Historic Nashville Steam Engine 576 Set for Public Open House After Decades

A historic 340-ton steam-powered train built in 1942 is scheduled to roar to life with a fire in its boiler at a Nov. 7 open house event hosted by the Nashville Steam Preservation Society and the Tennessee Central Railway Museum.

The Stripe Steam Locomotive Returns for Public Event

Years of restoration work are nearing completion for the No. 576 steam locomotive, often called The Stripe. The locomotive will be fired up during a free public event running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tennessee Central Railway Museum, located at 220 Willow Street in Nashville.

Visitors can experience the heat and whistle firsthand. “It’s an emotional experience to feel the heat and hear the whistle blow for the first time in decades,” Nashville Steam Vice President Joey Bryan told The Tennessean.

The engine achieved a successful closed-door steam test in July, bringing the boiler to working pressure for the first time in more than 70 years.

History from World War II to Centennial Park

The locomotive originally rolled off the line in 1942 for the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway. During World War II, the engine hauled vital troop and supply trains.

After active rail transport ended, the city of Nashville received the locomotive as a gift. It became a permanent display train at Centennial Park in 1953.

The engine later served as a visual backdrop for various country music albums. It also appeared on a 1969 Life magazine cover alongside Johnny Cash.

Donors Provide Millions to Restore Historic Engine

Nashville Steam, a nonprofit formed in 2015 to relocate and restore the historic engine, moved the locomotive out of Centennial Park in January 2019.

Donors contributed more than $3 million toward the restoration effort. Organizers estimate another $500,000 is still required to finish remaining mechanical work and testing before the train returns to full operational status.

Exhibits at the November Open House

Volunteers will staff the Nov. 7 event to answer questions about the locomotive and outline future operating schedules. Organizers hope to run the steam engine on the same routes currently used by the Tennessee Central Railway Museum, including regular excursions to Watertown, during the latter half of 2027.

In addition to the No. 576, attendees can tour the museum’s collection of 1950s stainless steel passenger cars and a historic diesel locomotive. The grounds will also feature a model train show, various exhibitors, and a special RJ Corman Railroad Group diesel locomotive decorated in an America 250 paint scheme.