work on IC#2500 in Centralia,il

[CAZEPHYR]

Mark

Just for your general FYI, there is a second IC 2500 class number 2542 on display in McComb MS.   The 2500 and 2600's were my favorite Illinois Central locomotive and I got to ride them in the yard at Bluford many times.   We also paced them from Effingham to Neoga many times and they were a great locomotive. 

By the way, in the summer of 1954, the Illinois Central 2500 class carried up to three aux water cars that summer since the water in the small lake west of Effingham was gone.  They would still stop at the coaling station, but did not take water until the rains came back in the fall.  

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=757

Hi CAZ,

Good to chat with someone else who knew the IC when it truly was the Mainline of Mid-America.

The 2600's were my favorite. Their big tenders on 6-wheel trucks seemed to fit better with the massive Mountains than the smaller ones of the 2500's. Those babies could roll! I often chased hotshot MS-1 down US45 from Richton Park to Manteno at 70mph. There'd usually be a 2600 on the head of 50-60 boxcars of merchandise freight and I'd have the car windows down to better hear their deep throated chime whistles as they blew for the grade crossings.

Tks for the link to the 2542. It looks more as I remember than does the 2500 who's glossy paint and red cab roof just doesn't seem right IMHO. Got a nice reply from Jim Adams to my e-mail. He said the 2500's pilot was modified with footboards added when the IC placed it in road-switcher service in its later active years. That explained why it didn't look right to me. Was surprised to see the specs listed on the 2542 site showed a boiler pressure of only 240#. I thought it was higher than that but maybe I'm thinking of the 2600's who's BP was 280 IIRC. The passage of so many years has a way of fading memories on details like that.

Your mention of Bluford made me wonder if the Edgewood Cutoff still exists today. Give me a heads up if you happen to know.

When I moved to Shreveport 42 years ago it was still an IC town at the far west end of the long neglected Mississippi Div line from Meridian. It declined even further under MidSouth ownership. Thank God the KCS rescued it and today it's their Meridian Speedway with far, far more trains than ever before. Still single track but way upgraded with CTC, CWR, new and lengthened passing tracks, new and rebuilt bridges, etc.

My fond IC memories include standing trackside when I was 8 to see the City of Miami on its first run and geting a short horn blast from the engineer in response to my waves. I remember the articulated Green Diamond which I found a bit ugly and really preferred the steam powered Daylight and Night Diamond. I remember the springtime strawberry trains that ran to Chicago from Hammond as first class specials with 10 or so wood sided REA reefers behind a high stepping 1100 series Pacific. So mudn for my ramblings. Hope to hear from you again.

Best regards,

Mark 

 

Mark 

The Edgewood cutoff is still there and being used to my knowledge.  I visited that area three years or so ago, but nothing is the same.   The old Main Line of Mid America as you know is a one track railroad that has CN power and name now. 

We paced 2502 north on the so called "Banana" train on our way to an air show in 1954 along route 45.   That engine was running over seventy most of the time with the seventy seven loaded cars and it was a sight to behold.  I have the pictures to remind me of that day. 

Most of my railfaning was at Effingham or Bluford.  I think I have been on most of the 2500 class or at least watched them.  Both the 2500 and 2600 were assigned to the Illinois Division and were the only power on the mainline until the end in late 56.   After that time, we traveled to Bluford to watch since steam ran south out of that terminal for two more years.   I got to see most of the 2350 class mountain south of Blueford during that time along with many of the 2700 and 2800 2-10-2 Central class.   

  I liked the 2600 class also with the front end thottle and big tanks.  They would roll right on south pass our coaling station without picking up water or fuel, but always stopped on the way north.    The 240 psi is correct for the 2500 since their boilers were from the orginal 2900 class 2-10-2's.   I checked my IC data and the 2600's were listed as 275psi, but that could have been changed.  They were new in 43 and one should have been preserved, since they were the only new ones the IC built.  

On one of my last trips to Bluford in 1957, I got to ride on the 2518 out to check the in cab signals.  One of the outbound crew wrote it up as not working properly so we took it out to a test track to see if they were working correctly.  They were and the engine went out as scheduled.

 It is good to talk about the times when steam was in charge and they did a good job.

