IRVINE, Ky. — A former Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive is going to the auction block to settle a legal judgment.
The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. said today (Jan. 23) in a public notice that NKP No. 587, a Class H-6o 2-8-2 built by Baldwin in 1918, will be the subject of a sealed-bid auction as part of a judgment against the owner for unpaid storage fees. The winner will be notified on March 3.
Bids much be accompanied by a check or letter of credit for $5,000; checks will be returned to unsuccessful bidders. The winning bidder must remove the locomotive from Kentucky Steam’s Irvine facility within 60 days; if the locomotive is not removed, the bidder will be charged $100 a day for storage and could have the sale cancelled. A host of other legal disclaimers and conditions are available in the public notice.
The locomotive has been at Kentucky Steam since 2018, when it was relocated — in partially dismantled condition — from the former Indiana Transportation Museum property in the Indianapolis suburb of Noblesville. In 2021, Kentucky Steam said in a press release that the locomotive had been sold to an individual who planned to continue the restoration efforts that were envisioned when the locomotive was moved to Kentucky. Those plans fell apart as a result of financial issues for the Indiana organization. At that time, Kentucky Steam said it was working with the new owner to develop a mechanical plan for the engine.
No. 587 was retired by the Nickel Plate in 1955 and placed on display in Broad Ripple Park in Indianapolis, where it remained until it was leased by the Indiana Transportation Museum in 1983. It was restored to operating condition and ran in excursion service from 1988 to 2003, when it became due for its Federal Railroad Administration 1,472-day inspection. The locomotive earned a place on the National Register of Historic places in 1984 but was delisted in 2021.
The demise of the Indiana Transportation Museum at the hands of a court and the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority continues to have repercussions. The former NKP track traversed by NKP #587 and ITM’s Fair Train (safely hauling tens of thousands to the State Fair in Indianapolis) have been removed in favor of bike trails. This was done even though the local chapter of a bicycle organization recommended keeping the tracks in place with a trail as a method for dealing with further commuter growth in one of Indiana’s fastest growing areas. But trains didn’t fit short-sighted development schemes and were doomed.
but who would want the 587 ?
Depends on what it would cost to get it back in running condition. If that cost was reasonable, then there might be several steam operations that would want to have it. If the cost were substantial, then maybe cosmetic resroration is the best that can be expected. Only an inspection will reveal what the general condition is…
NKP #587 was nearing the end of its FRA mandated maintenance. Personnel with other commitments and lack of funds hampered progress, but #587 was in the re-assembly phase when the court-ordered evacuation took place. As such, this locomotive could add an operating locomotive to a museum or tourist line roster for less than a hulk from a park would. Obviously, it would be best for the loco to stay in the Midwest. Perhaps rebuilt by Ft Wayne after NYC #3001 or Mad River and Nickel Plate in Ohio.