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The day after the Rock Island Train Festival I traveled with NKP 765 as she headed east from East Peoria, IL to Logansport, IN on the Toledo, Peoria & Western (TPW), a short line operated by RailAmerica. Just after the festival closed, NKP 765 headed out of town to East Peoria where it would spend the night.

Instead of following NKP 765, I chose to spend the evening at the Rock Island rail yard as the Iowa Interstate QJs were preparing their train for what would be a high speed run across Iowa to their home in Newton. (Videographer Mark Paulson followed the QJs for a program which is also featured on the Steamin’ Summer Volume 3 DVD).

Following NKP 765

On Monday morning I got up early, gobbled the “free” breakfast at the motel and checked out. Not knowing exactly what time NKP 765 would be leaving East Peoria, I stopped at the yard first to confirm she had indeed left. Turned out she had moved out really early, and it was not until about 100 miles later that I caught up with the train near Watseka, Illinois.

It was another hot day but less so than the westbound trip the previous week, so the railroad did not have any heat-related speed restrictions. Due to the general condition of the track, there were a few spots where the speed was slow, but overall the train was able to move along at a reasonable clip, which made for a more interesting chase. There were a few chasers, but it was a weekday, and possibly the previous four days of high speed chases to Bureau, Illinois and Iowa City, Iowa was enough to satisfy many potential participants today.

The day was excellent in terms of good light, and despite the heat, it didn’t seem nearly as awful as some of the previous days. Maybe I was getting tough.

Most of this line was new territory to me, and we traveled through some beautiful areas, especially as we we were getting closer to Logansport.

NKP 765 Arrives at Logansport

Arriving in Logansport brought out crowds of local folks, many of whom had the chance to see NKP 765 the previous week when it traveled west. As the engine was serviced on the TPW, a large group gathered in the late afternoon sun to see and be seen. As I finished up with video and photos, I realized my 11 day steam quest (Little River Railroad, Silver Creek & Stephenson Railroad, and the Rock Island Train Festival) had just come to end.

After both celebrating and feeling some sadness at this milestone, I ate a meal at Mr. Happy Burger and departed Logansport for 10 more hours behind the wheel.

As I headed northwest, I thought about my great day traveling with NKP 765. I also thought about the crew members who had ferried the engine to and from Rock Island, and all those who helped service the engine at the Rock Island Train Festival. My mind wandered on that long trip, thinking about all the volunteers who had helped restore NKP 765, and the people who contributed financially for that effort. Plus all the continuing work and expenses required to keep NKP 765 active.

For those of us who enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of steam locomotives, we owe these individuals a great deal of thanks. I hope you will consider donating or becoming a member of the Fort  Wayne Railroad Historical Society. You will help keep NKP 765 running now and in the years ahead.

You can learn more about the Steamin’ Summer DVDs and see a preview of this historic trip by visiting the Yard Goat Images website. 

Thanks, Steve, Yard Goat Images

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January 5, 2012

Maybe I sound like a broken record about the days we worked on the Steamin’ Summer DVDs, but one of the hottest, most unbearable days I’ve ever experienced was the day I attempted to follow NKP 765 Travel to the Rock Island Train Festival across Indiana and Illinois. I say attempted because the extreme heat put a temporary end to the locomotive’s journey just short of the Illinois border.

My day started in northern Indiana near the Michigan border where I was getting footage of the three tank engines (Flagg Coal 75, Lehigh Valley Coal 126, and Viscose 6) in their truck convoy to Rock Island. The convoy had started late due to a problem with one of the rigs as they were leaving the Little River Railroad in  Coldwater, Michigan. I was set up in LaGrange, Indiana for quite some time to record the trucks passing through town. The owner of 75 and 126, John Gramling, was advising me of progress by cellphone.

I finally caught them when they passed through LaGrange, then I was able to get ahead for a freeway shot near South Bend. Because of the delay and the probability of getting caught in Chicago sprawl before I would get ahead of the trucks again, I decided to break it off to see NKP 765 Travel to the Rock Island Train Festival.

Finding NKP 765

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The big event in railroading during the hot summer of 2011 was the Train Festival in Rock Island, IL. The four-day event was held along the Mississippi Riverfront in downtown Rock Island on park land and the adjacent rail yards.

Among the highlights were seven steam locomotives: QJs 6988 and 7081 from Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS), NKP #765 from Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Flagg Coal #75 and Lehigh Valley Coal #126 from Gramling Locomotive, and privately owned Viscose #6 and Leviathan #63. The Illinois Railway Museum arrived with the streamlined Nebraska Zephyr train-set with its stainless steel-clad E5 #9911-A plus two classic diesels from their collection. In addition, modern equipment was on hand from Iowa Interstate, BNSF, and Iowa, Chicago & Eastern. Amtrak sent two units painted in Heritage 1 and Heritage 2 paint schemes to mark their 40th anniversary.

Two daily round trips from the Festival to Walcott, IA over the famous Government  (Arsenal) Bridge led by one of the big steam locomotives brought many opportunities to ride and railfan in both urban and rural settings. There were also day-long trips, notably Bureau Junction, IL trips, one led by #765 and the other with the Nebraska Zephyr. A third trip led by newly “Americanized” QJ 6988 to Iowa City was also popular. All trips during the Festival were sold out in advance.

On the Festival grounds there were equipment displays, vendors, food, children’s activities, and a live-steam demonstration. 

The other significant opportunities for viewing steam railroading were the ferry moves by the large locomotives. The QJs came from Newton, IA as a double-header, first hauling a passenger consist to Iowa City, then a record setting freight train to Rock Island. After the Festival the QJs completed the trip to Newton during a one-day fast paced jaunt to Newton with the tool and water cars, two IAIS business cars, and a short freight train.

