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American Railroading--1955 to today

TRAINS FROM THEN TO NOW
THE RAILROADS OF A TRAIN NUT
PHOTOS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST

2-8-2 Mikado locomotive 4960 of the C B & Q in the Clyde Roundhouse--1962

The locomotive you are looking at is the same locomotive 4960 that now operates for the Grand Canyon Railway out of Williams, AZ.  At the time this photo was taken, the locomotive had not been retired from the Burlington Route.  It was one of two steam locomotives that had been saved for fan trips.  The photo is taken inside the roundhouse looking north toward the turntable, which is outside the open doors.  The photographer was all of 15 years old at the time, and arrived at the roundhouse--located near the intersections of 31st Street and Ogden Boulevard (also designated Route 66) in Cicero, IL--on a Schwinn Phantom bicycle.  The men in the yard office were kind enough to allow the photographer unlimited access, as long as he didn't fall into the turntable pit.  We believe this is also the same locomotive that appears on the Burlington Railroad Historical Society home page.  The locomotive was subsequently retired and spent a long time rusting in a scrap yard on the South Side of Chicago, before it eventually was pulled out for restoration.  Note the cosmetic changes that were applied to it for service in Arizona.  (See Grand Canyon Railway.)  These changes made her look like a different engine.  With its high headlight, tall stack, and ungainly cab configuration, the Burlington version always looked a bit like an ugly duck.  Coming soon:  Some pics of her running.

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