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Nickel Plate Road Diesel Roster

The Nickel Plate Road diesel roster was a mix of EMDs and Alcos with a small batch of Baldwin AS616s, which rounded out the roster. For a complete/all-time Nickel Plate Road diesel roster please click here. This list of surviving NKP diesel locomotives will be categorized by original numbers the railroad assigned its units and where they are today, whether in operation, cosmetically restored, or in some state of preservation at railroad museums and tourist railroads. Also, just as something to keep in mind if you are not aware, while some locomotives may be painted/preserved in NKP colors this does not necessarily mean that they are of NKP heritage (and likewise, some locomotives may be of NKP heritage that are not in NKP colors).

American Locomotive Company (Alco)

· Alco S-4 #79: Preserved by the Rochester & Genessee Valley Transportation Museum as NKP #79.

· Alco RSD12 #329: Preserved by the Mad River and Nickel Plate Railroad Museum as NKP #329.

Electro-Motive Division (EMD)

· EMD GP9 #426: Preserved at the Indiana Transportation Museum as NKP #426.

· EMD GP9 #514: Preserved at the Steamtown National Historic Site as NKP #514.

· EMD GP30 #900: Preserved by the Mad River and Nickel Plate Railroad Museum as NKP #900.

· EMD GP9 #901: Preserved at the Cincinnati Railway Museum as Illinois & Ohio #85.

Also, it should be noted that some former Nickel Plate Road switcher and road units continue to remain in some state of operation and in active revenue service with Class Is, Regionals, shortlines, or leasing companies. To learn more about the disposition of these locomotives please click here to visit The Diesel Shop.

While this list will continually be updated it certainly does not completely cover every surviving unit, which was on the Nickel Plate Road diesel roster. So, if you know of any other survivors out there, whether they are parked and gleaming in a museum or sitting out in the weeds along a forgotten siding please let me know so we can keep this list growing, and you will be given full credit for your help.

For more reading about the Nickel Plate consider The Nickel Plate Road: The History of a Great Railroad from author Taylor Hampton. The book gives a superb history on the railroad, so if you are looking for a book which provides a great historical account of the NKP you will enjoy this book very much.

You may also want to consider the book Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive by author J. Parker Lamb. As the title implies the book looks at the history and development of the diesel locomotives, covering 200 pages, from its earliest beginnings to the newest designs and models operated today. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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