The $10,000 prize will pay for the rebuilding of the hot water pump, an integral part of the locomotive’s boiler system. The pump will be returned to as new condition.
Thirty-seven applicants representing projects ranging from archives to rolling stock, passenger cars, steam and diesel locomotives applied.
“It is always a difficult decision to choose from so many deserving projects,” Trains Editor Jim Wrinn says. “The Kentucky Steam project will move the restoration of a landmark steam locomotive forward.”
Says Chris Campbell, president of the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp., “We are thrilled and humbled to receive this award. Our organization is excited to get to work on the restoration of C&O 2716, and the Trains Preservation Award will be extremely helpful in moving the project along. Trains Magazine has been a big help in getting the word out about our mission, and this grant is another shot in the arm for the rebuilding of this magnificent engine.”
Earlier this year the John Emery Trust awarded $46,000 for new boiler tubes for the locomotive. The Kentucky Steam organization closed on the former Louisville & Nashville shop complex in Ravenna, Ky., last year.
The locomotive is owned by and leased from the Kentucky Railway Museum and has been restored to operation on two different occasions: By Southern Railway in 1981 and by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in 1996. No. 2716 was one of 90 Kanawhas purchased by the C&O between 1943 and 1947 for use in both freight and passenger service. Today, a dozen of the locomotives remain but only No. 2716 has run in the preservation era.
With the thousands of applications received for the annual preservation award when it was a tough battle to go through the applications when C&O 2716 is awarded this year’s preservation award when funding would go towards rebuilding the locomotive’s hot water pump. As the locomotive was awarded funding through the John emery trust fund for new boiler tubes. As 2716 was one of 90 Kanawah’s purchased new by the C&O between 1942 and 1947 for freight and passenger duties when today about a dozen remain when 2716 is the sole unit to be restored to cosmetic and operating condition in the preservation era.
Congratulations to the Kentucky Steam Heritage group from the Nashville Steam Preservation Society.
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Good choice! These guys are motivated and smart, and they’ll pull this off….and more.
This is excellent. It is going to a very worthy cause, one we will all enjoy in the time to come.