Nickel Plate Road class H-6o

Last updated
Nickel Plate Road H-6o
Nkp587 (4207077832) (cropped).jpg
Nickel Plate Road 587 hauling an excursion through Tipton, Indiana in June 1991.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number49682-49684, 49718-49729
Model USRA Light Mikado
Build date1918
Total produced15
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 •  Whyte 2-8-2
 •  UIC 1'D1'
Gauge 4 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 weight 221,500 lb (100.5 t)
Loco weight282,000 lb (127.9 t)
Total weight637,000 lb (289 t)
Tender typeNKP class 22RA
Fuel type Coal
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 size 26 in × 30 in (660 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures
Tractive effort 54,720 lbf (243.4 kN)
Factor of adh. 4.05
Career
Operators Lake Erie and Western Railroad (LE&W)
Nickel Plate Road (NKP)
National Railways of Mexico (NdeM)
Class NKP H-6o
NumbersLE&W: 5540–5554
NKP: 586–600
Preserved 587
DispositionOne preserved, remainder scrapped

The Nickel Plate RoadH-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.

Contents

History

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

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 made a deal with the ITM to relocate the 587 and move it out before the deadline. Plans called for the locomotive to be moved to Ravenna, KY and have it stored alongside Chesapeake & Ohio No. 2716 until the ITM could raise enough funds for restoration, eventually returning the locomotive back to Indiana once restoration was complete. On March 5, 2021, ownership of 587 was transferred to a private corporation, 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]

As of January 23, 2025, 587 is scheduled to be sold at public auction due to unpaid storage fees. The auction is to be conducted via sealed bids with a deadline of February 25th. The winning bidder will be responsible for removing the locomotive and tender within sixty days of notification. [9]

Accidents and incidents

Fleet numbers

LE&W No.NKP No.Built dateSerial numberFirst run dateRetirement dateDisposal dateNotes
5540586September 191849682---Scrapped.
5541 587 September 191849683-March 19551955Stored, awaiting restoration at Ravenna, Kentucky. [8]
5542588September 191849684---Scrapped.
5543589September 191849718---Scrapped.
5544590September 191849719-February 1944-Scrapped. [10]
5545591September 191849720---Scrapped.
5546592September 191849721---Scrapped.
5547593September 191849722---Scrapped.
5548594September 191849723---Scrapped.
5549595September 191849724---Scrapped.
5550596September 191849725---Scrapped.
5551597September 191849726--1957Scrapped.
5552598September 191849727---Scrapped.
5553599September 191849728-19531953Scrapped. [10]
5554600September 191849729---Scrapped.

References

  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. 1 2 Campbell, Chris (2021-03-05). "KSHC Acquires Cars; New Path For Nickel Plate 587". Kentucky Steam. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  9. ↑ Franz, Justin (2025-01-24). "Nickel Plate 2-8-2 to be Sold at Auction". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  10. 1 2 3 National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. 1984-10-17. p. 3.
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