Norfolk Southern aids Souderton’s Railroad & Industrial Preservation Society with a $10,000 grant to restore the Alco S2 No. 611, writes Trains.com.
Built in 1948, the No. 611 is the last intact diesel train from the Lehigh & New England Railroad, and it operated until the railroad closed in 1961.
The project is taking place in Topton, Pennsylvania, on Norfolk Southern’s Allentown & Auburn Railroad. After being restored to its original condition, the locomotive will serve as an educational tool for special events.
The funds will fund the rehabilitation of the locomotive’s traction motors.
“The grant allows us to take a major step forward in returning one of the most important artifacts of eastern Pennsylvania railroading’s past to operation,” says David Organek, president of the preservation society.
The grant aligns with Norfolk Southern’s Safety First Grant Program and Thriving Communities Grant Programs, both started in 2023.
Organek, an engineer for Norfolk Southern highlights a connection between Norfolk Southern and the locomotive. The company’s Cement Secondary Line was originally a Lehigh & New England Railroad track.
Read more about the Alco S2 No. 611 restoration on Trains.com.
