Chicago, Burlington & Quincy RR # 4978 at it's original display location. Ottawa Illinois. August 1986.

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy RR # 4978 at it's original display location. Ottawa Illinois. August 1986., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photograph way back in August of 1986.

Seen here in it's original display location in a local city park at Ottawa Illinois, is preserved Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad 1920's era Baldwin 2-8-2 freight service steam locomotive # 4978 and a wooden caboose.

Many years later, these two artifacts from railroading's historic past, are now the centerpiece at the Mendota Railroad Museum, located in the western Illinois town of Mendota Illinois, alongside the BNSF Railway's former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad mainline.