Tweetsie Railroad’s 107-year-old steam locomotive, No. 12, will be out of service for several months as it undergoes a major restoration, with its return anticipated for the 2025 season. During routine maintenance, mechanics discovered thin areas on the boiler firebox, leading to the decision for a custom rebuild.
“Maintaining a century-old steam locomotive means downtime is sometimes inevitable,” said Chris Robbins, President of Tweetsie Railroad. The timing is unfortunate as the park’s annual Railroad Heritage Weekend approaches on August 24-25.
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Despite the restoration, the weekend will still feature Locomotive No. 190 for the Wild West show and the Saturday evening Photo Special. Visitors will also have the unique opportunity to tour the cab of Locomotive No. 12 and the vintage 1870’s Coach Car No. 5.
Locomotive No. 12, the last surviving steam engine of the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad, has been a central part of Tweetsie Railroad since the park’s opening in 1957.
Railroad Heritage Weekend celebrates the golden age of steam locomotives with special events, all included with regular admission.
Tweetsie Railroad is open Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day Monday through October 27th. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours for Ghost Train® and Tweetsie Christmas®. Follow updates on tweetsie.com and the park’s social media.
Source: Locomotive No. 12 Set for Major Restoration
