Historic steam locomotive leaves Elkhart for restoration in Fort Wayne

ELKHART, Ind. - A steam locomotive that has sat at Elkhart’s National New York Central Railroad Museum since the 1980s is leaving the city to undergo restoration in Fort Wayne.

The 3001 Mohawk steam engine was built in the 1940s and is one of the last standing steam locomotives in the world.

It will travel down the tracks to the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society to be restored.

Brent Holaway, assistant curator of the National New York Central Museum, said no other Class L3 Mohawk New York Central locomotive is in existence.

“What you’re looking at down the line is a piece of history,” Holaway said. “And the best way to preserve it is to put it in the hands of people who can care for it properly. It will be the only running New York Central steam locomotive in existence once it gets to that point.”

Kelly Lynch, executive director of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, said the restoration will cost an estimated $4 million.

“It’s going to take a lot of volunteer time, a lot of donations, a lot of effort, blood, sweat and tears,” Lynch said.

Lynch added that the locomotive will be broken down into individual components as part of the process.

“We’re going to reduce it to kit form,” Lynch said. “And every part that you see on this machine is going to be re-machined, remanufactured, restored and touched by a human hand at some point. That is going to be a months and years long process.”

The restoration is expected to take more than two years to complete.

The 3001 has drawn visitors to the museum for years. Ben Pitz said the locomotive is one of his favorites.

“Every year I’ve come down here, the only reason I’ve come into the museum, besides the model terrain exhibit, is just to come see 3001,” Pitz said.

Matthew Jackson also came to see the locomotive before it leaves Elkhart.

“I first heard that the Fort Wayne Rail Historical Society was going to be towing the 3001 all the way down to Fort Wayne, and restore it to operational conditions,” Jackson said. “It’s a once in a lifetime experience to just be here, listen to what they had to say, and of course just ask them some questions.”

The Mohawk steam engine is expected to leave Elkhart before winter.

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