Any guess as to what and where?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Old-1950s.....1QQcmdZViewItem

Bob:

I'm going to say that this is a photo of Illinois Midland Railway 0-4-0T # 4. The IMRY was a short rail line that was owned by the farmers that also owned the grain elevator it served in Newark, Illinois. The line connected with the Burlington's branch that ran down to Ottawa and then on to Streator, Illinois. I recall that the little saddletank was brought out for photos on one of our fan trips behind CB&Q 2-8-2 # 4960 that travelled down to Ottawa. Alas, the engine wasn't hot and may have already been replaced by a leased Burlington diesel. The locomotive and the rail line itself, are no longer in existance. I am not sure what the history of the 0-4-0T was before she ended up on the Illinois Midland but that is an old Burlington headlight she was wearing. BTW, this may be the only shot I have ever seen of her actually in "action."

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

Les,
I'm guessing that you are correct. It appears that the shot was taken at Newark, IL. The right of way entered town from the west and crossed the road between Millington and Newark at about a 45 degree angle. I can remember my father driving past the little enginehouse when I was a kid, telling me that there was a steam locomotive in the building. I never could make it out through the grime encrusted windows, though. The 0-4-0T was displaced by a former "Q" Midwest Locomotive works center cab switcher which eventually suffered a traction motor failure. I remember seeing the "critter" coupled ahead of the waycar on the overnight Streator branch local which was nicknamed, "The Roustabout", heading for Eola and a date with the scrapper. The #9120 was replaced by a four-wheeled "critter", probably a Plymouth. It ran until vandals burned one or two of the low, short pile trestles on the line which sealed the fate of the little railway. It was unceremoniously torn up but at Millington you can still see the rails in the concrete sidewalk that used to cross the right of way. Warm memories on a Christmas Eve......

Don C.