Steam & Excursion > IC 2816 - Last steam to Louisville, Feb, 1958

Louisville, Ky had 7 railroads serving it in the mid-1950's and the Illinois Central became the last to employ steam locomotives with 2-10-2s on road jobs and 0-8-0s in yard service. January 1, 1958 was to be the date diesels took over but a couple of 0-8-0s remained on duty in the IC yard at 14th and Oak streets on an as-needed basis while 2-10-2s 2813 and 2816 remained in the roundhouse. The 2813 was being prepared fot it's one way trip to the Paducah scrap line when, on Feb 20th, the 2816 got it's final call for a turn on a local freight in the Louisville area. Roundhouse foreman Jimmy Dobbins notified photographer Bill Bauer who arrived in time to cover the engine's return. It was the last revenue run of a steam locomotive in Louisville.

1-3. 2816 approaches and crosses the Southern Ry tracks about half a mile south of Oak Street. 

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4, 5. Crossing the Southern and heading to Oak Street.

6. Having arrived, 2816 backs toward the roundhouse.

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7. Still backing to the roundhouse.
8. Freshly coaled, the tank is filled in case another call to service comes. It never did.
9. On the arrival track by the roundhouse.

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Inside, 2816 takes her place along side the 2813. Both remained there for several more months but neither ran again.

A couple of 0-8-0s did fill in on yard duty for a few weeks but soon they, too were silenced. Two 4-8-2s, 2448 and 2452, remained in the Oak Street roundhouse but were gone by September, 1959. 

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Thanks for the Super great posting.  I was in elementary school in 1958.
The IC is the only railroad I still well remember in steam.
ALLEN
 
 

Very NICE and interesting series!

Larry

Outstanding photos and excellent story about the engines!  
This is a really great post and many thanks for showing on TO.

Wonderful set of photos.
Bob

Good looking engines.

Very nice series.   Thank you for posting.    I pestered my Dad to take me down there when I was a young teenager.  We waited too long, and wound up seeing Canadian National steam at Niagara Falls, Ontario instead.  That trip was to get this steam engine obsession out of my system.  Frankly, after seeing CNR 0-8-0's, 2-8-0's, 4-8-2's and 4-8-4;s, I was totally hooked.

Illinois Central #2816 was originally built by Lima in 1922 as #3001.

She was rebuilt at Paducah with a new boiler akin to those used on the newly constructed 2600 class 4-8-2's, which included front-end throttles.  The running gear was also improved for sustained running at higher speeds.  She emerged as #2816 in September, 1945.  The 2800 class locomotives were the ultimate refinement of the 2-10-2 Centrals on the I.C.

These locomotives were initially assigned to the Iowa Division, where they were mostly used west of Freeport, Illinois, in fast freight service.  The Iowa Division was among the first to dieselize, and the 2800's migrated south to the St. Louis and Kentucky Divisions.

#2816 was retired in December, 1959.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

Did Bill Bauer make sound recordings that day as well?
Ken Gear

I think he did and am looking through his recordings to find it.
Thanks to all for the great comments.
-JH

fantastic series repeated everywhere, some knew when they saw such an operation times were a changing

Panamerican99 Wrote:
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> Inside, 2816 takes her place along side the 2813.
> Both remained there for several more months but
> neither ran again.

But....2813 ran a few 'fan trips on IC and L&N, right?  In 1959..or 1960(?)

This fine photo by Larry Fellure is featured on a popular website featuring railpictures:



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/23/21 20:36 by srfreer.

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Nope.  That's 2613.  4-8-2, not 2-10-2.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

MaryMcPherson Wrote:
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> Nope.  That's 2613.  4-8-2, not 2-10-2.

I apologize for my oversight.  2813 vs. 2613.  Makes a difference!