I was corresponding with the Riverside (Illinois) Historical Society about railroad photographs from the 1890's, and they asked if someone could verify the date of a head-on wreck at Riverside. They think it was 1911. I don't know if we have information like that, but someone may know.
I have not posted the photo, but the wreck was on the south track right at the Long Common Road crossing. The eastbound locomotive was #1510, an H-2 Mogul. The photo verifies the locomotive type and appears to verify the number. It evidently received minimal damage, because the roster on page 268 of 'Steam Locomotives of the Burlington Route' by Corbin indicates that it was not retired until 1927.
The number of the westbound locomotive is not distinguishable to me, but appears to be identical to the A-2 American pictured on the top of page 33 of the same book (which is #288). This locomotive appears to have been damaged enough that it might have been scrapped. Corbin's roster indicates that several locomotives of this class were retired around the same time (1910,11,12), but does not identify any that were wrecked.
Any clues to the date?
Glen Haug