Nickel Plate Road S-2 Berkshire

A total of 15 S-2 Berkshire locomotives were built by the Lima Locomotive Works for the Nickel Plate Road. They were delivered across multiple batches in the 1930s and 1940s to handle the railroad's high-speed freight operations.

Yes, Nickel Plate Road No. 765 is a preserved and operational S-2 Berkshire maintained by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. It regularly hauls excursion trains and is one of the most famous operating steam locomotives in the United States.

The S-2 Berkshire has a 2-8-4 wheel arrangement, meaning two leading wheels, eight driving wheels, and four trailing wheels under the firebox. This Berkshire-type design was known for providing excellent power and speed for freight service.

The S-2 Berkshires were renowned for their high-speed freight capability on the Nickel Plate Road, efficiently moving freight across the railroad's Midwest routes. Their superior performance made them a benchmark for steam freight locomotive design in the United States.