Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway aka NC&StL, NC&Stl.L, ncstl,  
     
 

 
 

 

 

Park Train to Get Protection

By Megan Moriarty, mmoriarty@nashvillecitypaper.com
As published in the Nashville City Paper

January 30, 2004

Construction on a train shed to protect the one-of-a-kind steam locomotive in Centennial Park will begin within the next few weeks.

Metro Parks Public Information Officer Jackie Jones said the department appropriated $75,000 towards construction of the metal “depot-style” shed, as well as additional work, such as installing new sidewalks around the train.

Jones said with the improvements, which are part of the Centennial Park Master Plan, the department is hoping to improve the look and feel of the train itself.

“The upgrades will provide a more aesthetically pleasing venue for people to view the train,” Jones said.

R.G. Anderson has been contracted by the Parks Department to do the work, which has already included removing a fence and ramp near the train.

Engine No. 576, the only surviving example of a mainline steam, J3-57 class locomotive, was given as a gift to the citizens of Nashville from the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railroad Company following the 1952 retirement of all its steam engines.

The American Locomotive Company built engine No. 576. Following a decline in train traffic after World War II, J3's were bumped from prime service spots to lesser passenger and freight trains.

With the exception of the locomotive in Centennial Park, all of the J3's were scrapped after being withdrawn from service.

Native Nashvillian and train enthusiast Tom Knowles as well as several others have lobbied for such a shed while expressing concern over the state of the steam engine, which has been exposed to the elements for more than 50 years.

“A shed over the engine almost guarantees that the engine will still be restorable by someone in the future when the economic, legal and political climates are more favorable to such a thing,” Knowles said. “The current decision makers in Nashville are to be thanked for their pro-active approach to something that none of their predecessors saw as important.”

 
 

NC&StL Preservation Society, Inc. is in no way affiliated with the NC&StL Railway or any of it's successors.
As a non-profit entity, NCPS presents these pages to the public purely for educational and historic interest.


Return to top | Home | About Us | History | Engine 576 | Cities | People | Model Railroading
Membership | MerchandiseLinks  |  Site Map | Contact Us |  Copyright  | Privacy Policy


 
Add to Favorites
 
Please take a moment to send a tax-deductible contribution to NCPS.
We can't do it without your help!

If you have information
you would like to contribute,
we would appreciate
hearing from you.

Contact Webmaster

 

(c) 2003, NC&StL Preservation Society