Why cant the last Monon steam locomotive come back to Indiana?

Tod Engine Foundation
rickrailrd@aol.com

> Why cant the last Monon steam locomotive
> come back to Indiana?

During and after WW II, the Monon sold a number of its surplus steam locomotives to various railroads (the Monon was one of the few lines that had surplus locomotives during this period.) Eight of their J-1 class 2-8-2's were sold to the Soo Line Railroad which refurbished them and used them to the end of the steam era. One of these locomotives (Soo Line #1024, ex-Monon #504) was donated to Thief River Falls, MN where it is well cared for and preserved as a Soo Line engine. There have been some efforts in the past to see if the people in Thief River Falls would be receptive to letting the engine come back home to Indiana. Rather than just say no (which they could have done), they said yes IF a suitable (Soo Line) replacement steam locomotive could be furnished AND a monetary amount was included. AT this time, it appears that this will not happen. So the Monon's only surviving steam locomotive will probably remain preserved far from home in northwest Minnesota.

Les Beckman (HVRM)

midlandblb@cs.com

I would nominate two railroads in Illinois that have not been mentioned, one "steam" and one "interurban." They are Chicago & Illinois Midland (now Illinois & Midland, argh), entirely within Illinois, and the late and much lamented Illinois Terminal, which reached into St. Louis, but whose heart and soul was in the Prairie State.


kevingillespie@usa.net

For really local, Savannah State Dock RR and BEDT>

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net