The final steam through Bluffton
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Here's a rare black and white photo of the last-ever steam locomotive to pass through Bluffton. It was in the mid-1980s.
The Lima-built NKP Berkshire locomotive was pulling a steam fan excersion train from Muncie, Ind., to Bellevue. The trackage through Bluffton since has been downgraded by Norfolk Southern. Steam locomotives are too heavy to risk travel on the local rails.
On the left of the locomotive is the former NKP freight house, no longer standing. On the right is the passenger depot that has since been relocated to the Buckeye park and is owned by the Bluffton Sportsmen's Club.
If you can imagine the shriek of the whistle, the speed, smoke and blast this locomotive generates as it tears through Bluffton, you may get a glimpse of the romance of steam locomotives.
(Photo by Fred Steiner)
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, April 4, 2025
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
- Tornado Watch issued for Allen, Hancock, Hardin and Putnam counties at 9:15 p.m. on April 2
- Flood Warning issued for Allen County at 11:03 a.m.
- Pirate tennis loss at Elida
- Pirate softball loses opener to Ada
- Pirate baseball falls to Ada
- Allen County will not test warning sirens on April 2
- March 2025 land transfers in the Bluffton Exempted Village School District
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- Bluffton High School Honor Roll announced for 3rd quarter of 2024-2025
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
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- Wind, rain and potential flooding for April 2
- Grandey to major in education, play basketball at John Carroll
- Pirate tennis blanks Bath
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- “I Have Not Forsaken the Word of God” reader's theater, April 13
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