The Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum is currently fundraising to restore and display our newest acquisition, Nickel Plate Road Steam Locomotive No. 757. As of January 1st, 2021, $175,000 has been raised of our initial goal of $250,000 to relocate, cosmetically restore, and display this iconic locomotive. The relocation phase (BRING BACK 757) has already been completed, and contributions made in the future will be used for the restoration of the locomotive, and the construction of a covered display site.
The Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, contributions are tax-deductible if applicable. Contributors’ names will be added to our donor board which will be displayed with the locomotive after restoration is complete, all contribution amounts are confidential unless specified otherwise by the donor.
Constructed in 1944 by the Lima Locomotive Works, 757 was once one of 80 technologically advanced, fast-freight steam locomotives on the roster of the Nickel Plate Road. The 757’s home terminal was Bellevue, Ohio where it and its sister engines were charged with operating manifest freight and freight trains between Chicago, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Conneaut, Ohio, and Buffalo, New York. These engines soon became icons of the railroad and ubiquitous throughout the system.
The Berkshires were especially liked by their crews and regarded as some of the finest steam locomotives in the Midwest. Weighing 440,800lbs, the 757 could operate at speeds in excess of 60MPH and pull some of the longest and heaviest freight trains of the day. TRAINS Magazine would later proclaim that the Berkshires were “engines that saved a railroad.”
Retired in 1958 and stored in Bellevue throughout the 1960s, 757 was originally designated to be donated to the City of Bellevue, Ohio long before the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum was established. The City of Bellevue could not provide a display site for the locomotive after many years of failed attempts. In 1966, the newly created Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania saved the locomotive from an uncertain future by accepting its donation from the Norfolk & Western Railway.
In early 2017, the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum (MR&NKP) and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (RRMPA) of Strasburg, Pennsylvania began negotiations to allow the 757 to return to her hometown of Bellevue and become a featured display at the MR&NKP Museum. Years of outside display at Strasburg had taken their toll on the locomotive and the RRMPA decided that 757 did not have as strong a connection to Pennsylvania’s railroading history as some of their other locomotives and railroad cars, which also require considerable attention. In the end, the RRMPA agreed to transfer ownership of the 757 to the MR&NKP upon removal of the locomotive.
On August 1st, 2017, the Bring Back 757 Fundraising Campaign was launched to relocate the 757. As the MR&NKP received financial support, work was performed by volunteers and steam contractors on the locomotive for the next several months to prepare the locomotive for her 500-mile journey back to Bellevue, Ohio.
After 18 months of fundraising and preparations, the 757 left the RRMPA on February 11th, 2019. Traveling over the railroad lines of the Strasburg Rail Road, Amtrak, and the Norfolk Southern Corporation, the locomotive was towed 500 miles without incident after sitting for nearly 53 years. A Nickel Plate steel cupola caboose from the MR&NKP escorted the locomotive with an escort crew, lubricants, and tools. On February 14th, 2019, Norfolk Southern delivered the 757 to the MR&NKP Coach Yard.
The 757 was on display at the MR&NKP Museum during the 2019 season. In June of 2019, the locomotive was cleaned, painted, and lettered as a temporary measure to improve appearance. Also, in the Summer of 2019 a new restoration building was erected at the MR&NKP capable of handling the 757, the locomotive will be moved inside this facility in early 2021 after a rail connection is established.
The cosmetic restoration will include a new sheet metal jacket for the boiler, a rebuilt cab structure, the interior of the cab restored, the running gear reassembled (some items were disabled for the movement home), and fresh paint and lettering. The goal is to restore and preserve the 757 to an “in-service” appearance for the education and enjoyment of our guests.
Plans are in the works to construct a covered shelter that the 757 can be enjoyed by our guests while being protected from the harsh weather conditions of Northern Ohio.
The restoration of the 757 will be cosmetic only. Any effort to restore and operate a mainline steam locomotive like the 757 would likely cost over a million dollars and require personnel, equipment, financing and infrastructure that our museum does not have.
Photos and Videos
Donors and Supporters
A.J. Rogers
Adam Matthews
Adam Reyling
Aiden White
Al Martin
Alan Corbit
Alex Meadows
Amy Jak
Andrew Paeplow
Andrew R. Gipe Sr.
