Nickel Plate Road No. 765

Nickel Plate Road No. 765 is an S-2-class 2-8-4 "Berkshire" type steam locomotive built by the Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio in 1944. As of today, it operates on occasional mainline excursion service and is owned and operated by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
==History==
Nickel Plate Road No. 765 was built by the Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio in 1944. It ran until 1958, when it was retired in Fort Wayne, IN. In 1963, the locomotive was put on display in Lawton Park and was numbered 767. The city had asked for the real Nickel Plate Road No. 767 but it was in bad shape after it had an accident; it was scrapped. By 1972, the 765 was in terrible condition due to years of exposure from the weather. That same year, The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society was formed to find a new display site for the locomotive and maybe restore it to operating condition. Working outdoors without cranes and other shop equipment or protection from the weather, the restoration went from October 25, 1975 to September 1, 1979, when the engine first steamed up. The locomotive ran from 1979 to 1980 due to some superheater unit problems. After getting some new parts from sister locomotive 755, The locomotive ran again from 1982 to 1993. After another 13 years out of service, the locomotive was steamed up again in 2006 and has been running excursions for the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society since.
==Trivia==
*In 1993, after double-heading with 2-8-2 number 587 to the NRHS Convention in Chicago, Nickel Plate Road No. 765 was briefly re-lettered and renumbered as Chesapeake & Ohio No. 2765.
*In 2016, Nickel Plate Road No. 765 ran a couple of excursions and for the Steam in the Cuyahoga Valley excursion while it was briefly renumbered as the Nickel Plate Road No. 767.
*In 2014, Nickel Plate Road No. 765 was relettered and renumbered as "Lionel Lines" No. 726 During LCCA's 44th Annual Convention.
*In the 1980s, the locomotive appeared in the movies Four Friends and Matewan, and became an annual attraction in the New River Gorge operating the New River Trains from 1985 to 1988 and again from 1990 to 1993.
*In 2017, and 2018, Nickel Plate Road No. 765 visits Joliet, IL for the "Joliet Rocket" a passenger excursion that runs from Joliet to LaSalle St. Station.
*In 2006, the FWRHS was given a "Locomotive Restoration Award" by the Tourist Railway Association, Inc and the "Outstanding Restoration Award" from the Architecture and Community Heritage Foundation of Fort Wayne.
* Before 765 was restored in the mid 1970s, she was on Display in a park in Fort Wayne, IN. It was Numbered "767", Fort Wayne wanted 767 on display because it was the locomotive to celebrate the opening/completion of the Fort Wayne track elevation. 767 had been scrapped already, so NKP renumbered 765 to 767 and the locomotive was given to the town.
*In 2021, 765 was renumbered as 828 as the original 828 got scrapped
*As of late 2021, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society is considering on installing Positive Train Control (PTC) technology on 765.
*In late September & early October 1986 prior to the New River Trips, 765 traveled to Thurmond West Virginia for the filming of the 1987 movie: "Matewan" starring James Earl Jones (Star Wars), & Bob Gunton (The Shawshank Redemption).
*The engine can be seen in Steam & Diesel on NKP 4 volume series by Herron Rail Video and Ohio Central 6325 Return to the High Iron by Mark I Video.
==See also==
*Gallery
Category:2-8-4 steam locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Lima locomotives
Category:American locomotives
Category:Nickel Plate Road locomotives
Category:2-8-4 locomotives
Category:Eight-coupled locomotives
Category:Built in 1944
Category:Locomotives featured in media
Category:Excursion locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:American steam locomotives
Category:Passenger locomotives
Category:Freight locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Restored locomotives
Category:Rebuilds
Category:Preserved steam locomotives
Category:Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society