As for #765, it started out near North Judson, IN where it had served earlier in the summer at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum. It took a somewhat convoluted route to get it to Logansport, IN where it reached the Toledo, Peoria & Western (TP&W) for it’s straight west shot to East Peoria to gain IAIS tracks. It was on the TP&W when the excessive heat caused the railroad to limit the speed to about 10 miles per hour, then finally halted all traffic on the railroad as the temperature climbed above 100 F. The locomotive continued its trip after sundown and arrived at East Peoria in the wee hours, then pressed on to Rock Island. After the Festival, #765 made a much speedier trip back to Logansport. 

The Festival itself was a joy. The site was ideal spreading out along the river. Plus it was across the street from downtown businesses and restaurants, with plenty of low cost or free parking. The displays were arranged for easy access plus there were vantage points for a wider view from Centennial Bridge over the rail yard, or from the Great River Trail on top of the levee.

The only negative was the record-breaking heatwave that descended upon the Midwest, plus some wild thunderstorms. But, it’s July, and those things happen. Bravo to the volunteers and especially the steam engine crews for carrying on despite the discomfort.

Despite the overall success of the event, apparently the promoters did not meet their expectations, and some creditors were left without being paid. Although the parties are working to reach agreements, it does put a large cloud over future events such as this. It’s been reported that other such festivals in recent years have had marginal or no profits as well, so we will all need to hold our collective breath that it does not mean an end to ambitious events of this kind. 

Our video record of the Rock Island Train Festival, excursions, and locomotive ferry moves can be found on our DVDs Steamin’ Summer Volume 2 & Steamin' Summer Volume 3. If you were there, maybe you’ll see yourself! And if you weren’t able to make the event, here is your best chance to see what you missed.

Thanks, Steve Mitchell, Yard Goat Images

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While attending Train Festival 2011 at Rock Island, IL, I was in the yard getting video footage of NKP 765 as she simmered in the July heat. Since they were waiting in the yard, the crew beckoned a young lad to come up and see what the cab looked like. As he sat in the fireman’s seat, I grabbed my camera and took a few photos. He was trying with all his might to pull the whistle cord, but alas he was just too small to make more than a light “frrrrrt” sound. 

The crew demonstrated how the whistle should sound, with a roar that could be heard for miles. The young man tried again and again, pulling with all his weight, finally getting a few passible but short toots.

The sight of this little guy reminded me of another summer day, probably in 1953 or ’54, when I was a youngster invited into the cab of a giant Great Northern steam locomotive on the siding near my home. Dad took about 4 seconds of movie film of my tiny head in the large window. I don’t remember the details too clearly as I was only 3 or 4 years old, but I do remember my excitement, and the massive size of the machine, and the steep steps to climb to enter the cab.

I hope this kid was as impressed as I was. It never went away......

Steve Mitchell

Yard Goat Images

See our programs about the Rock Island Train Festival featured on Steamin' Summer Volume 2 and Steamin' Summer Volume 3

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I was very impressed when I went to the Hoosier Valley Railroad in North Judson, Indiana to capture footage of NKP 765 www.765.org performing over Memorial Day Weekend, 2009. More about that another time.

About the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, www.hvrm.railfan.net encompasses former yards of three railroads that passed through the town. The first railroad came to North Judson just before the Civil War, and later became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The next railroad came in the 1880’s, and became part of the New York Central. The third also arrived in the 1880’s, and became part of the C&O. As the railroad industry changed, and giant mergers occurred, duplicate routes were abandoned. In North Judson’s case, all that remains are two short lines, one of which connects to CSX in Lacrosse, IN.

With three railroads going through it, you can imagine what North Judson must have been like in the day.

The museum dates to 1988 when C&O steam locomotive 2789 was relocated from a park in Peru, Indiana to North Judson, with the hope of restoring it. Since then the group has taken a donated building from its original site and reassembled it to create a backshop where restoration of 2789 can be performed. The building is large enough for other locomotives and cars to be worked on and kept out of the weather.

On the grounds, they have relaid tracks and switches, brought in historic structures, and created an environment that, well, feels historic. In fact, just before we made our visit, they had just completed moving Grasselli Tower from its former location in East Chicago, Indiana where it once controlled the interlocking for the B&O Chicago Terminal, EJ&E, and the Indiana Harbor Belt. The tower is to be restored and at least one switch will be controlled within, allowing visitors to get a feel of what interlocking towers did for the railroads.

The museum has over 30 pieces of rolling stock in varying degrees of restoration and operation. Many of the cars sport great looking paint jobs.

The museum grounds are open to the public on Saturdays (free admission!) and operates diesel powered trains with reasonable fares mostly on Saturdays. It’s a great place to visit and support. The museum folks I met with were all very friendly and enthused about what they are doing. Be sure to visit them soon.

My experience at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum

I’ll write about the 765 another time, but I must tell you what really moved me that weekend. The 765 has a great whistle, and it sounded wonderful when I was out in the woods by that river bridge. On Saturday & Sunday the whistle became familiar as the train went back and forth between North Judson and Lacrosse. 

But Monday....Memorial Day, they installed the 2789’s whistle on 765. That sent shivers up and down my spine the first time I heard it over the sound of the river and the early morning birds. I suspect there were long time Hoosier Valley Museum guys who were moved as well. Oh my! 

Yes, you can hear it on Midwest Steam 2009, Part 1. Turn up the volume.....and please say thanks to the guys who made it all possible.

Steve Mitchell

www.yardgoatimages.com

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