Kentucky Steam Equipment
Diesel Locomotives
KSHX 6162
Type:
SD40-2
Manufacturer:
Electro-Motive Division, General Motors Corp.
Built:
1978 as Norfolk and Western 6162
Acquired From:
Donated by Norfolk Southern, June 2020
Status:
Operational
History:
NS 6162 is an excellent example of one of the most successful diesel locomotive designs of the 20th century. Originally built for the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1978, N&W 6162 was a workhorse for over forty years, eventually becoming NS 6162 when the Southern and N&W merged in 1982. The SD40-2 was an improved design from its predecessor, the SD-40. Nearly 4000 of these locomotives were produced for American railroads between 1972 and 1983. To this day, many still remain in service, a testament to their build quality and versatility. 6162 was in revenue service for Norfolk Southern until late May, 2020 when it was put in storage in Illinois, and labeled as surplus for the railroad. Two weeks later, it was donated to Kentucky Steam.
KSHC has not yet determined a preservation plan for this locomotive, but it is hoped that eventually it can be re-painted in a style similar to its counterparts on either the L&N or C&O railroads. As for now, the engine is in excellent mechanical condition and has been test run several times on KSHC track. Its addition to our collection is a credit to the generosity of the Norfolk Southern Corp and the men and women who work for them.
KSHX 1100
Type:
SW-1500 Road Switcher
Manufacturer:
Electro-Motive Division, General Motors Corp.
Built:
1970 as L&N 5000
Acquired From:
Donated as CSXT 1100 by CSX, July 2019
Status:
Operational
History:
1100 is an EMD SW1500 "road switcher" capable of producing 1,500 horsepower. These Diesel-electric locomotives were built by GM between 1966-1974 generally for switching duties. The SW1500 was the replacement for the SW1200 and the Louisville and Nashville Railroad ordered 30 beginning in 1970. KSHX 1100 was the class leader for the L&N (the first SW1500 built for them) and was numbered 5000 when it was delivered to the railroad. It kept that number until the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad merged with the L&N and Clinchfield Railroad in 1982, when the locomotive was re-numbered Seaboard System 1100. Later that decade, when the Seaboard because CSX Transportation, the engine became CSXT 1100 which was its road number until it was donated by CSX to Kentucky Steam in the summer of 2019. Today, KSHX 1100 is being utilized as a switcher at the Kentucky Steam shop in Irvine, where it's on the active roster and is blue-carded. Kentucky Steam intends to keep the locomotive in as-delivered condition with the exception of KSHC lettering. Eventually, we hope to re-paint it in original as-built L&N paint, as seen in the photos below.
Notes:
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1100's sister locomotive, CSXT 1103 was donated to the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, KY and currently in operation.
Steam Locomotives
C&O 2716
Type:
2-8-4 Kanawha, Class K-4
Manufacturer:
American Locomotive Company (ALCO)
Built:
December 1943, Schenectady, NY
Acquired From:
Leased from Kentucky Railway Museum
Status:
Under Restoration
History:
Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) 2716 was one of ninety 2-8-4 locomotives built for the railroad between 1943 and 1947. They operated regularly in both freight and passenger service until 1956, but by January 1957, the C&O abandoned all steam operations in favor of diesel-electrics. The C&O was, however, very philanthropic with their retired steam fleet, eventually donated 2716 and twelve of its sisters to rail preservation groups in the east. Twelve of the thirteen engines still exist today. 2716 was donated to the Kentucky Railway Museum (KRM) in May of 1959 and was delivered to their museum grounds in Louisville where it was on static display for ten years. It eventually operated for ten months between 1981 and 1982 after a brief restoration by the Southern Railroad. It also was operated by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in 1996 for a brief time after their own locomotive, Nickel Plate 765 was taken out of service.
The engine has been inoperable since late-summer 1996, but in February 2016, Kentucky Steam reached an agreement with KRM to lease the engine for eventual operation. For a full history on the engine, visit our 2716 page HERE
RJ Corman 2008
Type:
2-10-2 QJ
Manufacturer:
Datong Locomotive Works
Built:
1986, Chinese Railway 7040
Acquired From:
Donated by RJ Corman, March 2020
Status:
Under evaluation for potential operation
History:
Built new in 1986 at the Datong Locomotive Works in China, as one of 4714 Qian Jin “QJ” Class locomotives constructed for the Chinese Railway System between 1964 and 1988. Originally numbered 7040 with the Chinese Railway, the locomotive number was changed to 2008 by R.J. Corman to coincide with its year of delivery to the United States. 2008 made its inaugural run for the R.J. Corman Company on May 24, 2008 and was operated until July 26, 2013 when it made its final excursion under steam. 2008 has been displayed and stored in Lexington, KY since last operated. Its donation to the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. was announced on March 11, 2020. 2008 is currently still stored awaiting preparation for its move to the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. campus in Irvine, KY where it will then be displayed and evaluated for a possible return to service.
A complete history will be available soon here at KSHC