Transportation demands increased in 1947 and the Nickel Plate Railroad was in need of additional locomotives.

A new internal combustion locomotive concept developed by General Motors and Fairbanks - Morse seemed to be the future way of motive power. In spite of this, the management of the Nickel Plate Railroad made the decislon to order another batch of I 0 Super Power Berkshires from Lima- Hamilton. These most modern S-3 type Berkshires would be numbered NKP 770-779. The S3 series locomotive weighed in at 444,300 lbs. with 266,000 lbs. distributed over the eight 69inch drive wheels running in roller bearing equipped axles. With an operating boiler pressure of 245 lbs., it developed 64,100 lbs. tractive efforl without the addition of a booster. The tender had a capacity of 22,000 gallons of water and 22 tons of coal which was carried on two 3axle "Buckeye" trucks.

On Friday morning May 13, 1949, Berkshire No.779, the last of the series, rolled out of the Lima-Hamilton factory. After having been inspected by Nickel Plate personel, a hustler moved the engine to the coaling tower where the tender was topped off with 20 tons of coal and 20,000 gallons of water. By afternoon, without any fanfare, the locomotive was on NKP track and departed town with its flrst merchandise run, dusting its birthplace with a cloud of smoke. No one in attendance was aware that this was the last new steam locomotive ever to leave the Lima factory. In August of the same year, No.779 was temporarily withdrawn from revenue service and displayed at the Chicago Railroad Fair, to demonstrate the Nickel Plate Super Power concept to the attending public.

In July of 1958, after completing 667,000 revenue miles, the locomotive was retired from service and destined to be scrapped. Because of its historic significance as the last steam locomotive built, the Lima City Council asked NKP to donate Berkshire No.779 for a proposed exhibit. By August 14,1963, the engine was towed to Lima and stored for 3 years in the US Army ordinance centre. By July 1966, NKP No.799 was given a permanent resting place in Lincoln Park, Lima, Ohio. Preserved under a covered shelter, the locomotive is still on public display today.