NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Restoration of Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis No. 576 reached a milestone Tuesday with the reinstallation of the 4-8-4’s wheels and trucks.
“This was a very crucial phase in the restoration,” Nashville Steam Preservation Society President Shane Meador said in a press release. “The amount of work we’ve completed on the historic wheels will keep engine 576 rolling for the next 20 to 30 years.” Work included inspecting and repairing the internal bearing boxes, replacing all eight driver tires, replacing three sets of wheels, and completely rebuilding the engine and trailing trucks.
The eight driving wheels were refurbished at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, while local sponsors John Bouchard and Sons, Precision Machine, Volunteer Welding Supply, World Testing Inc., and Lincoln Electric Co. contributed products, tools and services. NSPS sponsors Clark Crane, LLC, executed the lift and reinstallation of the wheels.
“We’ve now entered the reassembly phase of the restoration,” Meador said. “It will start to look like a locomotive again.” The organization hopes to complete a hydrostatic test of the boiler by the end of the year with steam tests to follow in 2024. “It’s been 70 years since No. 576 entered retirement in Centennial Park, and after nearly five years of hard work, we can’t wait to experience her encore performance.”
The society has raised more than $2.1 million for the project, which now more than 60% complete. The “Last Mile Campaign” to raise the final $350,000 for mechanical restoration began in March and is continuing through the end of the year [see “Nashville Steam launches matching campaign …,” Trains News Wire, March 1, 2023]. Upcoming fundraisers include a pair of events on Sept. 16, including a rail excursion in partnership with the Tennessee Central Railway Museum. For more information, visit the Nashville Steam website.
