Steam & Excursion > More steam in 2016 at IRM!

First came the return of Russian decapod SLSF 1630 to regular service in 2014 , now the Illinois Railway Museum Steam Department reports their Shay, J. Neils Lumber Co. #5 (ex-Klickitat Lumber, Lima class of 1929) passed its hydro test last weekend and should return to action in 2016!

Not supposed to post links anymore, so if you'd like to read more and see some photos, go to the Museum website, www irm (dot) org, and click on the blog entry titled "You don't have to be mad..."

In other news from the blog post, Rock Island 4-6-2 938 (one of only three preserved RI steamers) received some cosmetic work on her running gear. More work will be coming with the promise of indoor storage soon.

IRM in general and Steam Department in particular always appreciates any help you can give them. In the Company Store on the website you can donate by credit card in $25 increments to help the J. Neils 5, SLSF 1630 or buy indoor storage for the 938 and other locos.

Thankful for more steam in '16!

NZ

Nice!!!

IRM has an impressive steam collection and it's nice that some of it is starting to get some real attention.

Diesels are great too, and the IRM has done one helluva job at keeping their fleet up and running, but steam is really where it's at.

Good to hear that the progress on this fine engine is nearly done.

Martin

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Wonder whatever happened to the restoration of UP 2-8-0 428? They've been working on that thing forever.

Posted from Android

When I was up there in May, it's still moving along, albiet slowly.

Cab is being rebuilt - involves a lot of rivits among other things.

Driver boxes are also being rebuilt, specifically, all new shoes and wedges and all the subtle bits. They were apparently "well used".

Based on the posts on the IRM blog, one of the big hangups is going to be money. #5 is going to absorb the money next, #1630 absorbs money as she operates.

SRK

MJV1988 Wrote:
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> Wonder whatever happened to the restoration of UP
> 2-8-0 428? They've been working on that thing
> forever.
>
> Posted from Android

Steve Krause
Chillicothe, IL

Nice looking plow on that engine. Should be useful in clearing the tracks should some small drifts go across the tracks.

Thanks for the update--I visited IRM in 2013 for the 50th anniversary of the North Shore abandonment (special event was scheduled for July to avoid winter weather), and the also had the "Train of the Goddesses" with the Burlington E-5 on the point.  No steam though.  I was glad to read that they have the "Russian Decapod" restored, making IRM and Orange Empire (my "home museum") two of the very few railway museums running steam, diesel and electric trains.