Prototype News

The Illinois Railway Museum has acquired yet another historic diesel locomotive: an EMD GP20 built for Union Pacific and then rebuilt for the Illinois Central Gulf. The locomotive arrived at Union, Ill., on June 3.

Will County Coal Handling 1802 was built in La Grange, Ill., in 1959 for UP as an SD24B, numbered 427B. Since it was a “booster” locomotive, it was built without a cab. In 1977, the engine was sold to ICG and rebuilt at its Paducah, Ky., shops. During that rebuild, it became a GP20, received a 2,000-horsepower 645E prime mover and a cab. ICG 2002 remained in service until 1995, when it was sold to the Twin Cities & Western and then the Red River Valley & Western. In 1997, it went to Commonwealth Edison for use in coal service. It was numbered ComEd 1908 and finally WCCH 1802. The locomotive was assigned to the NRG Will County Generating Station in Romeoville, Ill. The locomotive was donated to IRM by NRG. The museum is currently raising money to support the preservation and maintenance of the locomotive. Donations can be made online.

—Justin Franz 

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The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic began regular operations on June 9, about two weeks later than normal due to extreme drought conditions across Colorado and New Mexico. 

“A sincere thank you to all our passengers and the communities in Chama and Antonito who have been so patient as we waited for conditions to improve,” said Eric Mason, CEO of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. “We are excited to welcome guests back aboard and hear the opening whistle signal the start of another memorable season.”

This spring, extreme drought conditions have persisted across the Southwest. While in recent years the railroad has converted at least two of its locomotives to burn oil so that it can operate in dry conditions, management felt the conditions were too extreme even for an oil burner.

—Justin Franz 

The post C&TS Kicks off New Season Following Delayed Start appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.