And with 576 that makes 15 big steam locomotives to stir the soul

 Tuesday’s announcement that a group will try to liberate Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis 4-8-4 No. 576 from her Nashville park berth of 63 years and restore her to operation on the Nashville & Eastern brings the total number of big steam locomotive restorations planned or underway to nine. I thought the 1980s and early 1990s before the insurance crisis hit was a great time to be a steam fan. I was wrong. The period we’re in now and for the next 10 to 20 years may turn out to be the good ole days for those massive steam brutes that were the last of their kind.

 All totaled with the six large locomotives already in steam, there are 15 locomotives of 2-8-2 wheel arrangement and bigger that — if all goes well financially, politically, and mechanically — are poised to shake the ground, tickle the heavens with their exhaust plumes, and stir the souls of those lucky enough to witness their passing.

 All of this began just a few years ago. In the last few years, we’ve seen Norfolk & Western No. 611 come out of the Virginia Museum of Transportation. Since then, there’s been a who’s who of big steam coming back onto the main line: Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014, Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309, Chesapeake & Ohio No. 2716, and two Reading Co. T-1s, Nos. 2100 and 2102. Just this year alone, I expect to see freshly rebuilt UP and a Santa Fe 4-8-4s in full stride in addition to the 2-6-6-2.

 I was lucky to play a small role in the restoration of No. 611 as a member of the Fire Up 611 committee. I’m equally excited to be a member of the 576’s board of directors, and I hope to see it running in a few years — imagine, a big, modern locomotive few people alive today have seen run, back on the main line.

 Because of all the interest in big steam power that has been restored and big steam power under restoration, we’re planning to do a special magazine to look at all of these projects. Look fore more details about “Big Steam is Back.” For now, enjoy what is running, take a ride, go make photos or recordings, drop off a donation, contribute some time, and encourage others so that this part of American heritage is not lost, but is vibrant, exciting, and alive once more.