Steam & Excursion > Switchers at Kankakee

The Illinois Central bought seventy 0-8-0 switchers of the 3500 class between 1921 and 1929.  The last 15 from 1929 were built by Lima, while the rest were Baldwin products.  The first fory came between 1921 and 1922, with 3540 - 3554 following in 1927.  While not exactly copies of the USRA design, these locomotive were similar.  They could be found all over the system, and were some of the last I.C. locomotive under steam in 1959 and 1960.

1.  Kankakee, Illinois, had a small roundhouse and a turntable, but its steam servicing facilities were limited.  Note the method for loading coal peeking above the tender of the 3542 on October 12, 1956.  The 3542 was one of the 1927 Baldwins, and was assigned to Kankakee at the time.  Soon after, her piston rods were removed and she was sent south to finish out her career at Carbondale.  She would be among the last locomotives under steam in the state of Illinois, but would be parked by April of 1959.  She was scrapped in February of 1960, even as a couple of sisters still ran at Paducah, Kentucky.

2.  Baldwin 3503 was one of the original 1921 engines, and she was caught at a water plug at the south end of the Kankakee yard on October 11, 1957.

Scanned from uncredited slides in my collection.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

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refarkas Wrote:
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> Mary, 
> I brightened your first image in Photoshop. If you
> like this, super. If not, I'll delete it. It's up
> to you.
> Bob

To my eye it looks grainy, which is why I left the backlighting as it was.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so some may prefer the latter.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

In photoshop elements you can just ligbten the shadows without altering the photo much..

Victor Baird

Mary, I deleted the lightened image as you had a reason for not lightening the post as much as I did. You are respected too much for me to do any less.
Bob

The basic problem is that the shadow areas contain no image detail.  I think this was a limitation of the film in relation to the high-contrast lighting.  The film didn't have enough dynamic range to capture everything.  Bob's edit is an improvement, but can't restore what isn't there.

Great series.  In the first photo the boiler jacket appears to have a blueish, or silver tinge.  Perhaps reflecting sky?  It does not appear to be black.

refarkas Wrote:
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> Mary, I deleted the lightened image as you had a
> reason for not lightening the post as much as I
> did. You are respected too much for me to do any
> less.
> Bob

I saw no reason for you delete it.  As much as I appreciate that sentiment, I can see how others might prefer the detail in your version.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

Tominde Wrote:
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> Great series.  In the first photo the boiler
> jacket appears to have a blueish, or silver tinge.
>  Perhaps reflecting sky?  It does not appear to
> be black.

Simply a result of the combination of the old slide and the scan.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

Here is an improved version of what I deleted. Thank you for posting this.
Bob



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/28/25 14:23 by refarkas.

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