I hope to be out both Saturday and Sunday to catch the out and back runs from Chicago of the Illinois RR Museum’s preserved Nebraska Zephyr train, pulled by their streamlined and stainless steel CB&Q E5.
Anyone else going for it? My Saturday destination is Mendota IL.
http://www.irm.org/events/zephyrexcursion.html
(PS remember when you see a railfan with a video camera, for his sake and the sake of his filming be quiet!)
Dave Nelson
Been there and done that for 50 miles 45 years ago.
UP pulled the train from IRM to Union Station this afternoon. I saw it go through Lombard (and there was at least one other railfan shooting it), and was relayed some videos on Facebook of the train going into and through Union Station.
Rode the Zephyr yesterday - the photographers were out in force! Good job, IRM!
Actually, The Zephyr moved under it’s own power from IRM to West Chicago, where it picked up a pilot loco for ATCS the rest of the way to CUS. Here’s a video of that deadhead move through Huntley:
I also rode Saturday, taking in all three segments. There were a logistical issue or two with host railroad BNSF, but those were resolved without too much delay.
Overall, though, I have to agree: IRM did a great job making this happen. My thoughts/observations:
While I didn’t go along for the ride I did go trackside at Eola Saturday morning and evening to see the train go out and come back. SHE LOOKED WONDERFUL AND SOUNDED GREAT (NOT A HINT OF SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST WHEN COMING THROUGH EOLA AT ABOUT 60 MPH PLUS). I also tracked the train on my laptop coming and going and couldn’t believe my eyes…the 70 year old was doing about 85 or perhaps a bit more on several major straightaways and most of the rest at 75 plus and almost the entire way at over 65! How wonderful was that!!!
Thanks for that correction. Yes, there was a GP15-1 pulling it through here, and I knew that that unit had been added at West Chicago for ATC purposes. What I don’t know is whether the E5 was providing power or being towed into town, or was m.u.ed with the GP15-1.
The E5 didn’t look short next to the GP15-1, but I saw a shot of the train being met by a westbound UP freight at Elmhurst. Today’s modern road power towers over the old E units, and those were taller than the cars they were pulling (witness the “transition” on the first unit of the train).
Yes, what a treat to see that train out and about at speed–saw the videos; wish I could see it live!
Amazed a 70 year old locomotive runs so well? It all depends on how well it’s been serviced and maintained. Remember the wise words of Don Colangelo, the “ALCO Doctor”: “Anythings a piece of junk if you don’t take care of it!”
And yes, the “Zephyr” sure looks great! A real “blast from the past.”
Watched it come through Lisle tonight (Sunday) on the Aurora - Chicago segment. Neat. An added treat is that it was running about 10 minutes behind another passenger extra, which appeared to be a BNSF business train (the BNSF business cars “Stevens Pass” and “Raton Pass” were in the consist).
The train was running fast enough to pose a challenge to the auto focus on my camera. The Sunday runs were closer to the published schedule than Saturday although it was right on time in Mendota Saturday morning – it got behind later although not due to the train itself. And while it was running very well it did start a small grass fire in Mendota as it passed by.
the E5 has two horns, one a single tone and the other a more traditional multichime horn. That single tone horn, which the railroads have gotten away from, reminded me of various single tone locomotive horns from my youth. It really added to the period flavor of the weekend.
I heard talk about the BNSF business train while photographing near Galesburg. There are some classic cars in that consist. Anyone who saw both had a quite a weekend!
Dave Nelson
Thanks for the update Dave! I was out with my bride yesterday morning as she wanted to see what all the excitement was about…she WAS impressed that something that old could look that good.
I was trackside yesterday afternoon with one of my railfan friends who rode the Zephyr on Saturday and WOW was he impressed!
One of the “U-Man” guys from BNSF Eola told us about the business car train coming through at about 4:00-4:30 yesterday but obviously it was a bit later so I did not see it.
I saw the Zephyr holding about 1/8 of a mile west of the Galesburg Amtrak station on their return trip yesterday while I tracked them on my laptop in my car. They stayed still for quite a while and my guess is they were waiting for Amtrak #5 westbound to make it’s Galesburg statioin stop…I called Amtrak and #5 stopped there on time and as soon as Amtrak departed the Zephyr immedietly took off continuing eastbound…I bet the Zephyr would have been right on time had it not been for #5 getting in the way.
How slick is that ! what a great looking train, and to be preserved is a wonder for the next generation, anyone having anything to do with this preservation should be given a medal, just wonderful.
I was at IRM during the middle of August, the Zephyr was not at the museum as she was undergoing some maintenance and cleaning for the Chicago trips. They do take very good care of her and it does pay off. Impressive.
Just a thought…would IRM consider (or would someone be willing to help) installing PTC on this engine? If it’s not there, it might not be able to operate anywhere it went today, once PTC is required. (Here I’m assuming that PTC will replace the old CNW ATC on the main line.)
Actually, it was at IRM in August. But it was in a non-public area over a pit getting some truck work done for the Chicago trips.