Locomotives and Rolling Stock
Scroll down to learn the history of our historic locomotives and passenger cars! We own six vintage diesel locomotives (three are operational) and one fully operational steam locomotive. Our passenger car roster is made up of equipment ranging from 1916 to the 1960s. We have traditional enclosed coaches and three open-air cars that are offered in the warmer months. Please note that we have the right to substitute locomotives and/or passenger cars without advance notice. Seating is also first-come, first-served on most trains. We do not offer group rates on regularly scheduled rides. Tour groups or other groups may rent the entire train for private excursions. Other arrangements can be made for renting a car for parties etc. Click here for details!
Locomotives
GP7 No. 5833 (Ex-C&O) Status: Operational
This 1,500-horsepower “Geep” was built in October 1952 by the Electro-motive division of General Motors. It, along with its GP7 and GP9 brothers helped replace the C&O’s steam locomotives. In the 1970s, it and a few other C&O geeps were transferred to the Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad. It was during this part in its life that 5833 was renumbered 1508. It 1982, it returned to the C&O for disposition and was eventually purchased by the HVSR in 1986. Thanks to help from the C&O Railway Historical Society, 5833 looks much as it did when it was new in 1952. 5833 has a 16-cylinder EMD 567 prime mover and can go up to 65 mph, although we don’t go that that fast on our line. Watch our video on 5833’s history here.
GP10 No. 701 (Ex-ICG No. 8307) Status: Operational
This 1,850-horsepower Geep was originally built in December 1957 for Illinois Central as GP9 No. 9307. It was rebuilt in January 1974 at Illinois Central Gulf’s Paducah, Kentucky Shops and renumbered 8307. It was later sold to MidSouth Railroad as No. 1031 and later went to Southern Pacific Construction Services, where it gained its current number and paint. We acquired it from Ohio Central in September 2003 in exchange for Lake Superior and Ishpeming 2-8-0 No. 33. Like 5833, it has a 16-cylinder EMD 567 prime mover and can go up to 65 mph, although we don’t go that fast on our line. Watch our video on 701’s history here.
RS-4-TC No. 4005 (Ex-U.S. Army) Status: Operational
This little diesel switcher was built by Baldwin for the United States Department of Defense in 1954. It has a 500-horsepower Caterpillar engine and is ideal light switching duties. We acquired it in 1996 and repainted it to its current blue paint in 1999. We normally use 4005 for switching, moving stuff around the shop, and maintenance-of-way duties. Watch our video on 4005’s history here.
0-6-0 No. 3 (Ex-Beech Bottom Power Company) Status: Operational
No. 3 was built in March 1920 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for Beech Bottom Power Company as an extra to an order for another steam locomotive. No. 3 was constructed from spare parts, including a boiler intended for a Grand Trunk locomotive that was never built. No. 3 was initially used to shuttle coal from the mine to the power plant before being placed in ash dump service. No. 3 has 21,438 lbs of tractive effort, 42-inch drivers, and an empty weight of 92,000 lbs. 1968, it was retired and put on display in Cumberland, Ohio, before being donated to the HVSR in 1982. Restoration commenced in 2001 and completed in 2015. No. 3 pulls occasional Steam Specials along our historic line each year. Watch our website and social media for dates and times to ride behind this authentic coal-fired steam locomotive. Watch our video on No. 3’s history here.
SW1200 No. 1231 (Ex-Norfolk and Portsmouth Belt Line No. 105) Status: Undergoing repairs
This locomotive is the newest addition to our railroad. It was built in the 1950s for the Norfolk and Portsmouth Belt Line in Virginia. Locomotives like this were and still are ideal for switching duties. With 1,200 horsepower and 12-cylinder EMD prime movers, they can pack a punch. We purchased the 1231 in 2023 from ADM in 2023 and it arrived in Nelsonville in March 2024. Stay tuned in the near future as this locomotive begins a new life hauling passengers on our historic right of way.
45-tonner No. 7318 (Ex-U.S. Army) Status: Non-Operational
This 300-horsepower general electric centercab switcher was built in 1948 for the Department of Defense and assigned to the Army. Acquired in 1981, it was our first diesel locomotive. It was renumbered 7315 for years before having its original number restored in 2003. It is currently out of service awaiting repairs.
65DE19a No. 8122 (Ex-U.S. Army No. 8465) Status: Display
This rare Whitcomb centercab was built in 1944 to serve in Italy during the later part of WWII. It ended up never leaving the United States. We acquired it in 2001 from Cargill and restored it to service in 2005. It has not operated in over a decade and is now on static display in front of our Depot. Check it out the next time you visit us.
Passenger Equipment
B&O combine No. 1497
The oldest passenger car on our roster was built in 1916 for Baltimore and Ohio Predecessor Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Western. Combination cars, or combines, were intended for use on branchline trains where an extra coach or baggage car was not necessary. Combines could carry both baggage and passengers, therefore combining two cars into one. We got our combine in the 1970s and continue to use it to this day.
B&O day coach No. 3501
This coach was built in 1939 and was intended for longer distance passenger trains. It once saw use on the Cincinnatian between Cincinnati and Detroit. We restored it in 2006, and it is complete with plush seats, air conditioning, a restroom for emergencies, and luggage racks.
3x Open-Air cars (former flat cars)
Our three open-air cars began their lives as flat cars. They were converted to open-air passenger cars by building up the sides, installing floors, seats, and even roofs. These cars are quite popular on our regular trains and tend to fill first.
3x Rock Island commuter cars
Our three Rock Island commuter cars joined our fleet in the early 1980s, but began their lives in the 1920s. They could seat 100 passengers and were used for commuter trains in the Chicago area. Since they were built as commuter cars, they were not equipped with luggage racks or restrooms.
4x Canadian Pacific coaches
Our four Canadian Pacific day coaches were built around 1950 by Canadian Car and Foundry. In later years, they were part of excursions in Wisconsin for the Locomotive and Tower Preservation Fund and were called “Chippewa Valley.” They came to us from the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum in 2015. In 2017, one was fully restored to its Canadian Pacific colors and fitted with air-conditioning. Another was placed in service in 2021 as an extra car for colder-weather trains. A third one was placed in service in January 2023 as a table car for dinner trains while the fourth one is currently in the shop being converted to a table car. Eventually, all four of our CP cars will wear their original colors.
Diner No. 8528
Our dining car was built by Budd in 1950 for the Southern Pacific as No. 10213 and used on the Sunset Limited. It has 48 seats and 12 tables of four. It was retired in 1971 and sold to Amtrak, where it was numbered 8063. It was later re-numbered to its current number, 8528. The car last operated in regular Amtrak service in 2015 and was purchased by the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway in 2019. It has opened up many doors for us through dinner trains! Please watch our website and social media pages for dinner train dates and times.
Power Car No. 90921
This yellow caboose is actually a power car with a generator providing electricity for most of our passenger cars. It did, however, begin its life as a caboose. It was built in 1929 at the Hocking Valley Railway Shops in Logan for the Chesapeake and Ohio as No. 90921. In 2021, the caboose began its new life as a power car, while the exterior maintains a caboose appearance.
Power Car No. 18365
This car began its life as a transfer caboose for the New York Central in 1964. In 1997, we converted it to a power car to provide electricity for our coaches. While the 90921 is now our main power car, 18365 is operational and can be used if necessary.