Historic Steam Locomotive At Discovery Park Of America Restored To Its Original Glory

Published on September 10, 2025

Union City, Tennessee, The Discovery Park of America precocious unveiled its recently restored steam locomotive, Engine No. 1149. Built successful 1913, this iconic portion of railroad history has been returned to vintage beauty acknowledgment to a generous assistance from nan Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation. The complete overhaul, weighted astatine complete $500,000, cautiously restored nan engine’s original features, making it a centerpiece of nan park’s collection. Baynum Solutions, recognized for its master activity pinch historical trains and machinery, led nan restoration from commencement to finish.

A Remarkable History of No. 1149

Originally built successful Sweden successful 1913, nan locomotive was portion of nan Swedish State Railways’ prestigious B-class steam engines. Known for their speed, dependability, and elegant design, nan locomotives were utilized to propulsion definitive rider trains crossed Sweden’s picturesque landscapes, serving business travelers, schoolchildren, soldiers, and visitors alike. Steam powerfulness played an integral domiciled successful Sweden’s proscription strategy during this era, pinch No. 1149 being 1 of nan salient machines of its time.

However, arsenic nan Cold War unfolded, nan locomotive recovered a caller intent erstwhile it was placed successful underground retention arsenic portion of Sweden’s strategical reserve. The thought was to support it fresh successful lawsuit lipid supplies were disrupted aliases tensions arose globally. After galore years successful storage, nan locomotive was relocated crossed nan Atlantic Ocean successful 1995 by telecommunications entrepreneur Bert Clifford, who utilized it connected nan Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad successful Maine.

No. 1149 later joined nan Great Smoky Mountains Railroad but faced difficulties successful securing costs for its restoration, leaving it inactive for galore years. In 2013, Robert Kirkland purchased nan locomotive, bringing it to Discovery Park of America successful Union City, Tennessee, wherever its preservation would statesman successful earnest.

The Restoration Process

Baynum Solutions, which has a estimation for meticulous restoration activity connected historical assets, spearheaded nan restoration of No. 1149. The task included a complete overhaul of nan locomotive and nan 3 rider cars making love from nan 1960s, each of which had been exposed to nan elements for decades.

Restorations progressive stripping distant layers of corrosion, repairing and replacing damaged materials specified arsenic wood successful nan cab, and reconditioning metallic components. One of nan astir precocious techniques utilized was vapor blasting, a process that efficiently removed rust while producing minimal dust. In total, almost 300 gallons of industrial-grade coatings were applied, ensuring that nan locomotive returned to its 1913 colour scheme.

The rider cars besides received a tile restoration, enhancing their structural integrity and artistic appeal. The attraction to item successful each portion of nan locomotive, from its interior to its exterior, ensures that visitors to nan Discovery Park will now acquisition nan train overmuch arsenic it appeared erstwhile it first rolled disconnected nan accumulation statement much than a period ago.

What This Means for Visitors

For those walking to Union City, Tennessee, this restoration ensures that No. 1149 remains a item of nan Discovery Park of America. The locomotive is now afloat restored to its erstwhile glory, and visitors tin acquisition it arsenic a tangible nexus to nan aureate property of steam-powered obstruction transportation. As nan centerpiece of nan park’s proscription exhibit, it offers a unsocial opportunity to witnesser a humanities artifact up close.

Discovery Park of America offers a assortment of interactive exhibits and activities for families and history enthusiasts alike. The parkland spans 50 acres and features a wide scope of exhibits covering topics specified arsenic science, history, and nature. Visitors tin besides research nan beautiful practice parkland and position nan steam locomotive successful its humanities context.

Significance of nan Restoration

The restoration of No. 1149 is not conscionable astir preserving a historical artifact; it is astir safeguarding a story. The locomotive’s century-long journey, from nan rolling hills of Sweden to nan woodlands of Maine, and yet to Tennessee, is 1 of resilience and adaptability. The ongoing preservation ensures that early generations will not only study astir nan method achievements of steam-powered locomotion but besides admit nan humanities narratives tied to specified monumental pieces of engineering.

Jennifer Wildes, elder head of collections and exhibits astatine Discovery Park of America, expressed that nan restoration task is portion of nan institution’s broader committedness to maintaining and caring for each its humanities artifacts to nan highest standards. With No. 1149’s restoration, visitors tin spot nan train arsenic it would person appeared erstwhile it was astatine its peak, offering an immersive humanities experience.

Visitor Guide: Exploring Discovery Park of America

For travelers willing successful visiting Union City, Tennessee, Discovery Park of America offers a divers and enriching experience. The parkland is easy accessible and provides an opportunity to prosecute pinch interactive exhibits, acquisition programs, and unsocial humanities displays, specified arsenic nan steam locomotive No. 1149.

Hours of Operation:
The parkland is unfastened regular from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, pinch extended hours during typical events and holidays. Visitors are encouraged to cheque nan park’s website for up-to-date accusation connected opening times and immoderate scheduled events.

Ticket Information:
Admission fees alteration based connected property and group size, pinch discounts disposable for families and groups. Special rates are besides offered for members of nan parkland and section residents. It’s advisable to acquisition tickets successful beforehand for larger groups aliases during highest recreation seasons.

Planning Your Visit:
Guests should scheme to walk astatine slightest 2 to 3 hours astatine nan parkland to afloat bask nan exhibits and humanities sites. The parkland is family-friendly, pinch plentifulness of activities for children, including interactive subject exhibits and outdoor play areas.

Accessibility

Discovery Park is easy to navigate successful a wheelchair. Every unit personnel knows really to thief guests pinch unsocial challenges. If you thrust here, you’ll find free parking, including extra-wide spots reserved for abnormal visitors.

No matter what you emotion history, trains, aliases conscionable having a awesome time pinch family Discovery Park of America offers a operation of nosy and learning you won’t forget. A item is nan restored steam locomotive No. 1149, built successful 1913. It’s now a imperishable centerpiece wherever you tin measurement inside, explore, and spot what early 20th-century train recreation was like.