I took this photo on a July 1996 visit to the Illinois Railway Museum, located in the town of Union Illinois.The larger than life locomotive seen here, is Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe 4-8-4 Northern type steam locmotive # 2903. This is a modern late steam era mainline dual service locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works during the 1940's. After retirement in the mid 1950's, the locomotive was put into storage, and was eventually put on display in the backyard of the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.
When the people in charge of the Museum of Science and Industry wanted to make some changes in the mid 1990's, locomotive # 2903 was donated and moved to the Illinois Railway Museum. The locomotive was rusting away and exposed to Chicago's weather elements in the former display location, and now has a good home today at the Illinois Railway Museum.
The visiting patrons next to # 2903, demonstrates just how large late steam era engines were.
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