Kentucky Steam’s SD40-2 diesel repainted in Norfolk & Western scheme

Kentucky Steam’s SD40-2 diesel repainted in Norfolk & Western scheme

By | October 22, 2023

Photo charter with locomotive and additional 1980s-era equipment scheduled for Jan. 27, 2024

Repainted Norfolk & Western SD40-2 diesel No. 6162 

at “The Yard” of the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp., in October 2023. Casey Thomason

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IRVIN, Ky. — The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. unveiled its repainted SD40-2 diesel locomotive, which has been returned to its as-delivered Norfolk & Western all-black color scheme. The project was a collaboration of multiple individuals and parties, led by former Norfolk Southern corporate photographer Casey Thomason.

“It’s a cool pet project that I brought to Kentucky Steam a year or so ago, and I’m glad they were as enthusiastic about it as I was,” said Thomason.

No. 6162 was built in May 1978 by General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division in LaGrange, Ill. The 1982 merger with the Southern Railway creating Norfolk Southern resulted in the locomotive’s repainting as NS No. 6162. It remained on the active roster until being donated to KSHC in June 2020.

According to a press release, Thomason enlisted Steven Holmes for the technical research and graphics, in addition to Josh Putnam and Lindesy Poole who provided numerals for the era-specific number boards. CSX Transportation was reported to have supplied the paint needed for the project.

A photo charter with the headlined locomotive is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2024, in partnership with Thomason and Kentucky Steam. The all-day event will take place at the non-profit organization’s campus in Irvin and will hold multiple staged scenes, a night photo session, a luncheon, and several photo presentations. Former Louisville & Nashville C30-7 diesel No 7067, which was donated to Kentucky Steam and cosmetically restored by CSX in 2022 [See “CSX repaints C30-7 into L&N scheme…” Trains News Wire, April 26, 2022], will also be featured along with the organization’s collection of other 1980s-era rail equipment from the region.

“I’m equally as excited to have a chance to run a photo event with No. 6162 and KSHC’s other locomotives from the same era,” Thomason said.

Ticket sales are scheduled to begin Oct. 26, 2023, on the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. website.