Bryan,
I thought I might have the flyer from that trip, but if I do have it, I can’t locate it. I did not ride this trip, but chased it in the central Illinois area. Attached are three more photos from the trip. The first and third photo locations are unidentified, but the second one has been identified as Walnut, IL. The photo that you referenced from the BRHS photo file is not Sterling, IL, but rather, Tampico, IL per Bob Campbell who has worked that line.. With those locations, 4960 took the train from Aurora to Mendota and then up the branch to Denrock via Walnut and Tampico. My recollection is that the train went on to Sterling, but I don’t know where it went from there. However, per the following correspondence from late 2018, the train was turned back over to the C&NW at Agnew, IL and then returned to Chicago via Sterling.
This subject has been by several of us in the past. Her is correspondence from Don at milwaukee261@gmail.com and Bob Campbell.
In a message dated 12/18/2018 7:05:44 PM Central Standard Time, milwaukee261@gmail.com writes: Question for you that you probably know.
In January 1962 a "Q"/C&NW fantrip was operated using the 4960 from Aurora. The train was comprised of C&NW equipment and accounts that I have read state that a C&NW SD9 brought the train from Chicago to West Chicago where it was interchanged to the "Q" and a pair of E units forwarded it to Aurora. The destination was Sterling, IL, but how did they get there? I talked to Dave Hoffman this morning but he could not recall. Did they operate via Mendota and Denrock and then to Agnew where I assume a C&NW unit would have lead the train into Sterling on the Northwestern for train stop requirements? Or did they operate via Earlville and up the branch thru Amboy? I don't remember any other trips going to Sterling so either route would have been a rare occurrence. I assume the train operated back to Chicago with probably that same SD9 that pulled it out of Chicago initially. I remember seeing photos in Trains Magazine when it happened but it has always been somewhat of a mystery. Did you possibly ride it? Photos seem to be quite rare of the trip.
Don
And a response from Bob,
Sent: 12/20/2018 12:26:54 AM Central Standard Time Subject: January 27, 1962 Excursion/was Christmas Giggles Hi Don -
Regarding the January 27, 1962 CNW/Q 4960 excursion sponsored by the Railroad Club of Chicago from Chicago to Sterling and return via C&NW, I did not ride the trip but I'm pretty darn certain of the routing and handling of the trip. Based on photographs taken by Bill Barber, who paced part of the trip, I'm positive the route 4960 took with the C&NW train, was via the 10th Subdivision, Mendota - Denrock, as you had originally assumed. After sending this reply, I will forward to you the correspondence, (with Bill's photos) that him and I had exchanged earlier this year. Your description of how the train was handled from Northwestern Station, Chicago to W. Chicago and onto Aurora with "Q" E-units concurs with what I have heard of the trip. When 4960 arrived at Denrock, it is my guess they took the whole train south on the wye to join the "pea vine" (5th Subdivision) towards Barstow, then, back-up the whole train on the "pea vine", west of the Denrock depot on that sharp, sweeping curve, past the Denrock depot, then pull east, back on the 10th Sub a short distance until they could line the facing point switch to Agnew on the 6th Subdivision for the short, 16.5 mile ride to Agnew. At Agnew, I would imagine the 4960 would stop short of the elevator switch, cut-off the train and head, light, into the elevator track. I would again, assume that the C&NW would have sent the same unit (steam generator equipped SD9) and T&E crew that brought the train out to West Chicago, on west to Agnew to wait for 4960's arrival. I recall someone telling me that 4960 backed to Denrock, out on the "pea vine" and headed south, engine lite, to Galesburg. It would be interesting to see how the T&E crews were handled on this excursion. West Chicago to Denrock would be Aurora Division enginemen and uniformed trainmen - no problem, but upon arrival at Denrock and the movement to Agnew belonged to Galesburg Division crews. These were the days before crews were hauled by van. One can only speculate how it went.
Walnut, IL Hwy 92 1-27-62
Iron Horse 400
From: Bryan Howell
Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2020 00:35:13 PDT
[Edited Message Follows] All, Yesterday's photo of the day on the BRHS website is of the Iron Horse 400. I'm trying to find out more about the trip so I can update the caption, but I keep coming up with conflicting information. Does anyone know the routing of this trip? It appears that it departed Chicago on the CNW behind diesel power (CNW?) then went down the Aurora Branch at West Chicago to Aurora, where the 4960 replaced the diesels. Pat Dorin states the trip returned to Chicago from here, which can't be correct as there are photos along the Mendota-Denrock line and this photo in Sterling. This seems like a pretty interesting trip, but information seems rather sparse. Thanks! Bryan J. Howell Superior, WI _._,_._,_
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