Sterling Illinois

[richhotrain]

In the current issue of Classic Trains magazine, there is a photo center fold on pages 14 and 15 that shows two steam engines just outside of the Northwestern Steel & Wire facility in what appears to be right in the middle of a residential street.  In fact, there appears to be little room for cars to pass by on the street.

Can anyone with first hand experience describe this setting in more detail?

Rich

[mobilman44]

I can't specifically answer your question, but do know something about the town/RR.

The Sterling Wire Company (I believe that is the proper name) is considered to be the last user of steam locomotives (for original business purposes - not tourism, etc), with the last loco being an 0-8-0 switcher.  The locos ran mostly in the plant, but did hit the connections which brought them out into the streets of the town.  

While this would be remarkable today, 60 years ago it wasn't all that uncommon to have RR tracks running down city streets - primarily for local purposes, but not always.