Nickel Plate Road 779

Nickel Plate Road 779
NKP 779 pictured at Lincoln Park in Lima, Ohio
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderLima Locomotive Works
Serial number9380
Build dateMay 13, 1949
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte2-8-4
 • UIC1'D2'h
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.36 in (0.914 m)
Driver dia.69 in (1.753 m)
Trailing dia.43 in (1.092 m)
Length100 ft 8+34 in (30.70 m)
Height15 ft 8 in (4.78 m)
Adhesive weight264,300 lb (119,900 kg; 119.9 t)
Loco weight444,300 lb (201,500 kg; 201.5 t)
Total weight808,820 lb (366,870 kg; 366.87 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity44,000 lb (20,000 kg; 20 t) 22 short tons (20.0 t; 19.6 long tons)
Water cap.22,000 US gal (83,000 L; 18,000 imp gal)
Boiler89.0625 in (2.26 m) diameter × 42 ft (12.80 m) length
Boiler pressure245 psi (1.69 MPa)
SuperheaterElesco
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size25 in × 34 in (635 mm × 864 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speed70 mph (113 km/h)
Tractive effort64,135 lbf (285.3 kN)
Factor of adh.4.12
Career
OperatorsNickel Plate Road
ClassS-3
Number in class80 (Entire 2-8-4 fleet on the Nickel Plate Road). L-H built 10 of these S-3s for the NKP.
NumbersNKP 779
Nicknames"The Last S-3", "NKP's Last Steam Engine", "Last Berkshire" and "Lincoln Park's Locomotive"
Retired1958
Preserved1966
Current ownerCity of Lima, Ohio
DispositionOn static display

Nickel Plate Road 779 is a 2-8-4 or "Berkshire" type steam locomotive built for the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, (reporting mark NKP) completed on May 13, 1949, for use on fast freight trains. It was the last new steam locomotive to be delivered to the Nickel Plate Road, and alongside L&N 1991, another 2-8-4 for the Louisville and Nashville, is the last of 36 steam engines completed by Lima-Hamilton from 1947 to 1949, and the final 2-8-4 locomotive on standard gauge completed in the world. L-H's first diesel, A-3080 demonstrator #1000 was completed the same day as #779. NKP also received the first production A-3080, NKP #305, one of 4 delivered by Lima-Hamilton in 1949.

Before her retirement in 1958, the locomotive had logged 677,095 miles.[1]

In 1966, the locomotive was donated to the City of Lima, Ohio, and placed on display in Lincoln Park, where it remains to date.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "NKP Berkshire Locomotive No. 779 Historical Marker".
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40°44′18″N 84°5′21″W / 40.73833°N 84.08917°W / 40.73833; -84.08917