Officials with the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society have said they are on track to move New York Central L-3a 4-8-2 “Mohawk” 3001 out of Elkhart, Ind., this summer, the first major step towards a highly anticipated operational restoration.
This spring, the Fort Wayne group has been working at the National New York Central Railroad Museum to rebuild yard tracks that will enable them to move the locomotive onto Norfolk Southern rails, and eventually, the shop where the 4-8-2 will be restored. In late April, the air brake system was also restored on the locomotive, allowing it to be safely moved on the main line.
The 3001 is the largest surviving NYC steam locomotive and the only member of the L-3a class to escape the scrapper’s torch. The locomotive was under the care of the City of Elkhart, Ind., and has been on display at the National New York Central Museum for decades. In October 2024, FWRHS launched an effort to restore the locomotive for use on its popular Indiana Rail Experience excursions…