Kentucky community to host festival featuring 2-8-4 No. 2716 NEWSWIRE

MIDWAY, Ky. – A picturesque central Kentucky community will celebrate its railroad heritage this summer, centering a day-long festival around the arrival former Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 No. 2716. The July 27 event will be held in Midway, appropriately mid-way between Lexington and Frankfort along Interstate 64. The locomotive is slated to be on display in Midway from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., subject to change. Several other train-related activities are planning, including the dedication of a revitalized model train layout of downtown Midway, a vintage train exhibit, and a trackless train ride through town. All events are free and open to the public.

The city of Midway, along with Midway Renaissance Inc. and the Midway Merchants Association, will sponsor the festival. Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. plans to restore No. 2716 to running order to be the centerpiece of a rail heritage center in southeastern Kentucky. The group leased 2716 from Kentucky Railway Museum in 2016, where it had called home since being donated to the museum in 1959, two years after being retired by the C&O. The locomotive returned to steam in 1981 and 1982 and in the mid-1990s in excursion service, and has been a static display at the museum since 2001. Kentucky Steam hopes restoration efforts will be helped by revenues generated by the public send-off excursion.

Thanks to collaboration from both CSX Transportation and Nicholasville, Ky.-based R. J. Corman Railroad Group, the locomotive will be transported from the Kentucky Railway Museum, in New Haven, to Estill County over the weekend of July 26-28. The unprecedented event will include several stops and a public excursion on July 26, the proceeds from which will be shared by Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. and the Kentucky Railway Museum, both nonprofit entities.

“When the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation approached us about partnering with CSX and others to move the C&O 2716 across our home state of Kentucky, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to take part in the historic move that is part of a larger plan to use the railroads to revitalize parts of Eastern Kentucky,” says R. J. Corman Railroad Group President and CEO Ed Quinn. “Working with Midway is always a pleasure, and their willingness to host this unique and fun event brings us even more excitement for the move.”

Christy Reaves, President of the nonprofit Midway Renaissance Inc. says the concept of “Heritage Day” was initiated by the news of the locomotive’s visit, and was created to revolve around the heritage, history, and culture of Midway.

“The citizens of Midway look forward to welcoming people into the community to celebrate the rich heritage of the railroad and the extraordinary sense of community that Midway enjoys. The festival will feature in-depth presentations, artifacts, discussions and tours regarding the history of Midway,” she says.

The locomotive will make several other stops over the course of the weekend, and more information regarding the engine’s trek across the bluegrass will be released in the coming weeks.

Further information on  the event, go to www.midwayrenaissance.com. For more information on No. 2716, go to www.kentuckysteam.org.