Andy Novak
Anthony Koester
Barb Stager
Barbara Baker
Barry Trogu
Ben Deutschman
Benjaman Baker
Berneita Saum
Beverly Clark
Beverly R. Morris
Bill Mosteller
Bill & Shirley Taylor
Bill, Rhonda, & Hailey Peters
Bob Albert
Bob McCown
Bob Musser
Bob Opper
Bob Zoellner
Brad K Kunze
Brad Mielke
Brandon Hart
Brandon Willis
Brendan Edward Delay
Brendan Lynch
Brian & Cheri Hummel
Brian Christophel
Brian Dembinski
Brian Harshbarger
Brian J. Smith
Brian McKissick
Bruce Blonder
Bruce Bryan
Bryan Smith
C. Alexander
Carl B. Sterzing
Carol M Shannon
Carol Schroeder
Charles Wagner
Charles Wall
Cherie Stewart
Cheryl & Guy Godschall
Chris Beamer
Chris Cloud
Chris Manning
Chris Meier
Chris Pollock
Christian Henderson Sargent
Christopher Betts
Christopher Ellis
Christopher Homco
Christopher Lantz
Christopher Partsch
Clarence Morey lll
Clay Deeds
Cynthia & Jerome Gracy
Dale Peterka
Dale Zeller
Dan Davidson
Dan Pluta
Daniel Auxter
Daniel Caslow
Daniel Katiba
Daniel Orr
Danny Conley
Darrell Balakoff
Dave & Virginia Robinson
David Dominy
David Downes
David J. Rasik
David Knight
David Nuti
David R. Will
David Ritter
David Seable
David Taverner
David Taverner
David Wallingford
David Warburton
Dean Lawrence
Delbert Russel
Dennis Brinker
Dennis Livesey
Dennis Snyder
Diana Griffin
Diane & Michael Ackerman
Donald Adams
Donald & Kathleen Rozick
Donald Stull
Douglas Myers
Dwayne Fuehring
Eric Kapusta
Eric Schmincke Jr.
Eric Williams
Evan Peterson
Forrest LeCain
Fr. Scott Kramer
Francis T. Jennings
Frank P. Kammer
Frank Walko
Gabriel McElwain
Garry Phelps
Garry Williams
Gary Retterbush
Gene Lurwig
George & Sandy Keller
George Forero
Gerald Molyet
Glenn Bowman
Gregory Barker
Gregory Garbacz
Gregory Johnston
Harry Mylander
Howard Speidel
J. William Kittle
Jacob Durbin
Jacob Petkovsky
James Benetzky
James Bernard
James Bobel
James Canter
James D. Snyder
James E. Peters
James Kess
James Kreider
James Leed
James Lewis
James Lipnitz
James Yevich
Janice Todd
Jason Smith
Jay Edwards
Jeff Colvin
Jeff Marshall
Jeff Petraska
Jeff Vawter
Jeffrey & Deborah Cook
Jennifer Hammond
Jerald Hyde
Jeremy Clark
Jeremy Holmes
Jeremy Lawrence
Jessica Samko
Jim Davis
Jim Nolan
Jim Semon
Jodi Barber
Joe Vargo
Joel R. Bickhart
John Blystone
John Bores
John Bortz
John D. Keller
John F. Cizmar
John Hamilton
John Hoppes
John Murray
John Rife
John Snyder
John, Paula, and Jonathan David
Jon Marx
Jonathan Eau Claire
Jonathan Miller
Joseph & Barbara Kurilec
Joseph Bliss
Joseph D. Cason
Joseph Fabregas
Joseph H. Miller, Jr.
