From Scandinavian Rails to Tennessee Tracks: The Remarkable Journey of Discovery Park’s 1913 Locomotive

If you’ve walked through Discovery Park’s Train Depot, you’ve likely paused in front of our massive black steam locomotive, No. 1149, and wondered where she came from. This summer, thanks to generous funding from the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation, our century-old locomotive is undergoing a half-million-dollar transformation that will restore her to the glory she enjoyed when she first rolled out of the Swedish State Railways workshops in 1913.

Number 1149 was part of the Swedish State Railways’ celebrated B-class — a fleet admired for its speed, reliability, and graceful lines. In her prime, she hauled express passenger trains through rolling countryside and dense forests, linking bustling cities with remote towns. She carried businessmen and schoolchildren, soldiers and tourists — always with the rhythmic chuff of her pistons and her whistle echoing across the valleys.

During the Cold War, Sweden moved several B-class locomotives, including No. 1149, into underground caves as part of a secret reserve. Hidden away in the dark, she sat in readiness, prepared to run again if oil prices spiked or supply lines were threatened.

In 1995, Maine telecommunications pioneer Bert Clifford brought No. 1149 across the Atlantic to operate excursions on his Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad. She later joined the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, but the cost to restore her kept her sidelined. That changed in 2013, when Robert Kirkland purchased the locomotive and brought her to Discovery Park of America.

Now, experts from Baynum Solutions — specialists in historic asset preservation — are giving No. 1149 the meticulous care she deserves. The work includes stripping away years of wear, repairing metalwork, replacing damaged wood in the cab, and restoring every surface inside and out. Vapor blasting will remove rust while controlling dust, and nearly 300 gallons of industrial-grade coating will be applied to match her original 1913 color scheme. The project also includes roof restoration on our mid-century Swedish passenger cars.

“Our trains are among the most beloved and valuable artifacts in our collection,” said Jennifer Wildes, senior director of collections and exhibits at Discovery Park. “Number 1149’s journey from Scandinavian rails, to Maine pine country, to West Tennessee is a story worth preserving. This restoration ensures she will be here for generations to come.”

From the underground caverns of Cold War Sweden to the pine forests of New England to the rail history of West Tennessee, No. 1149 has traveled a path as dramatic as any passenger she once carried. Thanks to this major restoration, she’ll be ready to inspire a new generation of visitors — and remind us all of the power, elegance, and enduring legacy of the steam era.

A restoration recap video is available on Discovery Park’s YouTube channel.

Check out the before and after photos here.