EDON, Ohio — In its third year with the Indiana Rail Experience, the 2024 Tri-State Scenic steam excursion had new wrinkles for its Father’s Day weekend treks along the Indiana Northeastern Railroad between Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. What hasn’t changed was steam locomotive No. 765 as the star for the all-day trips out of Edon.
The 2-8-4 was fresh from a replacement of the left No. 2 spring hanger after the component revealed a crack during the May 26 inspection. Substitute diesels of the Indiana Northeastern filled in for No. 765 on that day’s Ice Cream Train out of Angola [See “Steam season underway for NKP No. 765…” News Wire, May 29, 2024].
“The spring hanger replacement was not a significant repair,” said Kelly Lynch, vice president of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, “but like many things with a steam locomotive, you spend more time preparing for the work than doing the job itself, and the replacement was completed in about 20 minutes.”
On Saturday, June 15, the steam-powered excursion made its normal round trip to Hillsdale, Mich. The following day, however, saw the train take passengers a few miles north of the Michigan town to a new layover stop in Jonesville. This was wrinkle No. 1.
Wrinkle No. 2 was the official debut of the Centlivre Park, a first-class, open-air table car recently converted from a former Ringing Bros circus car. It was placed right behind the tool car. “The open-air car was excitedly received and filled with cinders by the end of the first day,” Lynch said. “It made for a pretty excellent vantage point to enjoy No. 765 from.”
Wrinkle No. 3 was considered a surreal moment for both the vice president and FWRHS, that being SD9 diesel No. 358 surprisingly bringing up the Tri-State Scenic’s tail end. The restored EMD unit handled most of the train’s assembly and positioning moves while tagging along on the No. 765-led excursions, providing an opportunity for the prized locomotives of the former Nickel Plate Road to operate in tandem.
Early in the year, No. 358 moved under power for the first time in 15 years, with break-in runs along the Indiana Northeastern. The results led to additional troubleshooting of electrical issues, minor repairs and adjustments to the traction motors, cables, brush holders and commutators, and overall general housekeeping. “By pure good fortune and coincidence, we were able to get some assistance from some preservation-industry friends, fellow volunteers, and Indiana Northeastern crews in the last week or two before the Tri-State Scenic,” Lynch explained,” and it all culminated in No. 358 coming fully online right before the trips.”
Minor teething issues to the SD9 have been expected and will be addressed. Ultimately, the society expects No. 358 to be a reliable performer when beginning its new, future career as an excursion hauler. Meanwhile, No. 765 put in its regular, reliable performance on both the Tri-State Scenic and Throttle Time sessions – the latter debuting for the Indiana Rail Experience. The 2-8-4 will be back in steam for the second-annual Indiana Railcamp, August 1 and 2 in Pleasant Lake, Ind.
Visit the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and Indiana Rail Experience websites for more information.
