The Flickr Up6936 Image Generatr

Iowa Interstate's Rock Island Heritage Unit, IAIS 513, sits on display at the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America's open house on June 29, 2024 in Silvis, IL. RRHMA is America's newest railroad museum, and now operates out of the former Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific's primary shop complex. RRHMA is now home to Union Pacific's 3985 and 5511 and IAIS's 6988 steam locomotives, as well as UP's Centennial 6936. On this day, Canadian Pacific's 2816, "The Empress," payed a visit to RRHMA to celebrate UP 6936's return to operation, which it was doing by giving excursions around yard.

At high noon on a Sunday in early June 1991, a Union Pacific officer special crosses over Burlington Northern's double track mainline at North Portland Jct., Oregon. The train will enter home rail just past the crossover, and proceed to Albina Yard in Portland.

One of thirteen surviving of 47 of these 98' 5" long, 6,600 HP, eight-axle behemoths built. This was the sole member of the class retained by UP in operational condition for occasional excursion and business train service.

It was put into storage in the early 2010s and donated to RRHMA in 2022. This is my first time personally seeing it, the only other photos in my collection were taken by my dad when it led a business special across Wisconsin in April of 2008.

98', 5". These were the largest diesel-electric locomotives ever built on a single frame, and had two EMD 16-645 engines for a total output of 6,600 HP.

Will surely be something to see this behemoth roaring down the rails once again. Not sure what, if anything, it needs to be returned to action; while the steam locomotives that accompanied it to Silvis are undergoing a full tear-down and rebuild in the shops.

The Railroading Heritage of Midwest America held its annual "Walk Amongst Giants" fundraiser on June 29, 2024. The fundraiser allows visitors to go inside the former Rock Island steam shops in Silvis, IL to view the progress of restoration efforts on UP 3985 and UP 5511 (for a fee).

This year, the organization's Centennial diesel locomotive, UP 6936 (formerly owned by Union Pacific before being donated to RRHMA two years ago and now newly restored to operation), was assigned to a short three car train for an onboard Operation Lifesaver presentation.

Here, 6936 leads the OLS train back along the yard track towards the RRHMA shops, passing by some of the remaining equipment left by NRE after its move to shops such as Mt. Vernon, IL.

The Railroading Heritage of Midwest America held its annual "Walk Amongst Giants" fundraiser on June 29, 2024. The fundraiser allows visitors to go inside the former Rock Island steam shops in Silvis, IL to view the progress of restoration efforts on UP 3985 and UP 5511 (for a fee).

This year, the organization's Centennial diesel locomotive, UP 6936 (formerly owned by Union Pacific before being donated to RRHMA two years ago and now newly restored to operation), was assigned to a short three car train for an onboard Operation Lifesaver presentation.

Here, the Centennial is returning from a trip reversing the trainset down the yard track, now leading the train back to the RRHMA shops.

The Railroading Heritage of Midwest America held its annual "Walk Amongst Giants" fundraiser on June 29, 2024. The fundraiser allows visitors to go inside the former Rock Island steam shops in Silvis, IL to view the progress of restoration efforts on UP 3985 and UP 5511 (for a fee).

This year, the organization's Centennial diesel locomotive, UP 6936 (formerly owned by Union Pacific before being donated to RRHMA two years ago and now newly restored to operation), was assigned to a short three car train for an onboard Operation Lifesaver presentation. Here the locomotive and trainset rests outside the RRHMA shops before reversing down the yard track.

The Railroading Heritage of Midwest America held its annual "Walk Amongst Giants" fundraiser on June 29, 2024. The fundraiser allows visitors to go inside the former Rock Island steam shops in Silvis, IL to view the progress of restoration efforts on UP 3985 and UP 5511 (for a fee).

This year, the organization's Centennial diesel locomotive, UP 6936 (formerly owned by Union Pacific before being donated to RRHMA two years ago and now newly restored to operation), was assigned to a short three car train for an onboard Operation Lifesaver presentation.

Incidentally, CP 2816, the "Empress" steam locomotive, was on her way back to Canada after leading CPKC's business train to Mexico as part of CPKC's "Final Spike Steam Tour" to celebrate the 1-year anniversary of the CP-KCS merger and was laying over in the Quad Cities for a couple days. Originally the locomotive was going to lead an excursion out of Silvis on Iowa Interstate trackage, but that was subsequently cancelled, so the CPKC crew offered to put the locomotive on display in Silvis during the RRHMA event.

So here we are, two iconic locomotives of two historic railroad companies meeting face to face, likely for the first time in history. Pretty neat.

See this link for a view on the other side of the track:
www.flickr.com/photos/133078587@N08/53869724869/in/datepo...

