Diesel helping steam
Alco S2 diesel switcher No. 52, assigned as the local switcher at Lafayette, Indiana, assists two class H-6 2-8-2 Mikados on an eastbound freight in 1952. Trains on NKP’s line from Peoria faced a 0.85% climb east out of Lafayette, but were prevented from getting a run for the hill by a 20 mph limit through town.
Hal Lewis
Alco S2 diesel switcher No. 52, assigned as the local switcher at Lafayette, Indiana, assists two class H-6 2-8-2 Mikados on an eastbound freight in 1952. Trains on NKP’s line from Peoria faced a 0.85% climb east out of Lafayette, but were prevented from getting a run for the hill by a 20 mph limit through town.
Hal Lewis
Transfer run in Cleveland
In August 1964, three Nickel Plate 1,000-hp Alco switchers, on a yard track just north of the New York Central mains, burble by the massive old coaling tower at New York Central’s Collinwood yard on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio, with a transfer.
J. David Ingles
In August 1964, three Nickel Plate 1,000-hp Alco switchers, on a yard track just north of the New York Central mains, burble by the massive old coaling tower at New York Central’s Collinwood yard on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio, with a transfer.
J. David Ingles
Local in northern Indiana
Two GP9s lead a local freight working at Argos, Indiana, in 1965. Argos is at the crossing of Nickel Plate’s lines to Chicago and Michigan City, Indiana.
J. David Ingles
Two GP9s lead a local freight working at Argos, Indiana, in 1965. Argos is at the crossing of Nickel Plate’s lines to Chicago and Michigan City, Indiana.
J. David Ingles
Climbing out of Lafayette
In the early 1950s, class H-6 2-8-2 No. 624, one of Nickel Plate Road’s 86 USRA light Mikados, tackles the grade east of Lafayette, Indiana, unassisted with 2,500 tons of freight Second 68. Long displayed at Hammond, Indiana, Mikado 624 is now part of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society’s collection.
Hal Lewis
In the early 1950s, class H-6 2-8-2 No. 624, one of Nickel Plate Road’s 86 USRA light Mikados, tackles the grade east of Lafayette, Indiana, unassisted with 2,500 tons of freight Second 68. Long displayed at Hammond, Indiana, Mikado 624 is now part of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society’s collection.
Hal Lewis
Berkshire out of Calumet
Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 Berkshire-type steam locomotive No. 750 crosses the Grand Calumet River in Hammond, Indiana, with a short 16-car freight on May 30, 1953. The train is just out of Calumet Yard, Nickel Plate’s Chicago freight facility, and will pick up additional cars at Osborn on the east side of Hammond.
R. R. Malinoski
Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 Berkshire-type steam locomotive No. 750 crosses the Grand Calumet River in Hammond, Indiana, with a short 16-car freight on May 30, 1953. The train is just out of Calumet Yard, Nickel Plate’s Chicago freight facility, and will pick up additional cars at Osborn on the east side of Hammond.
R. R. Malinoski
Ex-Wheeling Berkshire
Former Wheeling & Lake Erie 2-8-4 No. 802, acquired by the Nickel Plate in its 1949 lease of the W&LE, departs NKP’s Abbott Road Yard in Buffalo, New York, with a local freight in September 1957. The Wheeling had 32 2-8-4s, built by Alco between 1937 and 1942.
T.C. Cherry
Former Wheeling & Lake Erie 2-8-4 No. 802, acquired by the Nickel Plate in its 1949 lease of the W&LE, departs NKP’s Abbott Road Yard in Buffalo, New York, with a local freight in September 1957. The Wheeling had 32 2-8-4s, built by Alco between 1937 and 1942.
T.C. Cherry
Livestock, piggyback, and reefers
An unidentified member of Nickel Plate’s famous family Berkshires hurries east in the vicinity of Erie, Pennsylvania, in March 1967. First out behind the tender are cars reflecting NKP’s fast freight emphasis: a stock car, a piggyback flat, and refrigerator cars.
Jim Shaughnessy
An unidentified member of Nickel Plate’s famous family Berkshires hurries east in the vicinity of Erie, Pennsylvania, in March 1967. First out behind the tender are cars reflecting NKP’s fast freight emphasis: a stock car, a piggyback flat, and refrigerator cars.
Jim Shaughnessy
Berkshires meet
At North East, Pennsylvania, on a chilly day in March 1957, Nickel Plate 2-8-4 No. 738 hustles reefers east past the watering facilities as sister No. 779 waits to head west.
Jim Shaughnessy
At North East, Pennsylvania, on a chilly day in March 1957, Nickel Plate 2-8-4 No. 738 hustles reefers east past the watering facilities as sister No. 779 waits to head west.
Jim Shaughnessy
Alcos on the Clover Leaf
Two Alco RS3 diesels, having just completed interchange work with the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton, head out of Malinta, Ohio, for Toledo in fall 1960.
J. David Ingles
Two Alco RS3 diesels, having just completed interchange work with the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton, head out of Malinta, Ohio, for Toledo in fall 1960.
J. David Ingles
All this month — February 2020 — Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and images of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad.
Please enjoy this photo gallery of images from the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include Nickel Plate diesel- and steam-powered freight trains through time.
You might also enjoy this NKP history article from Classic Trains or a photo gallery of Nickel Plate passenger trains!
Only from Classic Trains!
