IRM Images

These are some photos of the IRM, many from days past.

We'll start off with two images of Tuskeege 101. TRR 101 was a coal burning Prarie (2-6-2) that was sold to a lumber yard that converted her to oil. Shown at the IRM, she runs without lagging, still an oil burner. Today, she's in the shops awaiting some serious boiler repair, rebuild of pilot and trailing trucks, and a refit to coal. The large tree in the first image is now long gone, (no)thanks to lightning. These images date from the mid 1970s
Next we see two Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee units MU'd at Johnson Siding. This pair is led by number 160.
A timeless shot of 160 leading a three car train across the Illinois Plains. The third car is a "Silverliner," North Shore's attempt to draw business from the streamliners of the steam roads by painting pseudo fluted "stainless" siding on the cars below the window line.
Frisco 1630, a Russian Decapod, is the museum's mainstay steam locomotive. We see her here proudly displaying her pilot in the sun.
Climbing up the 5 steps on her side, we enter 1630's cab from the fireman's side.
Here I am, "hogging" 1630.
The late Bruce Bergman captured this image of me during fire-up of J. Neils Lumber Shay #5 and SLSF 1630 (the Decapod). I'm in the process of doing a blowdown of the Shay's boiler to lower the water level prior to operation. Since the boiler is at about 160 psi, the water temp is around 380 degrees Farenheit, and the escaping water flashes instantly into steam and water vapor, creating a very heavy-duty humidifier!
In the yards we find Grand Trunk 8380 in need of some help, but getting a face lift. This is one of the ex-GT 0-8-0 steamers that had been acquired by Northwestern Steel & Wire, now donated to the IRM. Today, the engine has gone through more visual restoration and looks better than in this photo. Sitting outside, however, takes its toll, and this loco...along with numerous others...could use some significant TLC.
As we look around, we see a line crew working on the overhead from CNS&M number 604, one of the museum's line cars. Shifting our gaze, we encounter the last of Chicao Transit Authority's "Green Hornet" streetcars, number 4391 as it passes on the "trolley loop" around the musuem.
Yes, the museum has diesel power too. Here's a shot in front of (now) Barn #9 showing (from left) Armco Steel Lima-Hamilton switcher number E110, CB&Q E5 "Silver Pilot" number 9911A, and MILW E9 number 37A.
Milwaukee Road F7 number 118C gets a workout switching some old steam locos around. (ca 1985)
Heading back East on our mainline, we get to the Sieman Rd. crossing at Johnston Siding where we catch the Nebraska Zephyr headed by CB&Q 9911A Eastbound. We turn and catch the boat-tailed observation of this all stainless-steel articulated train as it passes us.
Yard 5 typically holds a number of diesel locomotives. Here is Alco RS-3 number 200 of the Minnesota Transfer Railroad.
It's January, 1996, and some diesels are out of Barn 2 because one track is being rebuilt as this will be the area of the new diesel shop. Here we see the first GP-7 built, Chicago & North Western's #1518, and one of the last five GP-7s built, Illinois Terminal's #1605.
Also outside during the shop rebuild is Toledo, Peoria, and Western number 400, an RS-11. Minneapolis, Northfield, & Southern number 21, a 2000hp Baldwin center cab transfer locomotive (last of its type) is sitting cooly on the turntable leads.
In a more recent shot (April, 1995) we see the last remaining EMC E5, CB&Q number 9911A outside barn #9.
Behind the E5 sits the recently repainted Consolidation, Lake Shore and Ishpeming number 35. Note the Franklin tender booster, a real rarity in saved locomotives.
Another rare piece is Union Pacific Gas Turbine (a.k.a. "Big Blow") number X-18 in Yard 5. Exterior restoration has begun with fresh paint on the nose of this rather large unit.
A new diesel in the collection (1995) is DRI&NW SW-7 number 121 received from the BN.
Acquired in 1994, Burlington Northern U30C number 5383 is spotted outisde Barn #2 on a dreary April morning in 1995. We can walk to the front and see the cab end of the locomotive.
YES! The IRM knows FREIGHT! On the same Saturday in Arpil of 1995, we see the 5383 heading up a freight train that was assembled to train student operating crews about train handling.
A recent addition to the IRM collection is AT&SF Northern-type, class 2900 number 2903 acquired from Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry and moved to the IRM in February, 1995. This is the largest locomotive in the State of Illinois. You can see a photo essay about the move.
Since you've seen the latest addition, how about the first car in the musuem? Indiana Railraod car number 65 is what started the musuem, which was originally known as the Illinois Electric Railway Museum.
Most people think that Chicago's "LOOP" was named for the "L" tracks of the Chicago Transit Authority. In reality, before the street railroads were electrified, Chicago used cable cars. The "LOOP" is named for the loop of cable that used to pull the cars in that area of downtown Chicago. Here is a cable car trailer from those days.
Things are always getting moved around at the IRM. This shot in the front of Barn 9 shows Milwaukee Road #760, the first Fairbanks Morse diesel locomotive built on Track 91. Also seen here is BN 5383 getting some maintenance.
If you followed the previous link, you've seen the two "new" steam locomotives to arrive at the IRM in late 1995. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 3007, a Baldwin-built Hudson, and Texas & New Orleans 975, a 2-10-2 are on the turntable leads.
Speaking of BN5383, here's the view that the engineer gets from this locomotive as it approaches Karsten's Crossing on the musuem's mainline.
I can't get enough of the Nebraska Zephyr! Here's the Zephyr with AT&SF 2903 and J. Neils Lumber Shay #5. The Shay has just been shut down for the day and is showing signs that the bank of coal in the firebox is keeping her warm.
Labor Day, 1995, and the Shay pulled "Caboose Train" is a big hit with IRM visitors!

IRM Images

More from Labor Day, 1995