Cheers 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KCSfan]

Mark

Just for your general FYI, there is a second IC 2500 class number 2542 on display in McComb MS.   The 2500 and 2600's were my favorite Illinois Central locomotive and I got to ride them in the yard at Bluford many times.   We also paced them from Effingham to Neoga many times and they were a great locomotive. 

By the way, in the summer of 1954, the Illinois Central 2500 class carried up to three aux water cars that summer since the water in the small lake west of Effingham was gone.  They would still stop at the coaling station, but did not take water until the rains came back in the fall.  

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=757

Hi CAZ,

Good to chat with someone else who knew the IC when it truly was the Mainline of Mid-America.

The 2600's were my favorite. Their big tenders on 6-wheel trucks seemed to fit better with the massive Mountains than the smaller ones of the 2500's. Those babies could roll! I often chased hotshot MS-1 down US45 from Richton Park to Manteno at 70mph. There'd usually be a 2600 on the head of 50-60 boxcars of merchandise freight and I'd have the car windows down to better hear their deep throated chime whistles as they blew for the grade crossings.

Tks for the link to the 2542. It looks more as I remember than does the 2500 who's glossy paint and red cab roof just doesn't seem right IMHO. Got a nice reply from Jim Adams to my e-mail. He said the 2500's pilot was modified with footboards added when the IC placed it in road-switcher service in its later active years. That explained why it didn't look right to me. Was surprised to see the specs listed on the 2542 site showed a boiler pressure of only 240#. I thought it was higher than that but maybe I'm thinking of the 2600's who's BP was 280 IIRC. The passage of so many years has a way of fading memories on details like that.

Your mention of Bluford made me wonder if the Edgewood Cutoff still exists today. Give me a heads up if you happen to know.

When I moved to Shreveport 42 years ago it was still an IC town at the far west end of the long neglected Mississippi Div line from Meridian. It declined even further under MidSouth ownership. Thank God the KCS rescued it and today it's their Meridian Speedway with far, far more trains than ever before. Still single track but way upgraded with CTC, CWR, new and lengthened passing tracks, new and rebuilt bridges, etc.

My fond IC memories include standing trackside when I was 8 to see the City of Miami on its first run and geting a short horn blast from the engineer in response to my waves. I remember the articulated Green Diamond which I found a bit ugly and really preferred the steam powered Daylight and Night Diamond. I remember the springtime strawberry trains that ran to Chicago from Hammond as first class specials with 10 or so wood sided REA reefers behind a high stepping 1100 series Pacific. So much for my ramblings. Hope to hear from you again.

Best regards,

Mark 

[CAZEPHYR]

I put a pic out there of the repainted engine.  Check it out on our website....

www.ageofsteammemorial.org and and click on "2500 gets a new paint job" on the right.

Thx 

Thanks for informing us of that website. I enjoyed visiting it and will share with you the following e-mail I sent to Jim Adams who's the contact person listed on it.

"Hi Jim,

I fired on the IC for a brief time in the early 1950's and worked on both 2500's and 2600's on the Illinois Div. between Markham and Champaign. Up that way the 2500's always ran with a small auxiliary tender and if you could ever find one that would make the picture complete for me. I filled 'em many a time during coal and water stops at Gilman. What a treat to find your website and see the photos of the 2500. It's been 55 years since I last stepped down from the cab but that shot of the backhead sure brought back a flood of memories. While not quite authentic, the white painted rods, running boards and driver trim sure do "jazz" the old girl up. I'm not complaining, but I don't remember the cab roof's being red and seem to recall the engines were painted flat black not glossy. The pilot as shown in the front end close up with the wreath on her smokebox doesn't seem quite the way I remember it. If you get a chance drop me an e-mail about these details just to satisfy my curiosity and put to rest the question of my possibly suffering from "old timers" disease.   I've lived in Shreveport, LA (also once an IC town at the west end of the old Mississipi Div.)for the last 42 years but occasionally get up to Illinois and sure hope to have an opportunity to stop by and see the 2500 on a future trip. I know it's asking for the moon but if I could see her operational again I could die a happy man. Congratulations to your and your organization for saving and at least cosmetically restoring the old girl!  

