L & N Steam Locomotive No. 152

Louisville & Nashville 152

L&N 152 steams through Holton Valley, Kentucky

Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Rogers Locomotive Works Serial number 6256 Build date 1905

Specifications Configuration 4-6-2 UIC class 2′C1′ Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 69 in (1.753 m) Loco weight 187,800 lb (85.2 t) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 20 in × 28 in (508 mm × 711 mm)

Career Operators Louisville and Nashville Railroad Class K-2A Number in class 3rd of 25 Numbers 152 Retired February 17, 1953 Disposition Out of service awaiting overhaul, Kentucky Railway Museum L & N Steam Locomotive No. 152 U.S. National Register of Historic Places Show map of Kentucky Show map of the US Location Kentucky Railway Museum, US-31E, New Haven, Kentucky Coordinates 37°39′25″N 85°35′33″W / 37.65694°N 85.59250°W / 37.65694; -85.59250Coordinates: 37°39′25″N 85°35′33″W / 37.65694°N 85.59250°W / 37.65694; -85.59250 Built 1905 Architect Rogers Locomotive Works NRHP Reference # 74000883[1] Added to NRHP December 30, 1974

The L & N Steam Locomotive No. 152 is a historic 4-6-2 Pacific Class locomotive on the National Register of Historic Places, currently at the Kentucky Railway Museum at New Haven, Kentucky, in southernmost Nelson County, Kentucky.^[2] It is the oldest known remaining 4-6-2 Pacific to exist.^[3] It is also the "Official State Locomotive of Kentucky", designated as such on March 6, 2000.^[4][5]

The L&N #152 was built in 1905 at Paterson, New Jersey by the Rogers Locomotive Works, with 6256 as its Rogers Construction Number. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad purchased #152 and four identical Pacifics at the cost of $13,406 apiece. Pleased with their five Pacifics, the L&N purchased forty more, which the Rogers Locomotive Works (by now owned by the American Locomotive Company) sold to the L&N between 1906 and 1910.^[3]

Originally, the L&N #152 serviced stations in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. It pulled Theodore Roosevelt's campaign train between Louisville and Cincinnati in 1912. When more powerful trains were purchased by the L&N in the 1920s, the Pacifics were assigned to the Gulf Coast, a geographic flatter area. Railroad logs prove that #152 was one of the many "Pan American" passenger service. The #152 also pulled the car holding Al Capone on his way to Alcatraz. As time went on, the #152 was used for less and less important routes. On February 17, 1953, the #152, the last surviving "K" class Pacific, was retired by the L&N, with its fate uncertain. During this time it was stored at Mobile, Alabama. L&N President John E. Tilford personally ordered the locomotive to not be destroyed and turned to scrap.^[6]

Eventually the #152 was sent to the Kentucky Railway Museum, then located at 1837 East River Road in Louisville, Kentucky; it was one of the museum's first pieces. For thirty years it remained inoperative. After thirteen years of work, in September 1985 it was again in working condition, thanks to funding by the National Park Service and the Brown Foundation.^[7] On April 26, 1986 it was again in service, pulling seven railcars with a total of 365 passengers.^[8] While being refurbished, it stayed at the River Road location when the rest of the museum moved to its new location at Ormsby Station.^[5]

As of Saturday 10 September 2011, #152 is withdrawn from service for the rest of the 2011 season due to boiler issues. Railway staff have expressed skepticism that it will be able to return for future use without major work for which funding is not currently available.

When it was originally placed on the National Register, it was located at the Kentucky Railway Museum's original location in Louisville, Kentucky. When the museum relocated to New Haven, L&N #152 came with it. The L & N Steam Locomotive No. 152 is one of four rail vehicles at the Kentucky Railway Museum on the National Register. The others are the Frankfort and Cincinnati Model 55 Rail Car, the Louisville and Nashville Combine Car Number 665, and the Mt. Broderick Pullman Car.

References

• Kleber, John E., ed. (2001). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-2100-0. 
• Tagliarino, David (August 5, 1974). L & N Steam Locomotive No. 152 NRHP Nomination Form. National Railway Historical Society. 
• Drury, George H. (1993). Guide to North American Steam Locomotives. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing Company. pp. 228–230. ISBN 0-89024-206-2.