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[Anonymous]

Does anybody out there like the Nickel Plate Berkshires? If anybody had past experiences seeing them in action or anything . Also if anyone has any pictures they would like to post feel free to do so. I love the NKP Berkshires and the Mars Headlight gave it a unqique look. the NKP Berkshires are my favorite type of Steam Locomotive. I'm a volunteer at Steamtown National Historic site and whenever I get a chance, I go in the roundhouse and get in the NKP759 and just sit in the engineers seat and daydream. It's a great engine and I hope they restore it. Anything at all about the Berkshires will be appreciated.

[joseph2]

I saw one east of New Haven back in 1957 and have liked them ever since.Hopefully the 765 will run again soon.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NKP759fan

Does anybody out there like the Nickel Plate Berkshires? If anybody had past experiences seeing them in action or anything . Also if anyone has any pictures they would like to post feel free to do so. I love the NKP Berkshires and the Mars Headlight gave it a unqique look. the NKP Berkshires are my favorite type of Steam Locomotive. I'm a volunteer at Steamtown National Historic site and whenever I get a chance, I go in the roundhouse and get in the NKP759 and just sit in the engineers seat and daydream. It's a great engine and I hope they restore it. Anything at all about the Berkshires will be appreciated.

I watched them in Neoga Illinois durning the early fifties and shot some pictures with a box camera that are black and white and poor in quality by today's standard.
I don't have a page to post them, but I can tell you they were really something to watch coming from the west on the #98 hot shot in the afternoon. The west end line to St Louis used the ALCO built S class, but they were just as great to see as the later LIMA built engines.

I have experienced a cab ride on 765 accross Ohio in 1983 on two fans trips and the experience is like none other at 60 miles per hour in the cab. They are great engines and we are fortunate to be able to see on run even now and then. The PM 1225 is almost an identical engine and is really interesting to see.

[Anonymous]

The NKP 765 will be running soon from what I hear and I can't wait!!!. MY dream would to be see the NKP 759 and NKP 765 meet up at Lima, Ohio, ( here I go daydreaming again lol)

[Anonymous]

765 WILL be running this year, from the words of Rich Melvin...

[Anonymous]

thats great to hear

[espeefoamer]

I never saw one, but they are one of my favorite steamers.

[Anonymous]

I'm happy someone likes the NKP Berkshire. Although I'm only 16 and have never seen a Berkshire under steam in person, I have seen videos, and know them inside and out . I study the NKP 759 everytime I go in the roundhouse at Steamtown . Although I would love to see it run again, we have another engine under restoration to operational status, The BOSTON & MAINE 3713 4-6-2 Pacific. Beautiful Locomotive.

[ndbprr]

One of them ran a fan trip from kankakee Illinois over into Indiana and backmany years ago (like 1980). My son and I were trackside when it went by at speed. I was astonished at the amount of ground shaking it did and we weren't that close. LAter we were on a road on one side of the engine when the groupies were all on the other side. We were able to ride alongside it unmolested for about 20 miles no more than twenty feet away. My son now 33 still talks about it on occasion.

[Anonymous]

Yes seeing a Berkshire at speed is an awesome thing, ndbprr, how fast do you think the Berkshire was going when you were chasing it?

[ndbprr]

It was the early 80's so probably in the 30-40 mph range.

[Anonymous]

I would like to know what all of you particularly like about the Nickel Plate Berkshires.

[tatans]

I got a brass Berk, at an auction sale that was beat to crap ,a craftsman must have felt sorry for me and fixed it for a nominal fee, I had no history of this loco so I contacted the NKP Historical Society (great guys)and was flooded with information, and I mean detailed information. From topics on this forum I seem to gather that the NKP Berkshire is classed as the ultimate steam engine, even by non-berk railfans, I think it was fast and efficient and trouble free, and by the way, not a bad looking engine---this coming from a C.P.R. freak.---- I know, I know, all you "Big Boy" guys won't agree ! !