Western Railroad Discussion > Diesel Days 2018 at IRM

This past Saturday and Sunday was the annual Diesel Days event at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL. My brother and I made the trip to witness several of IRM's popular diesels in action, the highlight of which was Santa Fe FP45 #92, having been rebuilt at NRE's shops in Silvis, IL and now fully operational.

The format of this year's event was a bit different, however; instead of doing the diesel parade, IRM chose to have the diesels alternate on and off four different trainsets (Nebraska Zephyr, caboose train, coach train, and CNW bilevel [though on Saturday CNW 411 was solely used for the bilevel]), allowing for some good photo opportunities of some unusual consists. Here are the highlights of the action from Saturday.

1) Having just made a short run down the mainline, BN U30C #5383 backs the caboose train past the semaphore next to the diesel shop.

2) CB&Q SD24 #504 leads the Nebraska Zephyr trainset onto the main.

3) CRIP GP7R #4506, which had made its debut a few weeks ago, leads the caboose train onto the main.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/18 08:09 by trainmandan.

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4) CB&Q E5 #9911A departs Barn 9 on its way to the station to start pulling trains while Santa Fe 92 idles away waiting for its turn.

5) CB&Q 504 leads the Zephyr back into the station past Spaulding Tower, which now houses IRM's dispatchers.

6) CRIP 4506 leads the caboose train past the tower into the station, as seen from on board the Zephyr.

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7) The Zephyr waits patiently in Johnson siding while CRIP 4506 rumbles past with the caboose train.

8) Santa Fe 92 waits to depart the station with the coach train.

9) A look at Santa Fe 92 with the coach train.

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10) CB&Q 9911A leads the Nebraska Zephyr into the station.

11) The crew hooks up Santa Fe 92 to the Nebraska Zephyr trainset.

12) Santa Fe 92 idles away, ready to lead the Zephyr. Never thought I'd see this.

Thanks for looking, hope you enjoyed the show!

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Thanks for sharing your photos of an event I would like to have attended.  Hopefully next year.

Jim Barton

I've always wondered how long the "main line" is at the IRM?

TJY

Great views of all the eye candy there! === === = === JLH

icancmp193 Wrote:
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> I've always wondered how long the "main line" is
> at the IRM?
>
> TJY

It's about 5 miles long according to their website.

Posted from Android

Great pictures, thanks for posting!

Thanks for posting your photos of IRM Diesel Days.
Really enjoyed seeing your record of the event.
ALLEN 

I think this is where I need to be next year. I have a lot of miles on the 92 when it was still Santa Fe/BNSF.

How was the attendance this year? I attended the Transportation extravaganza the week
before and thought the attendance was very good.  But one of the long time attendees 
told me  attendance has been down the last few years,  anyway hope they made a bundle
of money and would to see the DD40 running some day.  Cheers to the IRM!