Long before the Amtrak Acela and the modern-day diesel, there was the Steam Locomotive. There isn’t anything like seeing steam locomotive cranks and rods in motion, steam billowing out of the stack, and those massive wheels charging down the iron rails. Sadly, most of these iron horses hit the scrap yards and only a few were spared. The few that survived always have a story to tell. On Saturday, April 9, I joined the Cincinnati Railroad Club as we traveled south to the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation in Irvine, KY.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway # 2716
The C&O “K-4” 2-8-4 “Kanawha” No. 2716 steam locomotive was built in 1943 by Alco and would serve the railroad for 17 years working freight trains until 1956. In 1959 the locomotive was donated to the Kentucky Railway Museum where it was part of their static display. In 1979 the Clinchfield Railroad leased the locomotive and it returned back into service in their steam program. Over the next several years the locomotive changed hands lease-wise from, Southern Railways and then the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. In 1996 the flue time expired and it once again returned to the Kentucky Railway Museum to remain on static display. The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation (KSHC) was founded in February 2016 by a group of gentlemen that love trains. The organization was started by leasing C&O No. 2716 from the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, KY.
CSX Ravenna Yard and Car Shop becoming Kentucky Rail Heritage Center
In May 2018, KSHC was able to secure a location to restore 2716 with the purchase of the decommissioned CSX Ravenna yard and Car Shop. KSHC has big plans for its 50-acre parcel and it will be more than trains. Plans to construct a 4,500-person entertainment venue, walking paths, picnic areas, and even a campground including vintage caboose for overnight stays. There will be train rides too!
CSX EK Subdivision
The CSX Ravenna Yard is located on the CSX EK Subdivision located between milepost 142.5 and 144.3. In 2016 CSX shut down a 60-mile section between Calla, KY, and Jackson, KY which includes the stretch through Ravenna. This idle subdivision has signals, a few stretches of double-tracks, and many passing sidings This line, during its hay day would have seen many coal trains; today the freight traffic is funneling down a different route. From what I understand CSX still maintains the track and uses some of the sidings for rolling stock that has reached its end of life.
Donations
Over the years both CSX and Norfolk Southern have been quite generous with the donation of the CSX SW1500 No. 1100 switcher and four-decade pulling road unit Norfolk Southern’s SD40-2 No. 6162. Both locomotes are in working order. In February 2019 CSX donated a completely restored 1969 C&O Railway Caboose #3203. The CSX employees at the Huntington Shops did a phenomenal job restoring this caboose.
C&O 2716 is sitting inside the Ravenna Car Shop being worked on by KSHC volunteers. A great deal of work has been done to this locomotive but it is a long way from completion. Currently, they are hosting events throughout the year to help bring 2716 back to life and people can donate to this project through their website.
I had a great time learning more about and getting a behind-the-scenes look at Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation. I was even able to ride on the back deck of the C&O Railway Caboose #3203. I’m looking forward to the completion of the Kentucky Rail Heritage Center, seeing how it benefits the city of Irvine, and hoping that it will help restore and preserve the rich history of the steam era.
