Reposted from the Interchange at RyPN.org:
"CN has donated the very last operational Wisconsin Central SD-45,
#7525, to the Illinois Railway Museum, it arrived this afternoon.
It is currently visible on the “Mainline Webcam” at www.irm.org (at
least until the next switch move, possibly longer)
7525 will be preserved as a WC engine, and should be operational, and
in IRM passenger service, this coming summer, after some very minor
repairs."
Yep, it is great that IRM recognizes the WC is just as classic of a railroad as the BN or ATSF. Just another reason why a trip to IRM is recommended.
The IRM was really one of the first railroad museum to recognize the “common” diesel locomotives were going to be worthy of museum preservation.
Dave Nelson
I do have to agree with that. IRM has the first GP7 and SD7 built, the last Baldwin Centercab, the last operating E5, the only matching CNW commuter train I know of, and now, the last WC SD45 to ever operate on CN. That is the main reason I think it should stay in WC paint, and I am glad they are thinking the same way. I’ll be heading up there Saturday to get some photos of it in its new home.
OK, now they need to get RS1325 #30, which is still running and painted in its Chicago & Illinois Midland colors.
It is, after all, the Illinois Railroad Museum.
they really need a CNW SD40-2 too. but this is a nice addition. a VERY nice addition. now we finally have plenty of SD45s preserved!
except for a CNW one…
They need to get a EJ&E engine once CN merges with them. There are no EJ&E diesels preserved, and only one steam engine.
i think they’re running out of space over there too. that’s never good
They are allways short on track space. Become a member of th IRM. You can help this place grow and save the trains you will want to be saved. I’m a member and enjoy going as often as I can. There are many people that make this fine place work. If you like trains join up.
Funny thing you mention that, I am a member also! I’m probably heading up there Saturday to see the 7525. It won’t be running, but it will still be nice to see 7525 again. This engine has almost come full circle for me. I saw it operating at Homewood in August of last year, then I saw it in the deadline, now I will probably see it operate again in the future! IRM is currently trying to get funding to expand the museum and build new barns to house more equipment indoors, something I would really like to see.
Ok, sounds like WC 7525 was operating at IRM yesterday. It was successfully started up, then it ran light down the IRM mainline unassisted, then it switched some cars around the museum.
if i become a member, can i badger them about trying to get a CNW SD40-2 in there? in zito yellow?
You would probably have to become a volunteer to do that. I got to see 7525 operating yesterday! What a neat sight it was.
Yep you could. I am sure their response would be, to quote from Cuba Gooding Jr, “show me the money.”
There is another old saying “Put your money where your mouth is.” They allways need more money and people willing to help out.
Right now, before they get any kind of CNW, IRM needs a couple thousand for track space that the 7525 needs, and it will all be done by donations. I hope they can get some of that money wih this new Terror on the Railroad haunted event that they are doing. Here is all the proof you need that 7525 is operating.
i will save up the money if i have to. this is something i am VERY determined to see happen
yeah IRM needs some more track indeed
Yeah, they really to get some of these housing issus solved. They are going to need to house 7525, plus CNW 4160 is also supposed to be heading down to IRM, so they will need to pay for that also. They probably won’t be getting too much else until they get room to house their engines. According to IRMlist, the 7525 was the perfect aquisition because it is now probably the most modernized engine they own. It represents a different era then most of IRM’s other diesels. I’d like to see the museum build more barns to store the engines inside, as long as they are accessable to the public. Housing the 7525 is one of the museum’s top priorities right now, as well as seeing what they are going to do with CNW 4160. I think a CNW SD40-2 would be another perfect aquisition for the museum for the same reason as 7525. The thing about that though is I don’t see UP retiring those for at least the next year or two, if not longer. They most like them at least somewhat since they can be found on just about any manifest in the midwest. Same thing would go in my opinion for a EJ&E SD38-2 when their time for retirement comes. CN was very generous about 7525 and they didn’t strip it of anything, and UP was very generous about 4160. They are even performing work on it to get it acceptable to travel on the WSOR to Horican, where it will be worked on a possibly be repainted into Rock Island paint. I think both a CNW SD40-2 and a EJ&E SD38-2 would be great things for IRM to have, but the track space issues could hamper any efforts for new engines. IRM could even get one of the SD40-2s UP repainted into yellow paint and have Horicon repaint it into CNW paint. Horicon did a excellent job on the CNW F7.
yeah… that’s the general idea. 4160 is supposed to go back to CRIP paint. hopefully bankrupcy blue
That is what I’m trying to find out, what CRIP paint scheme will be used on the GP9. Hopefully it will be decided soon. Looks like 7525 moved again today, as it is now on a different track in front of the loco shop. It is still visable from the webcam.