Regards,  

Mark Foster"

Mark

Just for your general FYI, there is a second IC 2500 class number 2542 on display in McComb MS.   The 2500 and 2600's were my favorite Illinois Central locomotive and I got to ride them in the yard at Bluford many times.   We also paced them from Effingham to Neoga many times and they were a great locomotive. 

By the way, in the summer of 1954, the Illinois Central 2500 class carried up to three aux water cars that summer since the water in the small lake west of Effingham was gone.  They would still stop at the coaling station, but did not take water until the rains came back in the fall.  

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=757

 

[inch53]

CAZEPHYR, where in S. Illinois? I was born and raised (till 12) in Benton, Ill.

Dick

Texas Chief

 I was raised in Jasper County but we did most of our train watching in Effingham where the PRR and IC diamond was located.

 

Cheers

Texas Chief

I was raised and still live north of Jasper county in Clark. Our schools most likely play each other in sports. I still get over to Effingham some rail fanning.

inch

[KCSfan]

I put a pic out there of the repainted engine.  Check it out on our website....

www.ageofsteammemorial.org and and click on "2500 gets a new paint job" on the right.

Thx 

Thanks for informing us of that website. I enjoyed visiting it and will share with you the following e-mail I sent to Jim Adams who's the contact person listed on it.

"Hi Jim,

I fired on the IC for a brief time in the early 1950's and worked on both 2500's and 2600's on the Illinois Div. between Markham and Champaign. Up that way the 2500's always ran with a small auxiliary tender and if you could ever find one that would make the picture complete for me. I filled 'em many a time during coal and water stops at Gilman. What a treat to find your website and see the photos of the 2500. It's been 55 years since I last stepped down from the cab but that shot of the backhead sure brought back a flood of memories. While not quite authentic, the white painted rods, running boards and driver trim sure do "jazz" the old girl up. I'm not complaining, but I don't remember the cab roof's being red and seem to recall the engines were painted flat black not glossy. The pilot as shown in the front end close up with the wreath on her smokebox doesn't seem quite the way I remember it. If you get a chance drop me an e-mail about these details just to satisfy my curiosity and put to rest the question of my possibly suffering from "old timers" disease.   I've lived in Shreveport, LA (also once an IC town at the west end of the old Mississipi Div.)for the last 42 years but occasionally get up to Illinois and sure hope to have an opportunity to stop by and see the 2500 on a future trip. I know it's asking for the moon but if I could see her operational again I could die a happy man. Congratulations to your and your organization for saving and at least cosmetically restoring the old girl!  

Regards,  

Mark Foster"

[CAZEPHYR]

CAZEPHYR, where in S. Illinois? I was born and raised (till 12) in Benton, Ill.

Dick

Texas Chief

 I was raised in Jasper County but we did most of our train watching in Effingham where the PRR and IC diamond was located.

 

Cheers

[Anonymous]

I'm so glad to find out about this!!  It's been several years since I was by #2500, but the last time I saw it she was looking pretty sad.  I too remember taking pics of it before the shed was built over it.  BTW, I am in Albion IL.

[Anonymous]

I put a pic out there of the repainted engine.  Check it out on our website....

www.ageofsteammemorial.org and and click on "2500 gets a new paint job" on the right.

Thx 

[irvington]

Engine #2500 has been repainted by the CN?IC paint crew.  The engine is located in the park in Centralia, ill. on Broadway.  The engine looks great.

[Texas Chief]

CAZEPHYR, where in S. Illinois? I was born and raised (till 12) in Benton, Ill.

Dick

Texas Chief

[CAZEPHYR]

Work has begun with patching on jacket and will be repainted soon.  The roof will soon be receiving bird hardware cloth to keep birds from roosing above engine.

Thanks for the update.  I was raised in Sothern Illinois and have been around there many times.  We took pictures of the 2500 before the roof was put up over the engine.  It looked very good about ten years ago when I went by and I for one am glad to hear it is being maintained to some degree.. 

Thanks 

CAZEPHYR 

[irvington]

Work has begun with patching on jacket and will be repainted soon.  The roof will soon be receiving bird hardware cloth to keep birds from roosing above engine.