BY OTTO M. VONDRAK PHOTOS AS NOTED
I
t has been 30 years since steam graced the former Erie Railroad route between Buffalo and Corning,
N.Y. In cooperation with Conrail, Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 hauled two trips in June 1985 dubbed the Glass City Limited. Thanks to Norfolk Southern’s “21st Century Steam” program, steam has made a triumphant return to the scenic Southern Tier Line. In the intervening years, Norfolk Southern has taken control of this portion of the old Conrail system. As a result, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society has found a welcoming host for the Nickel Plate 765. The summer of 2015 had the venerable excursion locomotive scheduled for runs over familiar ground
TOP RIGHT: Fort Wayne Railroad Historical So- ciety’s famed Nickel Plate No. 765 storms Nor- folk Southern’s Southern Tier Line at Cameron Mills, N.Y., on August 2, 2015. The venerable excursion locomotive was making its first ap- pearance on the former Erie Railroad mainline since 1985. AMANDA OAKES RIGHT: The Erie Lim- ited arrived in Corning, N.Y., and was immedi- ately surrounded by admirers on August 1. PETE SWANSON BELOW: The eastbound Erie Limited slowly crosses Portage Bridge giving passen- gers spectacular views of the gorge below on August 1. Construction of a replacement span is expected to begin later this year. STEPHEN HOST BELOW RIGHT: Nickel Plate 765 rounds the bend into Attica on August 1. DOUG KROLL
52 SEPTEMBER 2015 •
RAILFAN.COM
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