Joseph S Grzelak
Joseph Williams
Joshua Harner
Juanita L. Haditsch
Judith and John Miller
Karri Patrick
Kathleen Cadwell
Kathy S. Morfier
Keith Morrow
Kelly Lynch
Kerry Weller
Kevin Kohls
Kevin McFadden
Kevin Strecker
Kimberly Lazar
Kimberly Shively
Kurt Bell
Kyle Montgomery
Larry W. Bruehler
Laurie & Erik Pietrzak
Lawrence Fields
Lee A. Miller
Levi Banker
Linda Murr
Linnea Van Blarcum
Lisa Breitigam
Loretta Shepherd
Lynn Lockwood
M. Balla
Marc Sekora
Marc Spurgeon
Marcus Leader
Mark Vandre
Mark Vollmar
Martin McGuan
Martin Moorefield
Matt Lee
Matthew Meyer
Matthew Schoder
Matthew Walker
Melissa Creston
Michael (David) Vaughn
Michael & Gigi O’Neill
Michael Boyd
Michael C Huhn
Michael Cullison
Michael Dobroka
Michael Frampton
Michael Hamernik
Michael Hanson
Michael Woodburn
Mike & Patsy Beamer
Mike Cool
Mike Eckhart
Mike Long
Mike Todd
Nathan Fries
Nathan Hatton
Nicholas Resar
Nick Dombi
Nick Hovey
Norman & Joyce Cramer
Norman Della Coletta
Patrick Morrison
Patrick Rose
Paul & Barbara Emch
Paul Lieber
Paul Limmer
Paul McDonnell
Paul Wolfe
Peter K. Shepherd
Phil Long
Phillip & Patricia Larson
Phillip Motter
R.W. Miller
Rachel Weibel
Randal Fnook
Randall Duncan
Ray Kammer Jr.
Rebecca Canterbury
Rex & Kay Pealer
Richard & Marie Schweinberg
Richard & Ruth Leonard
Richard Schweinberg Jr.
Rick Rowlands
Rob Mott
Robert & Kay Mason
Robert & Patricia Caywood
Robert & Sharon Barnes
Robert Brossia
Robert M. Craddock
Robert Davis
Robert Easterday
Robert Fabritius
Robert Kess
Robert Knack
Robert Perez
Robert Winfree
Roger Fuehring
Roger Mazzarella
Ron & Candy Rowland
Ron Heyman
Ronald Miecznikowski
Ronald R. Smith
Ronald Ruffing
Ronald Wright
Rose Dick
Roy Wullich
Russell Cummins
Russell Swinnerton
Ruth Fuehring
S.K. Winstandley
Sally Raiteri
Sandy Gilmore Sheppard
Sarah Berger
Scott Cameron
Scott Hudler
Scott Parsons
Scott Runkel
Scott Spiedel
Sharon McNutt
Sheila Dorr
Spencer Pfrogner
Stephen Hull
Stephen Wasserman
Steven Garwood
Steven Harvey
Steven Korotky
Steve Raiteri
Steve & Kathy Staley
Stuart Scott
Susan Wills
Ted & Judy Gingrich
Terry Bossert
Terry Crumrine
Terry Henney
Terry Sprague
The Meese Family
Theodore Vasbinder
Thomas Gaffney
Thomas Hillhouse
Thomas Jaite
Thomas Kepler
Thomas Meitzler
Thomas Smith
Thomas Stager
Thomas W. Parkins
Tim Bower
Tim & Micki Tester
Tim Walker
Timothy Pavlic II
Todd & Dee Ana Runkle
Todd G. Starr
Tom & Linda Aigler
Tom & Sandy Runkle
Tom Adams
Tucker Pronko
Von Gruenheit
Walter J. Guthrie
Walter Lied
Wayne Laepple
Wayne Wolfe
Wayne York
W.D. Miller
William Billy Jr.
William Miller
William Sheehau Jr.
Zac McGinnis
Zach Hall
Zach Warth
Memorials, Honors, and Dedications
Donor Anne Lamb in Memory of Cecil Merlin Lamb
Donors Bruce & Sue Roth in memory of Clyde A. Mays Jr.
Donor Charlie Wise in memory of C.B. Wise and in Honor of A.B. Wise & Tom Hern
Donors Dale & Cathy Owens in Memory of Carl B. & Florence R. Owens
Donor Dan Maguire in memory of Janice Maguire
Donor Dan Maguire in Memory of Robert E. & L. Elizabeth Birr
Donor Dan Maguire in Memory of William H. Fuehring
Donor Ethan Morel in Memory of Great Grandfather Childs
Donor Firelands Federal Credit Union in honor of N.A.R.V.E.
Donors George & Marcia Payne in memory of Bill Fuehring
Donor George Neuman III in dedication of Jerome J. Dunn
Donor James & Bonnie Semon in memory of Bob Lorenz
Donor Jeanne M. Black in memory of Pauline Hoops
Donor Jim Compton in memory of Barbara (Wise) Compton & Richard C. Compton
Donor John Fryar in Memory of John Fryar Sr.
