On August 22-23, 2012, NKP 765 completed her eastern circuit of the Norfolk Southern system with a two day ferry run from Pittsburgh, PA back to New Haven, Indiana. Day 1 followed the former Pennsy main through Alliance, Orrville, Mansfield, Crestline, and finally turning north over the recently oft-travelled Bucyrus to Bellevue line, where she spent the night. Today (and parts of yesterday), she was wearing a 3-chime Lukenheimer whistle from the PRR Altoona Shops, last blown in 1961.
The nice “surprise” came on August 23, when she left the NKP Heritage diesel behind in Bellevue, and was turned loose with the full consist unassisted for the run back to New Haven. Running on home rails, it was only appropriate for the Nickel Plate whistle to be used today. By mid afternoon, she was back at the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society shops in New Haven. A small crowd was on hand to welcome her home as the journey of (several) thousand miles came to an end.
Judging by conversations with the locals, I can assure you that NS and the 765 made a lot of friends and a lot of people very happy this summer. My sincere thanks to Norfolk Southern, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and everyone else who went above and beyond the call of duty to make these trips possible.
Kevin
