Can anybody help my identify this locomotive

[Anonymous]

Good morning!

Can anyone out here help me identify this locomotive by type and manufacturer?  Knowing that this picture took place in Franklin Grove, IL and that this picture is on what is now the Union Pacific formerly the Chicago and Northwestern, can anybody tell me what railroad this is?  Or any other interesting history about the locomotive, the railroad or the area?

I am not much of a railroad historian... I just collect and run stuff from MTH Trains.  But I am a historic preservationist and hope to create a library and museum of artifacts including photos from the Franklin Grove, IL area.  If you are interested in our project, please visit www.chaplincreek.com.  This photograph will be featured in an upcoming presentation about the history of Franklin Grove and will eventually be on permanent display in what we hope to be a museum on the site in the next year or two.  If you care to write me, I can be reached at [e-mail].

I think this link will get you to the picture...

http://s158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/jrbledsoe/?action=view&current=locomotiveinfranklingrove.jpg

Thank you very much!

JT

[dknelson]

I suggest contacting the Chicago & North Western Historical Society and perhaps their archivist can assist you. 

 http://www.cnwhs.org/

I cannot quite make out the locomotive number.  It certainly is a classic old C&NW stone arch bridge, though.

Dave Nelson

[dknelson]

Well I was finally able to spend a bit more time researching this locomotive picture using books of Chicago & North Western locomotives as my resource.  The photo is blurred and I cannot make out the number on the tender.  It appears to be a 4-6-0 but even that is a little uncertain and it could be a 4-4-0.  I'd date the picture to the 1895 - 1910 era. 

Noticing how the steam and sand domes are both tucked relatively close to the cab compared to some engines of the era, and the cab roof seems to extend well over the plate between locomotive and tender, the kerosene headlight on top of the smokebox, I am going to hazard a guess that it is a Class S-4 4-6-0.   At the time that would have been regular passenger power. 

Dave Nelson