From the official press release issue on November 8, 2024:
RJD America LLC Acquires Historic Chesapeake & Ohio 614 Steam Locomotive and Announces Comprehensive Restoration.
RJD America LLC is thrilled to announce that it has purchased the legendary Chesapeake & Ohio 614 steam locomotive from the American Freedom Train Foundation, Inc. With a firm commitment to preserving railroad heritage, RJD America LLC will invest substantial resources to restore the locomotive and its auxiliary tender at the esteemed Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services.
“Chesapeake & Ohio 614 is a treasured part of national history, and we are privileged to become its caretakers,” stated Jason Johnson, General Manager and Communications Director for RJD America LLC.
Constructed in 1948 by the Lima Locomotive Works, the Chesapeake & Ohio 614 is a Class J3a Greenbrier 4-8-4 steam locomotive, marking it as one of the final steam locomotives built for commercial use in America, showcasing the height of steam technology. It primarily served the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, known for its substantial power and speed in hauling passenger and freight trains.
The comprehensive restoration at Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, will ensure the locomotive and its auxiliary tender meet contemporary operational and safety standards and retain their historical authenticity.
Photo: The locomotive is pictured at its long time home at the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society in Clifton Forge, Virginia on November 24, 2019.
Link to official press release:
https://www.co614.com/november-8-2024-press-release/
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