Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp., announced today that Clinchfield Railroad F7 No. 800 will lead Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 Kanawha No. 2716 as the steam locomotive is towed from Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, Ky., to its new home at Kentucky Steam’s Ravenna, Ky., headquarters in July. The use of No. 800 to move No. 2716 harkens back to the last time the two locomotives were paired together. In 1979, CRR Fs Nos. 200 and 800 pulled No. 2716 to Marion, N.C., for a restoration project that never came to pass. “This is a rare opportunity at a second chance,” Kentucky Steam President Chris Campbell said. The steam locomotive will be restored to operation at Ravenna.
The move, scheduled for July 26-28, will be a combined effort of CSX Transportation, RJ Corman Railroad Group, Kentucky Steam and Kentucky Railway Museum. The special train will travel through Louisville, Midway, Frankfort, Lexington, and Winchester en route to Ravenna.
As part of the 2716’s move, Kentucky Steam and Kentucky Railway Museum will hold a 2.5-hour, 24-mile round trip public excursion, dubbed the “Heritage Highball,” as part of the locomotive’s send off. Riders on the excursion train will follow behind Nos. 800 and 2716 as they travel toward Lebanon Junction where KRM connects with CSX’s Mainline Subdivision. At the junction, the historic locomotives will uncouple from the excursion and continue on over CSX toward Louisville while the excursion returns back to the museum.
As part of Kentucky Steam’s announcement about No. 800, the group also revealed more ticketing information, including the prices and availability for cab ride tickets for both the 2716 and the 800, during the excursion toward Lebanon. Seats in No. 2716’s cab start at $1,000 for the jump seat, with two seats being available, and go up to $2,716 for the engineer or fireman’s seats, limit of one each. Cab rides in No. 800 will be $800 per ticket, with a limit of two.
Kentucky Steam’s recently restored caboose, C&O 3203, will also be part of the consist for the move and tickets are available for the caboose, as well. General seats start at $500 with a limit of eight tickets available, and cupola seats are $770 with two seats available.
Coach seats for the excursion will be $43 each, with approximately 200 seats anticipated to be available in KRM coaches. All tickets go on sale Thursday at 9 a.m. EST.
In 1979, No. 2716’s restoration came to a stop after a management shakeup at the Clinchfield, and the engine was returned to Kentucky Railway Museum. Southern Railway leased it for excursions.
Charlie Poling, museum director at Southern Appalachia Railway Museum and home to No. 800, complimented CSX for allowing No. 800 to lead the move of No. 2716. “SARM could not ask for a better partner in preservation than CSX Transportation,” Poling said. “Their ongoing commitment to preserving their proud corporate heritage is to be commended. Clinchfield 800 is a shining example of this commitment.”
No. 800 last led a train on CSX trackage when it commanded the 2017 Santa Train, commemorating the 75th running of train through Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. “SARM was honored and humbled to be asked to participate in the 75th anniversary Santa Train and is again honored to be involved in C&O 2716’s trip to a new home in Ravenna,” Poling said.
Since leading the 75th Santa Train, No. 800 has been on lease to the Royal Palm Railway in Florida, operating three days per week in passenger service on the tourist rail line.
For more information and ticketing, visit www.kentuckysteam.org.
Good to see CSX cooperating with rail preservation groups in the post-EHH era.