Locomotive building near Lexington Center is coming down

Workers have begun dismantling the structure near Lexington Center that houses the R.J. Corman Railroad Co. steam locomotive “Old Smoky.”

The Nicholasville-based railroad company discontinued its Lexington Dinner Train excursions at the end of December.

The glass-walled structure with red Churchill Downs-like spires was erected in 2012. The company had agreed in 2014 to disassemble the building as part of a settlement of a lawsuit with Lexington Center Corp.

There was no immediate word from the Corman company on how long it will take to dismantle the building.

Midway city officials plan to provide a new home for display of the steam locomotive. The engine was built in China in 1986 and was in use on Chinese railroads, hauling coal and passengers. The locomotive was built from a U.S. design from the 1920s.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 2:05 PM with the headline "Locomotive building near Lexington Center is coming down."