IRM gets a WC SD45 (and it still runs!)

[n012944]

Reposted from the Interchange at RyPN.org:

"CN has donated the very last operational Wisconsin Central SD-45,
#7525, to the Illinois Railway Museum, it arrived this afternoon.

It is currently visible on the "Mainline Webcam" at www.irm.org (at
least until the next switch move, possibly longer)

7525 will be preserved as a WC engine, and should be operational, and
in IRM passenger service, this coming summer, after some very minor
repairs."

[EJE818]

Yep, it is great that IRM recognizes the WC is just as classic of a railroad as the BN or ATSF. Just another reason why a trip to IRM is recommended.

[dknelson]

The IRM was really one of the first railroad museum to recognize the "common" diesel locomotives were going to be worthy of museum preservation.   

Dave Nelson

[EJE818]

I do have to agree with that. IRM has the first GP7 and SD7 built, the last Baldwin Centercab, the last operating E5, the only matching CNW commuter train I know of, and now, the last WC SD45 to ever operate on CN. That is the main reason I think it should stay in WC paint, and I am glad they are thinking the same way. I'll be heading up there Saturday to get some photos of it in its new home.

[greyhounds]

OK, now they need to get RS1325 #30, which is still running and painted in its Chicago & Illinois Midland colors.

It is, after all, the Illinois Railroad Museum.

 

[Lord Atmo]

they really need a CNW SD40-2 too. but this is a nice addition. a VERY nice addition. now we finally have plenty of SD45s preserved!

except for a CNW one.... 

[EJE818]

They need to get a EJ&E engine once CN merges with them. There are no EJ&E diesels preserved, and only one steam engine.

[Lord Atmo]

i think they're running out of space over there too. that's never good

[Expresslane]

 They are allways short on track space. Become a member of th IRM. You can help this place grow and save the trains you will want to be saved. I'm a member and enjoy going as often as I can. There are many people that make this fine place work. If you like trains join up.

[EJE818]

Funny thing you mention that, I am a member also! I'm probably heading up there Saturday to see the 7525. It won't be running, but it will still be nice to see 7525 again. This engine has almost come full circle for me. I saw it operating at Homewood in August of last year, then I saw it in the deadline, now I will probably see it operate again in the future! IRM is currently trying to get funding to expand the museum and build new barns to house more equipment indoors, something I would really like to see.

[EJE818]

Ok, sounds like WC 7525 was operating at IRM yesterday. It was successfully started up, then it ran light down the IRM mainline unassisted, then it switched some cars around the museum.

[Lord Atmo]

if i become a member, can i badger them about trying to get a CNW SD40-2 in there? in zito yellow?

[EJE818]

You would probably have to become a volunteer to do that. I got to see 7525 operating yesterday! What a neat sight it was.

[n012944]

if i become a member, can i badger them about trying to get a CNW SD40-2 in there? in zito yellow?

 

Yep you could.  I am sure their response would be, to quote from Cuba Gooding Jr, "show me the money."

[Expresslane]

 

 There is another old saying "Put your money where your mouth is." They allways need more money and people willing to help out.

[EJE818]

Right now, before they get any kind of CNW, IRM needs a couple thousand for track space that the 7525 needs, and it will all be done by donations. I hope they can get some of that money wih this new Terror on the Railroad haunted event that they are doing. Here is all the proof you need that 7525 is operating.

[Lord Atmo]

if i become a member, can i badger them about trying to get a CNW SD40-2 in there? in zito yellow?

 

Yep you could.  I am sure their response would be, to quote from Cuba Gooding Jr, "show me the money."

i will save up the money if i have to. this is something i am VERY determined to see happen

yeah IRM needs some more track indeed 

[EJE818]

Yeah, they really to get some of these housing issus solved. They are going to need to house 7525, plus CNW 4160 is also supposed to be heading down to IRM, so they will need to pay for that also. They probably won't be getting too much else until they get room to house their engines. According to IRMlist, the 7525 was the perfect aquisition because it is now probably the most modernized engine they own. It represents a different era then most of IRM's other diesels. I'd like to see the museum build more barns to store the engines inside, as long as they are accessable to the public. Housing the 7525 is one of the museum's top priorities right now, as well as seeing what they are going to do with CNW 4160. I think a CNW SD40-2 would be another perfect aquisition for the museum for the same reason as 7525. The thing about that though is I don't see UP retiring those for at least the next year or two, if not longer. They most like them at least somewhat since they can be found on just about any manifest in the midwest. Same thing would go in my opinion for a EJ&E SD38-2 when their time for retirement comes. CN was very generous about 7525 and they didn't strip it of anything, and UP was very generous about 4160. They are even performing work on it to get it acceptable to travel on the WSOR to Horican, where it will be worked on a possibly be repainted into Rock Island paint. I think both a CNW SD40-2 and a EJ&E SD38-2 would be great things for IRM to have, but the track space issues could hamper any efforts for new engines. IRM could even get one of the SD40-2s UP repainted into yellow paint and have Horicon repaint it into CNW paint. Horicon did a excellent job on the CNW F7.

[Lord Atmo]

yeah.... that's the general idea. 4160 is supposed to go back to CRIP paint. hopefully bankrupcy blue

[EJE818]

That is what I'm trying to find out, what CRIP paint scheme will be used on the GP9.  Hopefully it will be decided soon. Looks like 7525 moved again today, as it is now on a different track in front of the loco shop. It is still visable from the webcam.

[Jdelhaye]

Any news on C&NW 4160 and its future, from sources other than DIRECTLY from IRM, is strictly speculation and rumor at this point in time.

Jeff Delhaye

[Lord Atmo]

i see. do you know anything they have said about their plans with it at all?

[Jdelhaye]

i see. do you know anything they have said about their plans with it at all?

Nothing that can be made public at this point in time, except for the fact that it is on IRM's "Pending acquistion list"

Jeff

[Andrew Falconer]

It was great that I actually saw that SD45 in person on the CN's GTW tracks in Michigan.

It is even better that it is being preserved.

Why not have the Illinois State Lottery peel off a few milllion dollars a year to help the IRM.

Andrew

[Jdelhaye]

Why not have the Illinois State Lottery peel off a few milllion dollars a year to help the IRM.

Andrew

 ..because the IRM is NOT (repeat NOT) run by the state of Illinois (home of government waste and corruption), and we want them to have nothing to do with IRM's operation!

 Jeff

[Andrew Falconer]

I am not saying that they are run by the State of Illinois, but it would be better that some of the money go to another type of educational institution than just typical public schools.

Andrew

[Anonymous]

i see. do you know anything they have said about their plans with it at all?

Nothing that can be made public at this point in time, except for the fact that it is on IRM's "Pending acquistion list"

Jeff

 

There's a LOT of stuff on that list. lol 

[EJE818]

I've heard from people at the museum that 4160 is going to be coming to IRM. I've also heard of a Metra F40C also, but so far that hasn't happened. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

[EJE818]

Ok, I have heard CNW 4160 is currently at Rockford on the IC&E, which means that most likely it will be handed back over to the UP for the trip to IRM at Union. This is the first time it has left Janesville for a loooong time. I'll get more info on this when I get the chance, but it sounds like the engine time forgot finally has been found! I guess now the big question is what is going to happen to 4160 once it gets to IRM.

[BurlingtonJohn]

What is the history of the 7525?  By the way, CB&Q 9911 is the ONLY E5 that survived the torch, much less being the only one in operating condition.  Props to the IRRM!

Regards,
Burlington John