CLIFTON FORGE, Va. – A group has announced the purchase of and plans to restore a historic steam locomotive that once ran through Summers, Raleigh and Fayette Counties.
RJD America LLC announced in a November press release that they have purchased Chesapeake & Ohio 614 steam locomotive and plan on restoring it back to operation. The locomotive and its auxiliary tender will be restored at the Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services shops.
In Strasburg, work will be done to make sure 614 and its tender meet operational and safety standards, as well as retain its historical authenticity. The Strasburg Rail Road shops are acclaimed for restoring historic rail equipment, and for its team of expert craftsmen and engineers.
Jason Johnson, General Manager and Communications Director for RJD America, said they are honored to take on this project.
“Reviving 614 goes beyond restoring machinery; it’s about reigniting the magic of steam railroading for today’s and tomorrow’s enthusiasts.” Johnson said. “We are privileged to become its caretakers.”
The company said once the restoration is done, it will run wherever its new owners decide is appropriate, and according to the 614 website, no specific plans have been announced but the likely outcome is that 614 will be used for excursions and appear at special rail events.
According to the 614 website, restoration will take about 2 years from when the restoration starts and the project is being funded privately.
The Chesapeake & Ohio 614 was built by Lima Locomotive Works in 1948, and is a J-3a “Greenbrier” class 4-8-4 locomotive, and was built to pull passenger trains and freight trains. The locomotive was designed to handle the mountains in Virginia and West Virginia, and pulled the C&O’s most famous passenger trains such as the ‘Fast Flying Virginian’ and the ‘George Washington.’
Pulling these passenger trains took the 614 to places like Washington D.C., Richmond, and included stops in Hinton, Prince, Thurmond, and Charleston on its way to Cincinnati.
614 was retired in 1952, and was restored for the first time in 1976.
Being the only surviving locomotive of its type, it was preserved and pulled excursion trains before being retired again. The 614 was also proposed to be the locomotive to pull the Greenbrier Resort Presidential train, a project that never ended up happening.
The 614 is currently in Clifton Forge, Virginia where it’s being prepped for its move to Strasburg by crews.
RJD America LLC specializes in restoring and operating historic locomotives, and the company said their goals are to educate and inspire future generations about the role of railroads in shaping American history.
You can read the full press release here.
You can visit the 614 website here.
To learn more about the history of 614, click here.
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