Learn about our rolling stock and restoration efforts on everything from baggage carts to mainline steam locomotives.

The 765 is a high-speed steam locomotive built for the Nickel Plate Railroad by the Lima Locomotive Works in 1944. The engine spent most of its career pulling trains out of Fort Wayne, Indiana between Chicago, Illinois and Bellevue, Ohio until it was retired in 1957. No. 765 was donated to the City of Fort Wayne in 1963 for display in Lawton Park, where it remained until removed by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in 1974. Following a five year restoration, the locomotive returned to service operating special passenger excursion trains around the midwest for fourteen years until it entered the shop for a complete overhaul in the late 1990s. In 2005, a completely renewed 765 returned to action and now continues to operate in public exhibition service.

Diesel locomotive no. 1231 was built in 1953 by the Davenport Besler Corporation for the U.S. Army. The 1231 spent most of its Army career at the Casad Military Depot south of the Society’s shop. It was donated to the Society in 1985. No. 1231 serves as the shop switcher, and can be reserved for use in our Engineer for an Hour program

The Rhode Island Works of the American Locomotive Company constructed this steam locomotive (originally built as No. 534 for the Wabash Railroad) in 1906. This Wabash class B-7 was leased to it's LE&FtW subsidiary in 1954 after all other Wabash steam locomotives had been retired. It worked the steel mill on Taylor Street in Fort Wayne and other west end industries until 1957, when it was placed on exhibit in Fort Wayne's Sweeney Park. In 1984 it was donated to the Society. No. 1 will undergo restoration evaluation in the future.

Built for Nickel Plate predecessor Lake Erie & Western as a four wheel, two axle caboose in 1901. Later it was lengthened and given two four-wheel trucks. Of all the Nickel Plates cabooses saved, this is the only LE&W model to survive. No. 141 just underwent a complete five year rebuild and is now in like-new condition.

Nickel Plate Caboose no. 451 / Norfolk & Western no. 5575551

Nickel Plate 451, is a steel bay window caboose thirty-seven feet and eleven inches long. It was built by Morrison-International Car Company in 1962 and became Norfolk and Western 5575551 after the railroads merged. The caboose was donated by Jim Canter of Beech Grove, Indiana and had been located near Eaton, Indiana, just south of Hartford City, within sight of the former Nickel Plate’s Fort Wayne-Muncie line. The caboose has received light repairs since acquisition in 2006.

Water Canteen 765A

The 765’s “water bottle” is a former 1900-series Louisville & Nashville 2-8-4 tender built in 1949 by the Lima Locomotive Works. When it was donated to the Society in 1986 it was painted a bright green and was lettered as an "environmental" car, carrying 26,000 gallons of used oil which was shipped to a reprocessing facility. The canteen is used to increase water capacity during excursions and eliminate stopping to refuel. As of 2008, 765A is out of service pending repair.

USA Kitchen Car no. 89665 / FWRHS Crew Car no. 701

This car was built for the U.S. Army in 1953 as USAX #89665 by the St. Louis Car Company. It was built as an Army kitchen car, but never saw the service for which it was intended. After 20 years of storage, it was acquired by the Kentucky Railroad Museum and was used as a concession car on their diesel powered excursions. In 1979 it came to Fort Wayne and was used on 765's first excursions to Argos, Indiana in July, 1980. Thereafter, it was converted into a tool and crew car for use with the 765. It has its own power plant and contains workbenches, tool cabinets, welder, washroom, and seating for crew members. No. 701 remains serviceable and accompanies the 765  during excursion service.

Norfolk & Western 200-ton crane

Built by the Industrial Works of Bay City, Michigan in 1922 for the Virginian Railroad. It was transferred to the Norfolk & Western after the 1959 acquisition of the Virginian. It last saw service in Fort Wayne around 1986. Originally built as steam powered, it was converted to diesel power in 1959. Its lifting capacity is rated for 90 tons at a radius of 28 feet, or 200 tons at 17 feet. It weighs approximately 356,000 pounds, or as much as a modern diesel locomotive. The long boom and lifted load is counterbalanced by a massive counter weight on the rear of the cab. The crane is often used for aiding in heavy repair work on rolling stock or locomotives.