Nostalgia & History > IC(G) in Chambana

IC(G) 5057 on the point of an empty SB coal train, Champaign (Ill.), heading south to southern Illinois for a refill. April 1976



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/17 15:22 by WichitaJct.

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That's a terriffic consist!!  I love that IC orange and white also.  Those were the days, great shot!!

Isn't the second unit their one-and-only SD45?

lynnpowell Wrote:
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> Isn't the second unit their one-and-only SD45?

Sure looks like it.  The world's lonliest SD-45.  It was the original SD-45 demonstrator.

- Norm

I was a brakeman/switchman for the ICG in Decatur in 76 but began my career with IC out of Champaign. I recall riding those GEs on the Champaign-Mattoon, Champaign-Effingham and Champaign-Centralia locals and they had very comfortable seats much like the big Alcos. However, as you view this photo consider the angle of the steps/ladder which was straight up causing numerous bumps and bruises to our shins and knees.

BTW, having spent nine years living in Wichita working for my last railroad before retirement, how did someone from there wind up in Champaign, IL?

Thanks, for posting the picture.

exprail 

CNW8531 Wrote:
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> That's a terriffic consist!!  I love that IC
> orange and white also.  Those were the days,
> great shot!!

That is a terrific consist.  The only way it could be better is to add in one of their C636's!  Anyone who could present such a photo here would definitely blow some minds.  

I was a student at UI. 

exprail Wrote:
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> BTW, having spent nine years living in Wichita
> working for my last railroad before retirement,
> how did someone from there wind up in Champaign,
> IL?
>
> Thanks, for posting the picture.
>
> exprail 

Neat shot.

KG

I don't think so. The location where I took this was south of the passenger station and actually due west of the UI campus. Crew change would have been at the yard which is in the north part of Champaign. 

rantoul Wrote:
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> Are the tall poles arranged with lights for crew
> changes?

That looks like the north switch of the VIP track.  The track the train is on is the only main track left here today.  In the background, the train is trailing into a curve, and the north end of the curve is now the south end of the Amtrak platform.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions