Nickel Plate Road No. 765 is a 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive built by Lima Locomotive Works in September 1944.
The locomotive belonged to Nickel Plate’s S-2 class, developed for fast freight service on a railroad known for moving merchandise at high average speeds.
The 2-8-4 arrangement combined eight driving wheels with a four-wheel trailing truck that supported a large firebox capable of producing steam rapidly at speed.
No. 765 remained in regular service until 1958 as diesel locomotives displaced steam.
During early preservation it was displayed under the number 767 because local preservation efforts originally sought No. 767, a locomotive associated with a ceremonial event, while 765 was the mechanically available survivor.
The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society later restored the locomotive to its correct identity and returned it to operating condition.
The first major restoration was completed in the late 1970s, leading to extensive excursion work during the 1980s and early 1990s.
A second major rebuild between 2000 and 2006 returned 765 to operating service again.
The locomotive has since operated excursion trains over multiple railroads and remains an important example of volunteer-operated mainline steam preservation.
For TransitSatellite, the temporary 767 identity must be explained whenever historic photographs are used. A photo labeled 767 may physically show locomotive 765 during its display period.