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RattlerJones [2019-09-29 01:51:38 +0000 UTC]

In WWII, the Chesapeake & Ohio faced demands for a fast-freight schedule which acquired the 2-8-4 idea to handle the matter. 
Both Lima and the American Locomotive Company built (90) 2-8-4's for the C&O before they were named 'Kanawhas' after the Kanawha River. 
Each Kanawha locomotive had 69 inch drivers, a boiler pressure of 245 psi, 69,350 Ibs of tractive effort and 10,000 Ibs more with a added booster. 
In mid 1952 after war-time, a number of diesel locomotives replaced the entire steam fleet slowly including the relatively-new Kanawhas which retired in 1955. 
Of only twelve-remaining 2-8-4's, #2716 was bought into the Norfolk Southern Steam Program for restoration before it operated in action from 1981 to 1982. 
Upon restoration, the 2716 masqueraded as a Southern Railway Kanawha, despite the fact there were no 2-8-4's on the SRY. 
Unfortunately, a crack on the firebox in 1982 had thrust the only operable C&O Kanawha into retirement again, replaced with the recently-restored NKP Berkshire #765 instead. 
Fourteen years later in 1996, the 2716 was put back into action again by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society as a accurate method to generate funds for 765's 2nd restoration. 
It was only a brief operation for the 2716 when increasing issues put the only operable Kanawha into retirement for the third time. 
Once again, the Chesapeake and Ohio 2716 was put back on display at the Kentucky Railway Museum until 2016 marked its proposed-restoration by the local steam heritage group.

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