The Flickr Walkamongstgiants2024 Image Generatr

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...

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).

Outside the RRHMA's shops was a string of three locomotives on display - IAIS 513, NREX 8683 (a former Conrail SD50), and NREX 1295 (MP15DC).

It would appear that the locomotives didn't get the memo about the sign, but something tells me that on this particular day it's not being heavily enforced.

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).

Outside the RRHMA's shops were a few diesels on display, one of which was NREX 8683, a former Conrail SD50 still with fading Conrail Quality marks.

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).

As part of the event, Iowa Interstate sent Rock Island heritage unit #513 to be stationed outside the RRHMA shops for display.

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).

As part of the tour, a representative of the Central States Steam Preservation Association, the caretakers of IAIS 6988, was on hand to talk to the group about the famous QJ, which is stored at the RRHMA shops. Visitors were allowed to step inside the cab, from where I was able to point the camera inside the open firebox, which is empty today but does contain a couple shop lights to illuminate the interior. Not something you see every day!

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).

As part of the tour, a representative of the Central States Steam Preservation Association, the caretakers of IAIS 6988, was on hand to talk to the group about the famous QJ, which is stored at the RRHMA shops. Visitors were allowed to step inside the cab of the locomotive, so I was able to get a shot of the controls.

Note the firebox doors open below, which I was able to shoot the camera through for another photo.

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).

As part of the tour, a representative of the Central States Steam Preservation Association, the caretakers of IAIS 6988, was on hand to talk to the group about the famous QJ, which is stored at the RRHMA shops. Here's a shot of the QJ slumbering away on the east end of the shop complex.

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).

With 3985 under partial teardown, rare photos of the inside of the engine are possible, such as this photo of the inside of the firebox.

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).

Here's a view of UP 3985, the famous "Challenger" locomotive, with its boiler door open during the restoration. The stairs were not open during the tour.

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 photo provides a glimpse of the inside of the boiler of UP 5511.

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@N08/53872406963/in/datepo...