On September 7th 1985, I rode an all day fantrip charter from Chicago to Sterling Illinois with the 20th Century Railroad Club. Our excursion travelled from Chicago to Sterling Illinois over the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad "West Line". The steam locomotive pulling our excursion was this 1943 built Lima Locomotive Works 2-8-4 Berkshire type steam locmotive originally from the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad , aka the Nickel Plate Road.This locomotive was put on display in Fort Wayne Indiana in 1963 at a local city park. The locmotive was removed from the park during the 1970's by a group known as the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, and mechanically restored at an outdoor industrial storage facility.
The restored locomotive ran under it's own power for the first time in 1979, and was briefly tested pulling freight trains on the Toledo, Peroria & Western Railroad in 1980. This locmomotive pulled chartered railroad excursion specials untill 1993, when it was taken out of service for a lenghty overhaul in Fort Wayne Indiana. Locomotive # 765 was returned to service in 2006 after completion of the mechanical overhaul.
2 comments:
Hi Eddie,
I was on that excursion too back in 1985! It was a awesome trip, and a gorgeous day. I still remember how the coal smoke smelled in the open air cars, and the fine coal dust that got in my hair and ears from leaning out the baggage car doors to get photos of the train. It was a really fun trip and I can't wait to see the newly restored 765 back on the rails again! Thanks for your post! Jack G - Chicago, IL
Hello Jack!
The not so pleasant thing that I remember about this particular railfan excursion, is that it was on the HOTTEST day of the year.
The outside temperature had topped 100 degrees Farenheight, the Air Conditioning in My 2nd Class coach with sealed windows did not function at all, and the Chocaolate candy bars in the baggage concession car were turning into Pudding or Chocolate Sauce.
I mostly rode between the cars in the vestibule, getting ventilation from an open upper Dutch door.
I got to experience the sounds and smells of a coal burning mainline steam locomotive at speed, and yes I got some Cinders too that day.
Hot weather and all...I enjoyed the trip. My coach car was a Sauna!
Thank You.
Eddie K.
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