Chesapeake & Ohio No. 2700

Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Steam Locomotive No. 2700
Notice: Please use the updated infobox (Template:Infobox Locomotive)
No. 2700 without headlight or numberboard
Number	2700
Max speed	70 MPH
Power	Steam
Wheel config	2-8-4
Valve gear type	Baker
Builder	ALCO
Build date	1943

The C&O 2700 is a 2-8-4 Kanawha-type steam locomotive, the first of 90 built for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway between 1943 and 1947. It was constructed by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in 1943. After being retired in the 1950s, it was initially displayed in Coonskin Park in Charleston, WV, then moved to St. Albans, and finally relocated to the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum in Dennison, Ohio, where it underwent cosmetic restoration.

For many years, 2700 was displayed in Coonskin Park in Charleston, WV. While displayed in the park, 2700 was neglected and vandalized. The area where 2700 was displayed was adjacent to the B&O line that ran from Charleston to Sutton. In the early 1970s, the St. Albans Fire Department restored and moved 2700 to St. Albans, WV. When 2700 was moved, it was pulled along this same line to the mainline of the NYC and up river cross the Kanawha at Deep Water approximately 45 miles east of Charleston. It was then brought back down the C&O mainline to St. Albans. The closer bridge across the Kanawha in Charleston was unable to carry both 2700 and the locomotives needed to pull her.

Later, 2700 was stored on a siding blocked by several baggage cars near the Dennison Railroad Museum in Dennison, OH. She had been completely stripped of all the gauges, valves, name plates, windows, bell, whistle and anything else you can think of. Many of these items were donated by individuals during the campaign to restore her back in the 70s. Unfortunately, she was in worse shape than after enduring years of vandalism in Coonskin Park.

In August, 2001, the Dennison Depot Museum was making preparations to put 2700 next to the depot. The museum is planning on restoring the cars but the future of 2700 doesn't look good. In 2002 I was told that the parts that were taken off of 2700 (including the side rods) are being used in restoration effort on the 2716. In 2009 I was told that cosmetic restoration of 2700 would begin in 2010.

2700 was finally restored in 2017 and looked better then any time she had been on display.

Trivia:

The locomotive is the prototype of the class.