SUGARCREEK, Ohio — The Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum will once again expand its impressive collection with the acquisition of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway 2-6-6-2 No. 1308. Ownership was transferred from the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society of Huntington, W.V.
Tim Sposato, Age of Steam’s chief mechanical officer, emphasized in a news release the museum’s longstanding desire to acquire an articulated steam locomotive. “Management [from the museum] inquired with CPH officials if they would consider relinquishing ownership of No. 1308, and we were pleasantly surprised to learn that the CPH board of directors liked the idea of possible new ownership for their locomotive.”
With the help of Age of Steam’s skilled team and resources, No. 1308 will journey from Huntington to its new home in Sugarcreek for a planned cosmetic restoration and display inside the roundhouse. The 18-stall structure will see a future expansion of 10 additional stalls [“Age of Steam museum begins construction…” Trains.com, June 5, 2025].
Nathan Vance, executive director of the museum, noted the historical significance and challenges faced by expanding the 25th steam locomotive to the collection: “No. 1308 has been displayed unprotected outdoors in a Huntington city park since Oct. 9, 1962 … While CPH members regularly repainted their steamer, paint protected only #1308’s exterior surfaces, and rusting of the locomotive’s boiler and all the other steel parts has continued unabated from the inside out for 63 years. The Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum can end all of that.”
Built in November 1949 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, No. 1308, a 2-6-6-2 Mallet, was part of a 10 locomotive for the C&O. The locomotives were used for hauling coal for private firms connecting to the railroad. The locomotive was retired in 1956 and donated to the CPH for display. It’s the sister to No. 1309 that operates today on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.
Future updates on No. 1308’s upcoming move and restoration will be available on the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum website.
