The trip that began nearly three years ago is done, but the journey and real work is just beginning. Help bring the Stripe back to life by making a contribution. With your help, Music City's locomotive will be singing the rhythm of the rails in no time!

The Nashville Steam Preservation Society (NSPS) is restoring steam locomotive No. 576, a product of the American Locomotive Company, to operation. We’ve met our first major goal to relocate 576 from Centennial Park to the Tennessee Central Railway Museum’s (TCRM) restoration facility. We now need to raise the money to do a complete restoration.

Built in 1942 for the CSX predecessor Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway, 576 is the only one of its class remaining. 576 served our nation during World War II and was retired after only 10 years of service. As a "park display," 576 was one of the first monuments to the steam era established in the entire country and further cemented the railroad’s connection to country music by appearing on the cover of Life Magazine with Johnny Cash.

As the last remaining mainline steam locomotive of the NC&StL Railway, the restoration of Locomotive No. 576 to operation will serve as a visceral link to the history of Nashville and honor those railroad workers who helped make the region great. The locomotive was designed in Nashville and has called “Music City” home since delivery from the factory.

NSPS has agreements in place with both the Nashville & Eastern Railroad to use their trackage and the TCRM to use their fleet of restored passenger cars. Once 576’s restoration is complete, this will constitute the longest period of time that a steam locomotive—set as a park display—is restored to full operation in the USA.

The Nashville Steam Preservation Society has assembled a team of qualified steam mechanics to rebuild No. 576. This is the chance to bring No. 576 back to life! Consider making a tax-deductible donation to help make this restoration project a reality!