Conrail SD50 8683 has survived into 2024. One of the few units to escape the torch during the big NRE purge at Silvis, IL, back in 2020 & 2021 when NRE decided they were going to pull out of their Silvis facility. Formerly the main shop facilities of the Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific, NRE and it's predecessor Chrome Crankshaft operated the Silvis shops for four decades after the Rock Island went bankrupt and shut down in 1980. Prior the the NRE purge, Silvis was a veritable museum stocked will all manner of locomotives of various vintages.

Ironically, after NRE scrapped almost everything at Silvis and closed up shop, the facility was bought by the Friends of 261 out of Minnesota and turned into a museum, the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA). RRHMA now houses a good chunk of Union Pacific's Heritage Fleet, including Challenger 3985 and Centennial DDA40X 6936. And now, NRE leases back some of it's space from the museum.

Even though RRHMA is technically now an actual museum, the grounds are not open to the public. But on Saturday, June 29, 2024, they did hold an open house to the public, which is how this image was able to be taken.

It's open house day at the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America Shop in Silvis, Illinois, and the "Big Jack" DDA40X is out on the "Fast Track" pulling a 3 car train full of excited guests back and forth across the museum grounds looking for all the world like a baby inspection train of years past. CP 2816 was also in attendance for thousands of people to enjoy, and run back and forth while on a "day off" from their ongoing "Final Spike Tour". Fitting that it met up pilot to pilot with an engine from a class nicknamed the "Centennial" after UP's own Golden Spike Ceremony 100th anniversary in 1969.

This former Rock Island site was once home to a 45 stall roundhouse, backshop, office building, power house, water treatment plant, and storehouse. Construction started in 1903, and the site was the Rock's primary shop until the 1980 shutdown. Afterwards the site was sold to Chrome Crankshaft, which later passed to National Railway Equipment. In 2022, RRHMA purchased the complex from NRE. It is now home to UP 5511, UP 3985, UP 6936, IAIS 6988, ATSF 537, and numerous rolling stock, all in various stages of restoration.

RRHMA is a non-profit organization associated with the Friends of Milwaukee Road 261, and is always interested in new volunteers and donations.

Locomotive: UP 6936

6-29-24
Silvis, IL

It's open house day at the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America Shop in Silvis, Illinois, and the "Big Jack" DDA40X is out on the "Fast Track" pulling a 3 car train full of excited guests back and forth across the museum grounds looking for all the world like a baby inspection train of years past. CP 2816 was also in attendance for thousands of people to enjoy, and run back and forth while on a "day off" from their ongoing "Final Spike Tour". Fitting that it met up pilot to pilot with an engine from a class nicknamed the "Centennial" after UP's own Golden Spike Ceremony 100th anniversary in 1969.

This former Rock Island site was once home to a 45 stall roundhouse, backshop, office building, power house, water treatment plant, and storehouse. Construction started in 1903, and the site was the Rock's primary shop until the 1980 shutdown. Afterwards the site was sold to Chrome Crankshaft, which later passed to National Railway Equipment. In 2022, RRHMA purchased the complex from NRE. It is now home to UP 5511, UP 3985, UP 6936, IAIS 6988, ATSF 537, and numerous rolling stock, all in various stages of restoration.

RRHMA is a non-profit organization associated with the Friends of Milwaukee Road 261, and is always interested in new volunteers and donations.

Locomotive: UP 6936

6-29-24
Silvis, IL

It's open house day at the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America Shop in Silvis, Illinois, and CP 2816 is about to load up and head back to home rails across the river at Nahant as the CP Steam Crew and RRHMA Volunteers say their goodbyes and admire the engine one last time after a successful day of steady crowds visiting.

This former Rock Island site was once home to a 45 stall roundhouse, backshop, office building, power house, water treatment plant, and storehouse. Construction started in 1903, and the site was the Rock's primary shop until the 1980 shutdown. Afterwards the site was sold to Chrome Crankshaft, which later passed to National Railway Equipment. In 2022, RRHMA purchased the complex from NRE. It is now home to UP 5511, UP 3985, UP 6936, IAIS 6988, ATSF 537, and numerous rolling stock, all in various stages of restoration.

RRHMA is a non-profit organization associated with the Friends of Milwaukee Road 261, and is always interested in new volunteers and donations.

Locomotive: CP 2816

6-29-24
Silvis, IL

It's open house day at the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America Shop in Silvis, Illinois, and the "Big Jack" DDA40X is out on the "Fast Track" pulling a 3 car train full of excited guests back and forth across the museum grounds looking for all the world like a baby inspection train of years past. CP 2816 was also in attendance for thousands of people to enjoy, and run back and forth while on a "day off" from their ongoing "Final Spike Tour". Fitting that it met up pilot to pilot with an engine from a class nicknamed the "Centennial" after UP's own Golden Spike Ceremony 100th anniversary in 1969.

