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- Illinois Railway Museum's
- 60th Anniversary Extravaganza
- Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday
- August 30, 31, September 1, and 2, 2013
Join us to celebrate our 60th Anniversary on Friday August 30th through Monday September 2nd! There will be two operating steam locomotives, the Nebraska Zephyr and many other Electric and Diesel trains! Some of the featured locomotives are listed below.
There will be two night photo sessions, Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets are required for the night photo sessions and they will be limited. Due to some scheduling conflicts, some lineups had to be swapped between Friday and Saturday nights. Photo session tickets can be purchased online here. Flash lighting will be provided by Kevin A. Sadowski.
Friday nights photo session will feature multiple settings: 1) CNW 6847, SP 1518, CNW 4160 and the CNW Bilevels. 2) two South Shore interurbans and the South Shore 803. 3) CB&Q 3007, Leviathan 63, and LVCC 126. 4) WC 7525 and GBW 2407.
Saturday nights photo session will feature 1) UP 18 Turbine, UP 6936 Centennial, and UP 3786 Caboose. 2) CB&Q lineup featuring 3007, 1923, 504, 9255, 13572, 9911A and the Nebraska Zephyr, concluding with a dessert in the diner and night trip on the Nebraska Zephyr. If time permits, additional equipment may be staged.
Lehigh Valley Coal Company 126
Gramling Locomotive Works operates two industrial steam locomotives: Flagg Coal Co. # 75, "Hank," and Lehigh Valley Coal Co. #126, "Sadie," as "Ambassadors of Steam." These engines now pull passenger rides at various tourist railroads around the country. 126 was built by Vulcan Iron Works for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company; put into service May, 1931. Read more about LVCC 126 at http://www.haveenginewilltravel.com/.
Central Pacific Railroad 63, Leviathan
In 1868, the Central Pacific Railroad purchased four steam locomotives from Schenectady Locomotive Works. They were The Jupiter #60, The Storm #61, The Whirlwind #62 and The Leviathan #63. This Leviathan #63 replica is America's newest operating steam locomotive that was built from scratch by Kloke Locomotive Works, LLC beginning in 1999. It is a fully operable steam locomotive that has been on display under steam at a few events around the midwest. Read more about Leviathan 63 at http://www.leviathan63.com/.
Chicago South Shore & South Bend 803
The South Shore provided service between Chicago and South Bend, Indiana. Unlike most interurban lines, the South Shore handled considerable freight, including traffic to the industries and mills on the Indiana shoreline. After World War II, the Soviet Union ordered 20 massive locomotives for its Trans-Siberian Railroad. Each had four idler and eight powered axles, to meet loading restrictions on the relatively lightweight line. Delivery to Russia was embargoed as Cold War tensions rose, and fifteen units were rebuilt for US service; three went to the South Shore, and twelve to the Milwaukee Road. The "Little Joe" name derives from Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
Chicago Burlington & Quincy 9911A and Nebraska Zephyr
Following the introduction of the highly successful "Pioneer Zephyr" in 1934, the first diesel powered streamlined train, the CB&Q took delivery of this train and an identical sister train in 1936 for use in the then highly lucrative and fiercely competitive Chicago-Minneapolis passenger market. They became known as the "Trains of the Gods and Goddesses", because the cars were named for Greek and Roman deities.
The 1936 Zephyrs were replaced on the Twin Cities route by newer streamlined equipment in 1947. This train and its sister both then received the name "Nebraska Zephyr" and were used between Chicago, Omaha and Lincoln. Originally seven cars in length, both trains were reduced to five cars in later years. They were retired in 1968, the Train of the Goddesses came to IRM that same year.
Union Pacific 6936, EMD DDA40X
Union Pacific Railroad's "Centennial" locomotives are the largest and most powerful diesel-electric locomotives ever built. They stretch more than 98 feet, pack 6,600 horsepower, weigh 278 tons and run as fast as 90 miles per hour.
They were built exclusively for Union Pacific. The name "Centennial" was selected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike on May 10, 1869. The locomotives were numbered in the 6900 series to mark the '69 date.
Centennial No. 6936 continues to represent these powerful historic locomotives by pulling special trains. Based in Cheyenne, Wyo., No. 6936 received a complete overhaul and fresh paint in December 1994. It has traveled more than 2,200,000 miles since it was built in January 1971.
All schedules and equipment subject to change without notice.
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