Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 Berkshire type steam locomotive # 765 at the former Northwestern Station site. Chicago Illinois USA. September 7th 1985.

I took this photo at the former NorthWestern Station site in downtown Chicago Illinois, on September 7th 1985. The occasion was a steam powered mainline fantrip from Chicago to sterling Illinois, and it was sponsored by the 20th century Railroad Club of Chicago. This train was operated from Chicago to Sterling Illinois and back, on what turned out to be the official hottest day of the year in Illinois. The outside temperature topped 100 degrees Farenheight that day, and I felt sorry for the crew in the cab of that coal fired 1940's era steam locomotive. Except for the air conditioning in My 2nd class coach wich was mechanically non exisitant at all, the locomotive performed flawlessly on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad mainline at speed. Lots of cinders and whistle blowing in the cornfields.