L & N Steam Locomotive No. 152
Encyclopedia
The L & N Steam Locomotive No. 152 is a historic 4-6-2 Pacific Class
locomotive on the National Register of Historic Places
, currently at the Kentucky Railway Museum
at New Haven, Kentucky
, in southernmost Nelson County, Kentucky
. It is the oldest known remaining 4-6-2 Pacific to exist. It is also the "Official State Locomotive of Kentucky", designated as such on March 6, 2000.
The L&N #152 was built in 1905 at Paterson, New Jersey
by the Rogers Locomotive Works, with 6256 as its Rogers Construction Number. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad
purchased #152 and four identical Pacifics at the cost of $13,406 apiece. Pleased with their five Pacifics, the L&N purchased forty more, which the Rogers Locomotive Works (by now owned by the American Locomotive Company
) sold to the L&N between 1906 and 1910.
Originally, the L&N #152 serviced stations in Alabama
, Georgia
, Kentucky, and Tennessee
. It pulled Theodore Roosevelt
's campaign train between Louisville and Cincinnati in 1912. When more powerful trains were purchased by the L&N in the 1920s, the Pacifics were assigned to the Gulf Coast, a geographic flatter area. Railroad logs prove that #152 was one of the many "Pan American" passenger service. The #152 also pulled the car holding Al Capone
on his way to Alcatraz. As time went on, the #152 was used for less and less important routes. On February 17, 1953, the #152, the last surviving "K" class Pacific, was retired by the L&N, with its fate uncertain. During this time it was stored at Mobile, Alabama
. L&N President John E. Tilford personally ordered the locomotive to not be destroyed and turned to scrap.
Eventually the #152 was sent to the Kentucky Railway Museum, then located at 1837 East River Road in Louisville, Kentucky; it was one of the museum's first pieces. For thirty years it remained inoperative. After thirteen years of work, in September 1985 it was again in working condition, thanks to funding by the National Park Service
and the Brown Foundation. On April 26, 1986 it was again in service, pulling seven railcars with a total of 365 passengers. While being refurbished, it stayed at the River Road location when the rest of the museum moved to its new location at Ormsby Station.
As of Saturday 10 September 2011, #152 is withdrawn from service for the rest of the 2011 season due to boiler issues. Railway staff have expressed skepticism that it will be able to return for future use without major work for which funding is not currently available.
When it was originally placed on the National Register, it was located at the Kentucky Railway Museum's original location in Louisville, Kentucky
. When the museum relocated to New Haven, L&N #152 came with it. The L & N Steam Locomotive No. 152 is one of four rail vehicles at the Kentucky Railway Museum on the National Register. The others are the Frankfort and Cincinnati Model 55 Rail Car
, the Louisville and Nashville Combine Car Number 665
, and the Mt. Broderick Pullman Car
.
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
locomotive on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, currently at the Kentucky Railway Museum
Kentucky Railway Museum
The Kentucky Railway Museum, located in New Haven, Kentucky, United States, is a non-profit railroad museum dedicated to educating the public regarding the history and heritage of Kentucky's railroads and the people who built them. Originally created in 1954 in Louisville, Kentucky, the museum is...
at New Haven, Kentucky
New Haven, Kentucky
New Haven is a city in Nelson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 849 at the 2000 census.New Haven was founded as Pottinger's Landing in 1781 and later named New Haven by Samuel Pottinger after the Connecticut town...
, in southernmost Nelson County, Kentucky
Nelson County, Kentucky
Nelson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population was 43,437. Its county seat is Bardstown. The county is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. It is the oldest known remaining 4-6-2 Pacific to exist. It is also the "Official State Locomotive of Kentucky", designated as such on March 6, 2000.
The L&N #152 was built in 1905 at Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
by the Rogers Locomotive Works, with 6256 as its Rogers Construction Number. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
purchased #152 and four identical Pacifics at the cost of $13,406 apiece. Pleased with their five Pacifics, the L&N purchased forty more, which the Rogers Locomotive Works (by now owned by the American Locomotive Company
American Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
) sold to the L&N between 1906 and 1910.
Originally, the L&N #152 serviced stations in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Kentucky, and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. It pulled Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
's campaign train between Louisville and Cincinnati in 1912. When more powerful trains were purchased by the L&N in the 1920s, the Pacifics were assigned to the Gulf Coast, a geographic flatter area. Railroad logs prove that #152 was one of the many "Pan American" passenger service. The #152 also pulled the car holding Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
on his way to Alcatraz. As time went on, the #152 was used for less and less important routes. On February 17, 1953, the #152, the last surviving "K" class Pacific, was retired by the L&N, with its fate uncertain. During this time it was stored at Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. L&N President John E. Tilford personally ordered the locomotive to not be destroyed and turned to scrap.
Eventually the #152 was sent to the Kentucky Railway Museum, then located at 1837 East River Road in Louisville, Kentucky; it was one of the museum's first pieces. For thirty years it remained inoperative. After thirteen years of work, in September 1985 it was again in working condition, thanks to funding by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
and the Brown Foundation. On April 26, 1986 it was again in service, pulling seven railcars with a total of 365 passengers. While being refurbished, it stayed at the River Road location when the rest of the museum moved to its new location at Ormsby Station.
As of Saturday 10 September 2011, #152 is withdrawn from service for the rest of the 2011 season due to boiler issues. Railway staff have expressed skepticism that it will be able to return for future use without major work for which funding is not currently available.
When it was originally placed on the National Register, it was located at the Kentucky Railway Museum's original location in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. When the museum relocated to New Haven, L&N #152 came with it. The L & N Steam Locomotive No. 152 is one of four rail vehicles at the Kentucky Railway Museum on the National Register. The others are the Frankfort and Cincinnati Model 55 Rail Car
Frankfort and Cincinnati Model 55 Rail Car
The Frankfort and Cincinnati Model 55 Rail Car, also known as "The Cardinal" is a historic railcar on the National Register of Historic Places, currently at the Kentucky Railway Museum at New Haven, Kentucky, in southernmost Nelson County, Kentucky....
, the Louisville and Nashville Combine Car Number 665
Louisville and Nashville Combine Car Number 665
The Louisville and Nashville Combine Car Number 665, also known as the "Jim Crow Car", is a historic railcar on the National Register of Historic Places, currently at the Kentucky Railway Museum at New Haven, Kentucky, in southernmost Nelson County, Kentucky.The Combine car was built at the...
, and the Mt. Broderick Pullman Car
Mt. Broderick Pullman Car
The Mt. Broderick Pullman Car is a historic railcar on the National Register of Historic Places, currently at the Kentucky Railway Museum at New Haven, Kentucky, in southernmost Nelson County, Kentucky. It has been described as a "four-star hotel" on rails....
.