Georgia town votes to donate historic steam engine for Corbin railroad museum

L&N 2132 is coming back home.

At a special called meeting of the Bainbridge, Ga. City Council Tuesday night, the council voted 5-1 in favor of gifting the steam engine and its accompanying tender to the Corbin Tourism Commission where it will be refurbished and displayed as part of the new Corbin Railroad Museum.

“Elated,” Corbin Tourism Director Maggy Kriebel said when asked how she was feeling about the decision. “I think it is amazing that we have achieved this dream.”

Corbin Tourism Board Chair Alan Onkst echoed Kriebel’s sentiments, offering his thanks to Bainbridge officials for the decision and praising Kriebel for her work.

“Maggy set her sights on getting that thing from day one and they have worked day and night and made the trip down there to get it,” Onkst said. “Fortunately, the City of Bainbridge had the forethought and foresight to see they had a piece of history there, and that this was important. It says a lot about them as a community that they would let it come back up here.”

While the locomotive will not roll on the tracks, it will look upon some of the track it ran on more than 80 years ago.

Kriebel said the L&N Historical Society has found records on 2132, showing that the C-1 switcher engine was active in the Corbin yard switching loads from one train to another.

Kribel said the next step is to get the locomotive moved back home.

“We will be contacting the Bainbridge city manager and work out the details with him as to how we are going to transport it and we will start that process,” Kriebel said.

Because of the size of the locomotive, Kriebel said rail is the only option.

Upon arrival, the locomotive will undergo refurbishing. Kriebel said previously that workers at CSX’s locomotive shop and the L&N Historical Society have volunteered their time and talents to do the work. However, the tourism commission will purchase any parts and materials.

“There is really no way for us to know how much it will cost until we get it here and work begins,” Kriebel said. “We are probably looking at about $100,000 to get it back into good shape.”

Kriebel said the goal is to have 2132 back in Corbin in time for the scheduled grand opening of the museum in May.
The locomotive will be put on display at the south end of the depot. Along with the locomotive and tender, the tourism commission has two cabooses and a Pullman car.

With Bainbridge saying yes, Kriebel said she has crossed off everything on her “wish list” for phase one of the museum.

“This was the cherry,” Kriebel said.

Kriebel initially approached Bainbridge officials concerning the locomotive in November.

In January, Kriebel and intern Jeff Cawood, who has been working solely on the museum, travelled to Bainbridge to address the city council about the locomotive’s history and significance to the City of Corbin.

City officials told Kriebel they would take the matter under advisement, adding a decision would likely come at the council’s next regular meeting in February.

With a special called meeting already scheduled, the decision on 2132 was added to the agenda.

Kriebel said in addition to approving the return of the locomotive, Bainbridge officials approved a sister-city partnership with Corbin.

As part of the partnership the cities will help promote each other as a tourist destination and network with each other to the benefit of each city.