Steam & Excursion > Colorado in Southern Illinois

Some of the Burlington's largest locomotives worked into the coal fields south of Centralia, Illinois. Here is one of the M4a Colorado types, 2-10-4 #6319, in the Centralia yard on May 6th, 1955.

Photo scanned from an uncredited negative in my collection.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

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Thanks for all the steam images today.

The Burlington Route Historical Society's Burlington Bulletin No. 35 (copyrighted April 1999) has a great article on "The Q in the Coal Fields".
Lots of steam, but also diesels, maps, timetables, good stories, rolling stock, infrastructure etc. Even a piece on the Burlington's Marine Operations. I highly recommend it if copies can be found.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/25 15:25 by train1275.

train1275 Wrote:
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> Thanks for all the steam images today.
>
> The Burlington Route Historical Society's
> Burlington Bulletin No. 35 (copyrighted April
> 1999) has a great article on "The Q in the Coal
> Fields".
> Lots of steam, but also diesels, maps, timetables,
> good stories, rolling stock, infrastructure etc.
> Even a piece on the Burlington's Marine
> Operations. I highly recommend it if copies can be
> found.

Got three....... just in case.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

That's a great looking engine.  Anyone know the builder?

coach Wrote:
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> That's a great looking engine.  Anyone know the
> builder?

Built by Baldwin.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

One very handsome brute. What I would have given to have seen one of those at work on the Coal Line across Illinois, banging across the B&O at Shattuc. Splendid!

MC