Here's a photo of a special passenger operation over the C&IM in May of 1955:

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... anColl.jpg

Not sure if the C&IM had withdrawn their modern 4-4-0's from service at that time or not, but at this point, the railroad was probably still steam powered. Major freight power was 2-10-2's, but there were some Mikes on the roster, most second hand but including two USRA copies, numbers 550 and 551, ordered new from Lima in 1928. The 550 is at the head of this passenger train, which consisted of a number of the Rock Islands 1949 air-conditioned drop-center commuter cars, and what appears to be the C&IM's own Insull-inspired passenger cars back in the middle of the consist. What's at the end is anyones guess, but perhaps it is some of the CRI&P's 2500 class open window commuter cars. I remember reading about this special at one time, but can't recall the details now. If anyone has any information, it would be welcome.

The 550 did not survive, but sister 551 did, being donated by the C&IM to the Museum of Transport in June of 1955.

Les

There is some information in the C&IM book that was published maybe 25 years ago. Sorry, the title and authors escape me right now; I do have a copy, but would take forever to find.

The special was operated for some sort of businessman's group, like a Chamber of Commerce or something similar. The C&IM had steam lines on some of the Mikes for events like this.

I've always thought those 4-4-0s were a neat little machine, the last 4-4-0s built in the US. But they were sized for handling two, three or four car locals, consisting of the Insull cars, fairly lightweight. No matter how modern, that train pictured would have been too much for a 4-4-0 to get over C&IM's main.

I think the author you are speaking of may have been the late Paul Stringham who ran the newsstand in the Peoria depot for many years.

EDM -

I always liked those 4-4-0's too. There were three of them built as I recall; numbers 500-502. I think one was retired early, and the other two provided the power for the last C&IM passenger train for years. You're right, the train shown would have been to much for one of the little American's, but your statement got me to thinking! What if they had been double headed? Yeah you're right, probably too many cars even for both of them. But boy, wouldn't that have been a sight? Surprised a railroad club in operation in the 50's didn't try to sponsor such a trip. Maybe one tried to do it, but the C&IM said no.

Les

Les,

I had a cousin named Howard Seibenborn who worked for the C & IM for many years. He passed away a few years ago.
He worked in Havana, Illinois at the transloading operation there. The way he told it, Burlington Northern would bring in Wyoming low sulfer coal and the C & IM would bring in high sulfer coal from southern Illinois and mix the two at Havana before putting it on barges to go to the power plants in Pekin and Peoria.

He took me there once and I was able to see the huge machinery that was used to literally pick up the car and turn it upside down to unload it and then right side up again. It is quite an operation that is still being used today as far as I know. Unfortunately for my cousin, he lost an arm at the plant one night in an accident with a car rolling over it.

His widow gave me the C & IM book and I will be glad to give you the author info on Monday next week if you wish.

Railfain and Railroad magazine did a couple of articles on the railroad in the early 90's.

It is quite an operation and would look great if a certain 2-8-2 could come out of retirement to run from Springfield to Havana. Too bad that the old IC line is gone. It would have been quite a site.

Take care,

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian

Everyone,

I sent Les a reply via PM this morning but wanted to share with all the info on the C&IM book.

Title: "Chicgo & Illinois Midland"
Authors: Richard R. Wallin, Paul Stringham, John Szwajkart
Copyright 1979 Golden West Books
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 79-26265
I.S.B.N 0-87095-077-0

Cost 29.95

This is quite a book and there are many pics of the 4-4-0's and 2-8-2's.

The Taylorville and Springfiled shops were something in the day. These pics show only a portion of what was.

Take Care,

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian