Old No. 757 comes home

Everybody who loves trains and everyone else should be thrilled for the Mad River and NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue, which accomplished something many people doubted could ever be accomplished: They brought the Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive No. 757 home.It arrived at the Mad River and NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue on Feb. 14, completing a long effort to bring it back to Bellevue from its previous home at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. The 757 will be Mad River's first steam locomotive."It's hard to tell the story of the railroad without a steam locomotive in your collection," said Dwayne Fuehring, project manager for Bring Back 757 and vice president of the museum told the Register.That, we're sure, is a huge understatement. Working through the bureaucracy of a railroad company, and the sheer physical challenges to bring it home were enormous, we have no doubt. But No. 757 itself also has a special place in the hearts of Mad River Museum supporters.Built in 1944, it was based in Bellevue during its service. It went out of service in 1958, and in 1960. It stayed here until 1966. The Mad River museum has been attempting to bring it home since 1981, and supporters finally made the case. It was a community effort to get it here and many have donated.The museum raised $160,000 so far, mostly from donations, although another $90,000 is still needed. The locomotive for now is in the Coach Yard facing Southwest Street, where everyone can see it and enjoy it. It will be moved indoors later this year for restoration work. Eventually, the locomotive will have its own display track with a roof over it to protect it.Bringing back the locomotive was a great achievement for Mad River, for the community and the region. The credit goes to the museum's supporters — 300 members, including a core group of about 20 active members. What a great achievement they accomplished together, through perseverance and a love for trains.Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive no. 757 sits on display in the Coach Yard facing Southwest Street at the Mad River and NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019.