NKP765 Blasts Past At 74 Miles Per Hour
Maybe a record breaker?
Lucky railfans managed to get a glimpse of the famous NKP765 hi ballin through Deerfield, Illinois.
We’re not sure about the speed record for this locomotive, but it’s larger firebox due to its Berkshire class design allowing more combustion must have everything to do with it!
The NKP765 was one of 80 Berkshire Class locomotives built that rode the Nickle Plate Road. All of them were considered high speed freight and passenger locomotives.
The Nickel Plate Railroad was built in 1880 as the Valley Railway transporting coal to Cleveland, Akron, And Canton, Ohio, from the Tuscarawas River Valley.
“Nickel Plate Road” was the name given to this project by the local newspapers and surveyors because it was the first railroad built for cash without issuing stock ahead of time! Thus it was referred to as the “Nickel Plated” road because of its substantial financial backing. The name stuck!
Quick Facts
- Power type: 2-8-4 Steam Locomotive Berkshire Class
- Builder: Lima Locomotive Works
- Build Date: 1944
- Drivers: 69 inch
- Locomotive and tender weight: 802,500 lbs
If you’ve ever taken a ride on the Nickel Plate Road #765 or a train like this let us know in the comments below! Would love to hear your experience on this classic piece of history!
