Chesapeake and Ohio 2716

Chesapeake & Ohio 2716
2716 at the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, KY
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder American Locomotive Company Build date 1943
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-4  • UIC 1′D2′ h2 Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 69 in (1.753 m) Loco weight 460,000 lb (210 t; 210 long tons) Tender weight 388,000 lb (176 t; 173 long tons) Total weight 848,000 lb (385 t; 379 long tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 60,000 lb (27 t) Water cap 21,000 US gallons (79,000 l; 17,000 imp gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 90.30 sq ft (8.389 m2) Cylinders Two, outside
Career Operators Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Southern Railway Class K-4 Number in class 17 of 90 Numbers C&O 2716 SOU 2716 L&N 1992 Retired 1956 (revenue) 1996 (excursion) Restored 1981 Current owner Kentucky Railway Museum Disposition Under restoration at the Kentucky Railway Museum

The Chesapeake & Ohio 2716 is a 2-8-4 "Kanawha" type steam locomotive built in 1943 by the American Locomotive Company for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. While most railroads referred to these locomotives as “Berkshires,” the C&O referred to them as “Kanawhas” after the Kanawha River which flows through West Virginia. Used as dual service engines, the 2716 and its sisters served the C&O in a variety of duties until being retired in 1956.

Donated to the Kentucky Railway Museum in 1959, the 2716 has been restored to operation for excursion service twice since retirement from the C&O. First for the Southern Railway dressed up as a fictitious "Southern 2716", and again in 1996 for a few brief excursions in Indiana. Today, the locomotive is undergoing restoration to operating condition under lease by the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation.

2716 was one of ninety engines built for the C&O by ALCO & the Lima Locomotive Works between 1943 and 1947. These locomotives were used for heavy freight trains, as well as fast passenger trains. After only twelve years of service, the C&O retired 2716 in 1956 in light of dieselization. With the exception of thirteen, including 2716, the C&O scrapped their Kanawhas in 1961.

In 1959, the locomotive was sold to the Kentucky Railway Museum, where it was put on display. Twenty years later, in 1979, the Clinchfield Railroad leased the locomotive for their steam program, but before necessary repairs could be completed, the railroad ended its steam program.

In 1981, the Southern Railway was looking for a larger and more powerful steam locomotive to pull passenger trains for their popular steam excursion program and leased the locomotive from the Kentucky Railway Museum. The Southern Railway took the locomotive to their Birmingham, Alabama shops, where modifications were made. Chesapeake and Ohio 2716 was re-lettered as Southern 2716, and, even though the Southern had never owned any Berkshires, 2716 was configured to look like a Southern locomotive, including moving the head light to the center of the smoke box, and the locomotive’s bell and whistle were changed.