Former Lucey Boiler Company Site to Host Historic Steam Locomotive Restoration
Atlantic Coast Line steam locomotive no. 1504 has arrived at Lucey Quarter for restoration. Southern steam locomotive no. 4501 was originally restored at Lucey Boiler in the late 1960s and now operates at the nearby Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
CHATTANOOGA, TN - FMW Solutions has expanded its Tennessee operations through the lease of a portion of the Lucey Boiler Company, increasing its railroad restoration shop capabilities in the region. Lucey Boiler will host the complete overhaul of historic Atlantic Coast Line steam locomotive No. 1504, which was relocated to the region from Jacksonville, Florida in an effort assisted by the City of Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley Railway Museum.
“We’re genuinely thrilled to be growing our company’s craft in Chattanooga,” said Shane Meador, VP - Mechanical of FMW Solutions. “In addition to our machine and fabrication shop in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, our firm is capable of taking on mechanical and restoration projects of any scope, including complete steam and diesel locomotive overhaul, at remote locations across the U.S.”
The 52,000-sq foot Lucey Boiler Company facility is slated for redevelopment into Lucey Quarter by Southern Spear Properties. This investment in the Highland Park Neighborhood aims to transform the century-old industrial complex into a mixed-use community gathering place adjacent to the East Line pathway and the former Belt Railway of Chattanooga.
“Lucey Quarter will be a historical destination for Chattanooga residents and the southeast,” explained Sean Compton, President of Southern Spear Properties. “The rebuilding of this incredible machine will drive buzz and be the crown jewel in our historical redevelopment. FMW Solutions are incredible in the work they do and pride they apply to their craft. We are thrilled in this partnership and hope to make it a staple of Chattanooga for many years to come.”
Acquired from the City of Jacksonville earlier this year by Sugar Express LLC, locomotive No. 1504 is being returned to operation as a key part of a regional rail tourism and education program in South Central Florida.
FMW Solutions has worked in collaboration with Sugar Express since 2019, including having successfully completed the restoration of No. 148, the first steam locomotive in the Sugar Express operation. FMW is also underway renovating passenger cars and aiding Sugar Express with strategic planning and operations at its headquarters in Clewiston, Florida.
“We’ve grown our staff considerably in the last eight months to include 18 full and part-time positions across the United States, and we’ve also grown our services to include experts in safety training and FRA compliance, operations, fabrication, marketing, grant-writing, and more,” explained Meador. “Our use of the Lucey Boiler facility will also serve as a jumping-off point for our continued growth in alternative fuels research and development; which is another growth sector for our business and signals yet another investment in Chattanooga.”
As part of its network for both rail preservation and modern railroad clients, FMW also maintains a heavy machine shop space and tooling in Watervliet, New York and an engineering and design office in Colorado Springs.
About Atlantic Coast Line No. 1504: Constructed in 1919, locomotive No. 1504 served across the entire Atlantic Coast line engine was retired in 1952 and donated to the City of Jacksonville, where it was later cared for by the North Florida Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. The locomotive will undergo an extensive three-year rebuilding process at the Lucey Boiler site and current plans call for the finished locomotive to be shipped back and reassembled in Clewiston.
For more information on Sugar Express, visit sugarexpress.com.
About Lucey Quarter: An urban hub planned for the Highland Park neighborhood, Lucey Quarter is a $20 million, 52,000 square foot development planned for the Lucey Boiler Company site and will include spaces for community, commerce, entertainment and housing.
For more information in Lucey Quarter, visit luceyquarter.com.
FMW Solutions and its affiliate National Rail Consulting Group offer a suite of professional services for the railroad industry, including mechanical and engineering design, diesel locomotive servicing and repair, rail operations, strategic planning support, marketing, public relations, safety compliance administration, training, and alternative fuel technology research and development. FMW is also an accomplished rail preservation resource, with expertise in the restoration and operation of historic equipment. For more on FMW Solutions, to request a quote, or to explore opportunities for your railroad operation email us, or call (423) 425-9753.