 in Lake Erie Land

Monday May 9, 2022
Sunny and 75 degrees

Got wind of the NKP 765 ferry move from Fort Wayne to Cleveland today and ventured out to try and capture it to share here. It is always hard to fully tell a photo story with a few hit and run images of such a beautiful machine, but giving it a shot here.

1 - 3. The story starts with the 765 approaching Kimball, OH a few miles east of the Bellevue yards. Kimball (HI) is where the B&O out of Sandusky crossed the NKP.  So here it comes led by NS 9916 as it works through the Kimball interlocker. The B&O is long gone so this is where the single track out of Bellevue starts.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 05/12/22 18:57 by train1275.

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4. The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and members work hard to preserve the sights, sounds and feel of steam in the form of the Nickel Plate 765, a Class S-2, 2-8-4 Berkshire completed September 8, 1944. A fine machine with 69" drivers, 245 psi boiler pressure, 25" x 34" cylinders, Baker Valve gear and 64,135 lbs of tractive effort. Built by the best, ... Lima. 

5. The business end passing by  .....

6. To me it is not only about the locomotives, but the people, the crew. Here we see them at work and glimpse the throttle and reverser. Sorry I don't know their names or I would include them here. Besides them is the whole cadre of behind the scenes supporters, volunteers, workers and others that make this passing scene possible. Thanks to All !!

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7. The going away shot at Kimball as the train designated as NS 957 enters the Lake District of NS for the run to Vermilion where it will take the connector at GC to head to Rockport (Cleveland) via the ex- NYC RR Chicago Line. Their destination will be the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad for a series of upcoming trips.

8 - 9. The Chase ! Heading out of Kimball the tracks run a diagonal and the roads cut right angles giving the 765 a clear advantage. They beat me to Strecker Road crossing near West Avery despite my best efforts and coming short of breaking a land speed record (I am too old for that now), but this gives a glimpse of the spirit of the chase. The fans were out and taking pictures !



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/22 18:03 by train1275.

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10. Taking as direct a route as possible, seeing that I was falling behind already in the chase, to Vermilion and hoping to grab a shot of them over the NYC RR bridge over the Vermilion River ..... my normal haunt for those who have followed these Lake Erie Land threads. The direct high speed run is successful and here they come over the river with the NS 9916 leading the Superstar.

11. High and mightty over the the river.

12.  A closer look as they pass overhead.

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13. The mechanical motion that makes it move. The beauty of the beast ! Note that red Lima builders plate too.

14. "The Face" of the 765, one of Lima's finest !

15. "Nickel Plate Road" proudly marking the tender.

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Greatly appreciate your efforts with Nickel Plate Road 765 on its journey to the Cuyahoga Scenic Railroad.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/22 17:56 by cozephyr.

16. A look at what supports the 765, equipment that is often overlooked but critical to the life and movement of the locomotive. The auxilary tender RPCX 767, coal gondola and tool car.

17. RPCX 485797 the coal gondola follows the aux tender.

18. Tool Car RPCX 701 built by St. Louis Car in 1953 for the Korean conflict (as a kitchen car?) and now serving as the ever important tool car. It is also the Glenn F. Brendel one of the key people involved with the 765 and an appropriate designation it is .... Thank You Glenn, still supporting the 765. "Whatever It Takes" - A great motto !!

So, in a nutshell that is a brief hit and run look at the 765 movement today, thanks for coming along.

 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/22 18:08 by train1275.

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Wife's bright idea to go to Bellevue this morning and get her.

Glad I did, and man for me childhood memories of the very first time not only seeing her, but actually touching 765 in the very same city she was built.

Glad the heads up on the move worked out. I still get excited and a bit misty eyed every time it either moves or I'm just seeing her again.

I'll have my pics up sometime soon.

Michael Fair
Royal Oak, MI



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/22 22:14 by bath_wildcat.

Super coverage - Thanks for sharing these with us. The crew images help set this apart from so many other sets of photos.
Bob

Great photos of a great steam locomotive.  I wish them nothing but success in their operations this year.  Thanks so much for sharing your photos.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

Great Photos glad you caught it

Thank you for your great coverage of 765's move.  Too bad she had to push that NS diseasel along.

nycman Wrote:
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> Thank you for your great coverage of 765's move. 
> Too bad she had to push that NS diseasel along.


Yea it was too bad as the NS escort was one of the rattiest units off the roster.

Michael Fair
Royal Oak, MI

Kinda bad public relations when the diesel is more grimy and dirty than the steam locomotive in my humble opinion…. But grateful that NS allowed the steam locomotive to be moved at all over their railroad right now considering the state of NS operations.

Posted from iPhone

Cool pics, be nice if NS could let them and the 611 run their engines on their own power, what's up with their policy for crying out loud!

They did operate under their own power until the wonderful gift of PTC came along.

Posted from iPhone

Dirty diesel in the lead keeps the causal rail fans away. The crowds and chase can get nasty with a steam engine on point. NS doesn't want that type of attention on a ferry move.

Not sure which engine is providing the power. With PTC I'd expect the NS leader to be in control and the 765 to be coasting. They will get to use the power this weekend in the valley.

Thanks for the photos. I made my run over to Ohio last year for throttle time. Almost went again this year but work got in the way. Maybe next year.

nycman Wrote:
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> Thank you for your great coverage of 765's move. 
> Too bad she had to push that NS diseasel along.

The NS is saving their fuel and letting coal do the work.  My lifetime friend son is firing it pushing the PTC ahead of them

You guys complaining about the dirty diesel need to extract your craniums from your rectums. Be VERY grateful that NS continues to permit mainline qualified steam locomotives to move over its system with a PTC equipped leader. This enables the 765/611 and others to go places where they can generate badly needed revenues.

  Thank you NS for all you do to keep the steam flame alive in your territory.

   Ross Rowland 

co614 Wrote:
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> You guys complaining about the dirty diesel need
> to extract your craniums from your rectums. Be
> VERY grateful that NS continues to permit mainline
> qualified steam locomotives to move over its
> system with a PTC equipped leader. This enables
> the 765/611 and others to go places where they can
> generate badly needed revenues.
>
>   Thank you NS for all you do to keep the steam
> flame alive in your territory.
>
>    Ross Rowland 

I Agree with Ross, If keeping steam thriving, and even in the biggest or smallest places, a diesel on the Point Isn't going to do any harm. If we have to watch with a Diesel Leading until a more Feasible way to Install PTC On Steam, then It's a small sacrafice. Just be Glad you get to see the Locomotive. I'm going to be Riding 765 on May 14th, and I'm very grateful to be given the opportunity to do so. 

Maxwell DiNovo
Manhattan, IL