Donor Linda Aigler in memory of Bud Bollinger
Donors Mark & Mike Balla in memory of George M. Balla
Donors Members of the MR&NKP in honor of Trains Magazine Editor Jim Wrinn
Donor Patricia Baum in memory of Kenneth Juliano
Donor Rebecca Tidwell in memory of Pauline Hoops
Donor Robert Weichel in Memory of Paul Stark
Donors Robert & Nancy Wilson in memory of Dennis Brown
Donor Sarah Ross in Honor of Jerry Hyde
Donor Thomas Hern in dedication of Bill & Ruth Fuehring and Charlie Wise
Donor Wayne Wolfe in memory of Paul Wolfe
Donor Zachary Neuman in Memory of Richard C. Gross
Brotherhood Donations
Aaron Osterlin (BLET 234)
Amber Knisely (SMART 225)
Anthony Roth (BLET 447)
Ben Lindsey (SMART 225)
Bradd Parish (BLET 4)
Brandi Oney (SMART 225)
Brandon Alley (SMART 225)
Bryan Smith (SMART 225)
Chad Huss (SMART 225)
Chris Zeman (BLET 447)
Clayton Schluchter (SMART 225)
Darin Lerch (BLET 447)
Daryl Rowe (BLET 447)
David Cromer (SMART 225)
David Urie (SMART 225)
David Weiker (SMART 225)
Deb Jacobs (BLET 447)
Douglas Myers (BLET 447)
Dwayne Fuehring (SMART 225)
Eric Moffit (SMART 225)
Gabe Goodsite (SMART 225)
Gary Hall
Greg Martin (BLET 447)
Haley Short (SMART 225)
J.B. Wilkin (BLET 447)
Jason Ruffing (SMART 225)
Jason Woytus (BLET 447)
Javier Guerrero (SMART 225)
Jeff Hasselbach (SMART 225)
Josh Wahl (SMART 225)
Joshua Bomer (SMART 225)
Kevin Sears (BLET 447)
Leonard Zilko (BLET 447)
Matt Fox (BLET 447)
Max Webster (SMART 225)
Michael Gish (SMART 225)
Patrick Ertle (SMART 225)
Paul Lockwood (SMART 225)
Scott Laird (SMART 225)
Shawn Lorow (SMART 225)
Sheree Roth (SMART 225)
Steve George (SMART 225)
Timothy Walker (SMART 225)
Tom Peacock (SMART 225)
Travis Richards (SMART 225)
Wade Adkins (SMART 225)
William Bomba (BLET 447)
Businesses, Corporations, Foundations, and Organizations
American Steam Railroad
Bellevue Ace Hardware
Bellevue Area Tourism & Visitors Bureau
Bellevue Lions Club
Bellevue Lodge #273 Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio
Bellevue Metal & Recycling
Bellevue United Selective Fund
Bone Boys BBQ
Bower Tiling Service, INC.
Bowers Asphalt & Paving, INC.
Central Ohio Hobbies
Clouse Construction
Committee to Grow Bellevue
Division 4, MCR, National Model Railroaders Association INC.
Division 6, MCR, NMRA INC.
Eastwood Iron Horses
F.O.E. 490 Ladies Auxiliary
Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Inc.
Franklin Sanitation
Fraternal Order of the Eagles #490 Charities Fund
Fraternal Order of the Eagles #490, Eagle Riders
Gardner & Strayer Insurance Group
Gilbert Heating & Plumbing
Hartlen Insurance Agency LLC
Hunter’s Needs
Industrial Image, LLC
Janotta & Herner Construction
Jim’s Electric Train Works
Leroy’s Locomotive Works
Lorain County Model Railroad Association, INC.
Mark Haynes Construction
Mielke Painting
Miller’s Drive In
Nickel Plate Road Historical & Technical Society
Norfolk Southern Foundation
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Pittsburgh Air Brake Company
Pizza Wheel of Bellevue
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Riley Contracting, INC.
Scheid Enterprises, INC.
Seitz Design & Construction, INC.
Solid Foundations, INC.
State Farm Insurance, Agent Brian Shupe
The Strasburg Rail Road
Terry McConnell Excavating, LLC
The Bellevue Historical Society Board of Directors
The Firelands Supply Company
The Kreimes Co. INC.
The Mennonite Foundation, Inc.
The Samuel S. Johnson Foundation
The Steam Railroading Institute
Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway & Museum, Inc.
Tuffman Equipment & Supply
Twenty-First Century Foundation
Unilliance, Inc
Wm. Dauch Concrete
Youngstown Steel Heritage