Wikipedia

Nickel Plate Road class H-6o

The Nickel Plate Road H-6o was a class of 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotives that were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) for the Lake Erie and Western Railroad (LE&W) and were given to the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railway (NYC&StL) or Nickel Plate Road (NKP) in 1918.

Nickel Plate Road H-6o
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number49682-49684, 49718-49729
ModelUSRA Light Mikado
Build date1918
Total produced15
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-8-2
 • UIC1'D1'
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.33 in (0.838 m)
Driver dia.63 in (1.600 m)
Trailing dia.43 in (1.092 m)
Length90 ft 6+7⁄8 in (27.61 m)
Height14 ft 11 in (4.55 m)
Adhesive weight221,500 lb (100.5 t)
Loco weight282,000 lb (127.9 t)
Total weight637,000 lb (289 t)
Tender typeNKP class 22RA
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity40,000 lb (18.1 t)
Water cap.22,000 US gal (83,000 L; 18,000 imp gal)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area66.7 sq ft (6.20 m2)
Boiler pressure200 psi (1.38 MPa)
Cylinder size26 in × 30 in (660 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Tractive effort54,720 lbf (243.4 kN)
Factor of adh.4.05
Career
OperatorsLake Erie and Western Railroad (LE&W)
Nickel Plate Road (NKP)
National Railways of Mexico (NdeM)
ClassNKP H-6o
NumbersLE&W: 5540–5554
NKP: 586–600
Preserved587
DispositionOne preserved, remainder scrapped

History

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In 1918, the LE&W ordered 15 locomotives from Baldwin where they were numbered by the Lake Erie and Western Railroad (LE&W) as 5540 through 5554. In 1922, the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railway (NYC&StL) or Nickel Plate Road acquired the LE&W. This led to the locomotives being renumbered 586 though 600 between 1923 and 1924.[1][2] Between 1945 and 1946, nos. 586, 588, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598 and 600 were sold to the National Railways of Mexico (NdeM) in 1945 and 1946 all of those locomotives would be scrapped.

Preservation

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Main article: Nickel Plate Road 587
 
Nickel Plate Road 587 hauling an excursion through Tipton, Indiana in June 1991.

Nickel Plate Road 587 (formerly LE&W No. 5541) was retired from active service in 1955, it was later donated to the city of Indianapolis and was placed on static display in Broad Ripple Park where it remained there for 28 years later. In 1983, a group called "The Friends of the 587" formed and did a feasibility study and determined that the locomotive was good for restoration.

After five years of work, 587 returned to operating condition in 1988 and pulled its first revenue train in September 1988 from Indianapolis to Logansport, Indiana.

In 1989, 587 participated in a double-header, and triple-header with two Norfolk & Western Nos. 611 and 1218 hauling with a solo passenger train alongside the excursion. During the 1990s, it also ran several excursions with NKP 'Berkshire' No. 765.[3][4][5][6][7]

On June 28, 2018, a court order decided that 587 would need to be moved out of the ITM shops by July 12, 2018, or the locomotive would be scrapped. Thankfully, the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation has made a deal with the ITM to relocate the 587 and move it out before the deadline. Plans are for the locomotive to be moved to Ravenna, KY and have it stored alongside Chesapeake & Ohio No. 2716 until the ITM can raise enough funds for restoration, eventually returning the locomotive back to Indiana once restoration is complete. On March 5, 2021, ownership of 587 was transferred to a private individual who is working with the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation regarding the future of the locomotive. 587 will be remaining disassembled in Ravenna, KY until a solid plan can be attained.[8]

Accidents and incidents

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  • On September 12, 1943, Nickel Plate Road no. 590, originally LE&W 5544, derailed in Brocton, New York. It was repaired after the accident, and returned to service and operated until it was retired in February 1944, and was later scrapped.

Fleet numbers

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LE&W No. NKP No. Built date Serial number First run date Retirement date Disposal date Notes
5540 586 September 1918 49682 - - - Scrapped
5541 587 September 1918 49683 - March 1955 1955 Stored, awaiting restoration at Ravenna, Kentucky
5542 588 September 1918 49684 - - - Scrapped
5543 589 September 1918 49718 - - - Scrapped
5544 590 September 1918 49719 - February 1944 - Scrapped
5545 591 September 1918 49720 - - - Scrapped
5546 592 September 1918 49721 - - - Scrapped
5547 593 September 1918 49722 - - - Scrapped
5548 594 September 1918 49723 - - - Scrapped
5549 595 September 1918 49724 - - - Scrapped
5550 596 September 1918 49725 - - - Scrapped
5551 597 September 1918 49726 - - 1957 Scrapped
5552 598 September 1918 49727 - - - Scrapped
5553 599 September 1918 49728 - - 1953 Scrapped
5554 600 September 1918 49729 - - - Scrapped

References

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  1. ^ "Nickel Plate Locomotive No. 587". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on 2017-06-15. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  2. ^ Fischer, Jessica (2021-02-05). "Engine No. 587". Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  3. ^ "Steam train returning to Bloomington". Vol. CVIII, no. 258. Bedford, Indiana: The Times-Mail. June 15, 1994. p. 22.
  4. ^ "Bloomington, Monroe County Will Celebrate 175th Anniversary". No. 154. Martinsville, Indiana: The Reporter Times. June 29, 1993. p. 4.
  5. ^ "Locomotive to pull fall excursions". Vol. CVIII, no. 47. Bedford, Indiana: The Times-Mail. October 8, 1993. p. 30.
  6. ^ "Museum offering train rides to Bloomington". Noblesville, Indiana: The Noblesville Ledger. April 20, 1989.
  7. ^ "Train Excursions to Brown County". Logansport, Indiana: Logansport Pharo Times. October 10, 1988. p. 7.
  8. ^ Campbell, Chris (2021-03-05). "KSHC Acquires Cars; New Path For Nickel Plate 587". Kentucky Steam. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
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