Inside the shop

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

Check out the progress on our shop projects and historic rolling stock below.

Locomotives

-Nickel Plate steam locomotive #765 (updated 5/8/2007)
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.

Status: Operational

-USA 1231
Diesel locomotive 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 around 1985. The 1231 serves as the shop switcher, and can be reserved for use in our Engineer for an Hour program

Status: Operational

-Wabash steam locomotive #1 
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. 

Status: Work centers on rebuilding the cab and tender.

Rolling Stock

-NICKEL PLATE CABOOSE 141 (updated 3/20/2007)
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. The 141 just underwent a complete five year rebuild and is now in like-new condition.
Status: Servicable
-Water Canteen 765A
The 765’s “water bottle” is a former 1900-series L&N Berkshire 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.
Status: Out of Service
-Crew Car 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.
Status: Servicable
-Nickel Plate Caboose 451
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 red 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 Fort Wayne-Muncie line. 

Status: Under Restoration

-Norfolk & Western 200-ton crane
This crane was 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.
Status: Operationalhttp://www.765.org/sevensixtyfive/sevensixtyfive.htmlhttp://www.765.org/engineer.htmlhttp://www.765.org/onefortyone/onefortyone.htmlshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2
15808 Edgerton Road • New Haven, Indiana • 46774 • 260-493-0765 • contact@765.orgmailto:contact@765.orgshapeimage_3_link_0
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New Haven Canal Days
June 7th, 10AM-4PM
Caboose rides and shop tours.

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