Seventy years ago today, the Lima Locomotive Works delivered the last steam locomotive

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Mon May 13, 2019, 01:18 PM - Edit history (1)

built by a commercial locomotive works for use on a US mainline railroad.

Oddly, the word "Baldwin" appears in the URL of the photograph. I have no idea why, because this is not a Baldwin.

Nickel Plate 779

Nickel Plate Road 779



NKP 779 pictured at Lincoln Park in Lima, Ohio

Type and origin
Power type: Steam
Builder: Lima Locomotive Works
Serial number: 9380
Build date: May 13, 1949

Nickel Plate Road 779 is a 2-8-4 or "Berkshire" type steam locomotive built for the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad in May 1949, for use on fast freight trains. It was the last new steam locomotive to be delivered to the Nickel Plate Road, the last steam locomotive ever manufactured by Lima Locomotive Works, and the final 2-8-4 locomotive on standard gauge built in the world.

History

779 was delivered to the Nickel Plate in 1949 to pull fast freights. She logged 677,095 miles ran. 779 was retired in early 1958.

In May 1963, it was donated to the City of Lima, Ohio and placed on display in Lincoln Park, where it remains to date.

New York, Chicago & St Louis 2-8-4 "Berkshire" Locomotives in the USA

This is remarkable video. At 19:06, the cameraman heads off from the Nickel Plate. He takes the Pennsy into Washington and keeps on going to an excursion on the Norfolk and Western. That's a DC Transit Line 80 car in front of DC's Union Station at 22:06. The 80 Line was converted to buses on September 7, 1958.

[Quemado]

1. Now, if we could just get them out of service

and replace them with something more environmentally friendly.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Constellations, maybe?

Viscounts?



One more, from

Chicago Through the Years
....



Double-parked airliners were common at Midway, as evidenced by this shot showing a pair of Capital Viscounts, two Delta Convair 440s and a leased Capital DC-6B in what would be the airlines’s final livery.

[MyOwnPeace]

2. Ironic to see this today..........

what with the excitement of the "Big Boy" of the Union Pacific back on track!

Both beautiful locomotives - thanks for the post!

[Brother Buzz]

4. Today, Lima, Ohio is famous for making something else heavy

The Lima Army Tank Plant (LATP) is a located in Lima, Ohio. I imagine a large part of The Lima Army Tank Plant's skilled labor force came from The Lima Locomotive Works when it opened in 1942.

The Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, also known as the Lima Army Tank Plant (LATP) is a tank plant located in Lima, Ohio. It is a government-owned, contractor-operated facility currently operated by General Dynamics Land Systems. Workers at the plant are represented by UAW Local 2075