Historic Nashville Locomotive
Fired Up For the First Time Since 1952
July 16th, 2026
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — Following a comprehensive ten-year restoration, the Nashville Steam Preservation Society (NSPS) is pleased to announce that locomotive No. 576, the former “Centennial Park Train,” has been fired up for the first time since 1952. This milestone marks a major step forward in the donor-funded effort to return one of Tennessee’s most iconic steam locomotives to operation through the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, skilled craftsmen, contractors, donors, and supporters.
For more than six decades, Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway (NC&StL) locomotive No. 576 stood as a familiar landmark in Nashville’s Centennial Park—a monument to the steam era and the golden age of American railroading. Today, that monument is once again becoming a living, breathing locomotive.
“From the moment No. 576 was placed in Centennial Park and the rails were removed behind it, generations of Nashville citizens dreamed of seeing it steam again,” said NSPS President Shane Meador. “When our organization formed in 2016, that dream became our mission.”
The locomotive was removed from the park in 2019 for a complete mechanical overhaul to pull special, steam-powered excursion trains out of downtown Nashville. Every square inch of the machine required inspection, servicing, or repair before it could safely return to service in full compliance with modern railroad safety regulations and the operating standards required for today’s heritage and excursion railroads.
“Despite spending more than 60 years exposed to the elements, No. 576 was always a strong candidate for restoration,” Meador added. “However, the true extent of the work required couldn’t be determined until we completely disassembled the locomotive. We found that many components had survived remarkably well, while others required extensive renewal or replacement.”
Nashville Steam combined thousands of volunteer hours with the expertise of specialized contractors to complete one of the most comprehensive steam locomotive restorations undertaken in the United States. The work included replacing the rear tube sheet, repairing the thermic syphon, installing entirely new boiler tubes and flues, removing and servicing every driving wheel and axle, rebuilding the running gear, and overhauling every major steam appliance.
The locomotive’s $3 million restoration has been made possible through a combination of private donations, grants, and in-kind contributions of materials, equipment, and professional services. “The amount of support has been overwhelming with donations coming in from nearly all 50 states and several foreign countries. The world is showing they are ready for 576’s encore performance,” proclaimed Meador. As the project enters its final phase, the organization is working to raise an additional $500,000 to complete the restoration, prepare the locomotive for public excursions beginning in 2027, and equip the facilities needed to support its long-term operation and maintenance.
Once restoration is complete, Nashville Steam will expand its longstanding partnership with the Tennessee Central Railway Museum to operate special steam-powered passenger excursions over the Nashville & Eastern Railroad, the same corridor currently served by the WeGo Star commuter rail line. Initial economic studies indicate that regular operation of No. 576 could generate more than $5 million annually in economic impact for the Middle Tennessee region through tourism, hospitality, dining, and related visitor spending.
“It will be wonderful to give this Nashville native a second chance. As our city continues to grow and change, No. 576 reminds us where Nashville came from. Few experiences can tell that story with the power, sound, and rhythm of a living steam locomotive.”
Built in 1942, steam locomotive No. 576 served the region and the country by hauling troop and supply trains during the mobilization for World War II. While in the park, it served as a backdrop for more than a dozen album covers and appeared alongside Johnny Cash on the cover of Life magazine in 1969.
No. 576 is one of only a handful of mainline steam locomotives currently being restored to operating condition in North America, making its return one of the country’s most significant railroad preservation projects, and it will be the largest operating steam locomotive in the state. Steam testing marks the beginning of a series of commissioning tests that will continue over the coming months as crews prepare No. 576 for public excursion service in 2027, when one of Nashville’s most recognizable landmarks is expected to return to the rails for the first time in more than seventy years.
To help complete the restoration, go to: www.nashvillesteam.org/donate
The restoration has been underwritten by: The Candelaria Fund, the Walter Ferguson Charitable Trust, among other organizations and supported through a strategic partnership with FMW Solutions, a rail contracting and locomotive restoration firm located in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. Additional support provided by the Tennessee Central Railway Museum, the Nashville & Eastern Rail Authority and Country Music Icons Marty Stuart and Old Crow Medicine Show.
