Irvine, Ky. — Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. has acquired SD40-2 No. 6162 from Norfolk Southern via donation. In its 42-year career, No. 6162 saw service in the Appalachian coalfields and hauled countless tons of freight through Central Kentucky.
Chris Campbell, president of the nonprofit, says the addition to Kentucky Steam is a major milestone in the development of the rail-based economic development project taking shape in Irvine. The organization has a former CSX Transportation car shop in neighboring Ravenna.
“This generous contribution by Norfolk Southern is a fantastic addition to our collection, which is being curated to tell the story of how railroads built our region and the Nation as a whole,” he says. “We are flattered to have a locomotive as relevant and as valuable as NS 6162, and its inclusion in our roster in another exciting milestone for our organization.”
No. 6162, a 3,000-hp SD40-2 locomotive, was built in May of 1978 by Electro-Motive Division for the Norfolk & Western Railway. It worked all over the railroad, predominantly hauling coal out of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. It remained on the active roster for successor NS until this Thursday, when it was donated to Kentucky Steam.
The locomotive will remain in operational condition and will be displayed at the nonprofit’s headquarters in Irvine.
Add Comment