Louisville and Nashville No. 152 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Louisville & Nashville No. 152 |
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| L&N No. 152 at the Kentucky Railway Museum | |
| Power type | Steam |
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| Builder | Rogers Locomotive Works |
| Serial number | 6256 |
| Build date | 1905 |
| Configuration | 4-6-2 |
| UIC classification | 2′C1′ |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 69 in (1.753 m) |
| Axle load | 42,000 lb (19.1 t) |
| Locomotive weight | 187,800 lb (85.2 t) |
| Tender weight | 143,400 lb (65.0 t) |
| Locomotive and tender combined weight | 331,200 lb (150.2 t) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Fuel capacity | 15 t (15 long tons; 17 short tons) |
| Water capacity | 7,000 US gal (26,000 L; 5,800 imp gal) |
| Boiler pressure | 200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa) |
| Cylinders | Two |
| Cylinder size | 20 in × 28 in (508 mm × 711 mm) |
| Tractive effort | 27,600 lbf (122.77 kN) |
| Number in class | 3rd of 25 |
| Retired | February 17, 1953 (revenue service) |
| Restored | September 1985 |
| Current owner | Kentucky Railway Museum |
| Disposition | Awaiting 1,472-day overhaul/restoration, based in New Haven, Kentucky |
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L & N Steam Locomotive No. 152
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kentucky Railway Museum, US-31E, New Haven, Kentucky |
| Built | 1905 |
| Architect | Rogers Locomotive Works |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000883 |
| Added to NRHP | December 30, 1974 |
The Louisville & Nashville No. 152 is a special type of steam locomotive. It is called a "Pacific" type, which means it has a specific wheel arrangement: four small wheels at the front, six large driving wheels in the middle, and two small wheels at the back. This locomotive is very old and important! It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, you can find No. 152 at the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, Kentucky. It is the oldest known "Pacific" type locomotive still around. Because of its history, it was named the "Official State Locomotive of Kentucky" on March 6, 2000.
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History of L&N No. 152
Building the Locomotive
The L&N No. 152 was built in 1905. It was made in Paterson, New Jersey, by a company called Rogers Locomotive Works. This company gave it a special number, 6256, to show it was the 6,256th locomotive they built.
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad bought No. 152. They also bought four other locomotives just like it. Each one cost $13,406. The railroad liked these "Pacific" type locomotives so much that they bought 40 more between 1906 and 1910!
No. 152's Busy Years
When it was new, L&N No. 152 traveled through many states. It pulled trains in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. A very famous moment for No. 152 was in 1912. It pulled the campaign train for Theodore Roosevelt between Louisville and Cincinnati.
Later, in the 1920s, the railroad bought even stronger locomotives. So, the "Pacific" types like No. 152 were moved to flatter areas, like the Gulf Coast. No. 152 was also part of the "Pan American" passenger service, which was a well-known train route.
No. 152 even pulled a special car carrying a famous person, Al Capone, on his way to Alcatraz. Over time, No. 152 was used for less important routes.
Retirement and Preservation
On February 17, 1953, L&N No. 152 was retired. It was the last "K" class Pacific locomotive still working. For a while, its future was unclear. It was stored in Mobile, Alabama. But the president of the L&N railroad, John E. Tilford, made sure it was not destroyed.
Eventually, No. 152 was sent to the Kentucky Railway Museum. At that time, the museum was in Louisville, Kentucky. It was one of the first big items the museum received. For 30 years, the locomotive just sat there, not working.
Bringing No. 152 Back to Life
It took 13 years of hard work to get No. 152 running again! This project got help from the National Park Service and the Brown Foundation. In September 1985, it was finally working again. On April 26, 1986, it pulled seven train cars with 365 passengers.
While it was being fixed, the rest of the museum moved to a new location. But No. 152 stayed at the old spot until it was ready.
Current Status
On September 10, 2011, No. 152 stopped running because of problems with its boiler. The people at the museum were not sure if it could run again without a lot of major repairs. These repairs would cost a lot of money.
Work to fix the engine started on July 1, 2015. As of 2020, this big repair project is still happening. The Kentucky Railway Museum is asking for donations on their website to help pay for the restoration of L&N No. 152. You can find more information at kyrail.org.
No. 152 and the National Register
When No. 152 was first added to the National Register of Historic Places, it was at the museum's original location in Louisville, Kentucky. When the museum moved to New Haven, L&N No. 152 moved with it.
The L&N Steam Locomotive No. 152 is one of four train vehicles at the Kentucky Railway Museum that are 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.