This former Rock Island site was once home to a 45 stall roundhouse, backshop, office building, power house, water treatment plant, and storehouse. Construction started in 1903, and the site was the Rock's primary shop until the 1980 shutdown. Afterwards the site was sold to Chrome Crankshaft, which later passed to National Railway Equipment. In 2022, RRHMA purchased the complex from NRE. It is now home to UP 5511, UP 3985, UP 6936, IAIS 6988, ATSF 537, and numerous rolling stock, all in various stages of restoration.

RRHMA is a non-profit organization associated with the Friends of Milwaukee Road 261, and is always interested in new volunteers and donations.

Locomotives: CP 2816, UP 6936

6-29-24
Silvis, IL

It's open house day at the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America Shop in Silvis, Illinois, and the "Big Jack" DDA40X is out on the "Fast Track" pulling a 3 car train full of excited guests back and forth across the museum grounds looking for all the world like a baby inspection train of years past. CP 2816 was also in attendance for thousands of people to enjoy, and run back and forth while on a "day off" from their ongoing "Final Spike Tour". Fitting that it met up pilot to pilot with an engine from a class nicknamed the "Centennial" after UP's own Golden Spike Ceremony 100th anniversary in 1969.

This former Rock Island site was once home to a 45 stall roundhouse, backshop, office building, power house, water treatment plant, and storehouse. Construction started in 1903, and the site was the Rock's primary shop until the 1980 shutdown. Afterwards the site was sold to Chrome Crankshaft, which later passed to National Railway Equipment. In 2022, RRHMA purchased the complex from NRE. It is now home to UP 5511, UP 3985, UP 6936, IAIS 6988, ATSF 537, and numerous rolling stock, all in various stages of restoration.

RRHMA is a non-profit organization associated with the Friends of Milwaukee Road 261, and is always interested in new volunteers and donations.

Locomotive: UP 6936

6-29-24
Silvis, IL

It's open house day at the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America Shop in Silvis, Illinois, and the "Big Jack" DDA40X is out on the "Fast Track" pulling a 3 car train full of excited guests back and forth across the museum grounds looking for all the world like a baby inspection train of years past. CP 2816 was also in attendance for thousands of people to enjoy, and run back and forth while on a "day off" from their ongoing "Final Spike Tour". Fitting that it met up pilot to pilot with an engine from a class nicknamed the "Centennial" after UP's own Golden Spike Ceremony 100th anniversary in 1969.

This former Rock Island site was once home to a 45 stall roundhouse, backshop, office building, power house, water treatment plant, and storehouse. Construction started in 1903, and the site was the Rock's primary shop until the 1980 shutdown. Afterwards the site was sold to Chrome Crankshaft, which later passed to National Railway Equipment. In 2022, RRHMA purchased the complex from NRE. It is now home to UP 5511, UP 3985, UP 6936, IAIS 6988, ATSF 537, and numerous rolling stock, all in various stages of restoration.

RRHMA is a non-profit organization associated with the Friends of Milwaukee Road 261, and is always interested in new volunteers and donations.

Locomotive: UP 6936

6-29-24
Silvis, IL

It's open house day at the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America Shop in Silvis, Illinois, and the "Big Jack" DDA40X is out on the "Fast Track" pulling a 3 car train full of excited guests back and forth across the museum grounds looking for all the world like a baby inspection train of years past. CP 2816 was also in attendance for thousands of people to enjoy, and run back and forth while on a "day off" from their ongoing "Final Spike Tour". Fitting that it met up pilot to pilot with an engine from a class nicknamed the "Centennial" after UP's own Golden Spike Ceremony 100th anniversary in 1969.

This former Rock Island site was once home to a 45 stall roundhouse, backshop, office building, power house, water treatment plant, and storehouse. Construction started in 1903, and the site was the Rock's primary shop until the 1980 shutdown. Afterwards the site was sold to Chrome Crankshaft, which later passed to National Railway Equipment. In 2022, RRHMA purchased the complex from NRE. It is now home to UP 5511, UP 3985, UP 6936, IAIS 6988, ATSF 537, and numerous rolling stock, all in various stages of restoration.

As you can see, RRHMA has removed the "baby wing" decal from the nose of the Centennial, which does a lot for backdating its look, but for now the 2002-applied paint will remain since it's still in very good shape.

RRHMA is a non-profit organization associated with the Friends of Milwaukee Road 261, and is always interested in new volunteers and donations.

Locomotive: UP 6936

6-29-24
Silvis, IL

After meeting a north-bound freight, Union Pacific #844 and DDA40X #6936 roll out the south end of the siding at La Salle (I think). This was the annual Denver Post Special that operated between Cheyenne and Denver every July.

FEF-3 #844 is a steam locomotive that certainly needs no introduction. Built new by Alco for the UP in 1944, it was the final steam locomotive delivered to the UP. #844 has the distinction of being the only steam locomotive in the United States to have never been retired by its original owner, and has been continuously carried in active status on Union Pacific's roster since 1944!