Railway Historical

IC’s Alco C636s

The Illinois Central had six of these huge locomotives constructed the the American Locomotive Company (Alco). They were built in May of 1968 and retired in 1979, lasting only a decade. The top photograph was taken in Champaign, Illinois, on the Bicentennial: July 4th 1976. The bottom image came from the night before, I believe also taken in Champaign.

One other interesting fact: the locomotive second in line in the top image is an EMD SD45, and this was the only unit of that type on the entire railroad.

Gibson City Switcher

The Shawnee on the Bicentennial

This is a southbound Shawnee, number 391, racing down The Mainline of Mid-America, the Illinois Central (ICG at the time).

The locale is just south of Leverett Junction, north of Champaign, Illinois. The locomotive is a brand-spanking new EMD F40PH.

The First Bicentennial Unit

I believe Seaboard Coast Line 1776 was the first diesel locomotive to be adorned with the nation's bicentennial in mind. The unit is a General Electric U36B built in June of 1971.

I was traveling with some rail enthusiasts through Evansville, Indiana, when we just happened upon it, if memory serves after 50 years.

In these images, the locomotive is first seen moving eastward on Division Street. As it turned off that intriguing section, it paused for whatever reason—perhaps for the benefit of a car load of rail buffs chasing it (see third photograph).

Recently I did some poking around via various Facebook groups and learned that the man running the locomotive is Mr. Troy Lee King, Road Foreman of Engines. I believe he worked for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad upon which the locomotive is seen running.

In any case, the engine continued running northward, now on the former Chicago & Eastern Illinois—this portion of which was folded into the L&N in 1970. We were able to catch up with it again at Wansford Yard north of Evansville where the remainder of the images were made (again, confirmed by employees of the railroad via FB).

I imagine there will be several articles next year that will highlight all the bicentennial locomotives that ran around back in 1976 as nearly every railroad felt it was good practice at the time.

Bicentennial Unit Comes to Town (2 of 4) Continuing a series of post with ICG's bicentennial unit as subject...

Bicentennial Unit Comes to Town (4 of 4) Concluding a series of posts with ICG's bicentennial unit as subject...

Another Bicentennial

I saw and photographed this SW1500, of the Indianapolis Union Railway, a few times in 1976. I'll work on getting the locale.

Peoria Rocket I was fortunate enough to be able to photograph both Rock Islands Rockets back in the 1970s.

This one was the first of the two, the Peoria Rocket, perhaps, and it happens to be powered by the distinctive bicentennial unit of the time: number 652 (it would later be preserved).

The train is seen traveling eastbound (inbound) and photographed from Marley Road in New Lenox, Illinois.