Illinois Railway Museum and Ride on a GP7 6-30-2024

[@ggreg2258]

For several years I was the engineer for a local scenic RR. I drove a GE 44 tonner, built in 1941. !! Had 2 Cummins diesel engines, 300 hp each.

[@marksrealtrains7926]

Awesome to hear.!😊 I'm sure that was very cool.! Thanks for the Comment.!👍

[@chooch1995]

You didn’t ‘drive’ it, son…you ran it!!!

[@marksrealtrains7926]

@@chooch1995 That's Right.! 😊

[@davidburridge4688]

Yrs ago I was with my friend Richard jett in Ill and my oldest brother wanted us to go the museum somewhere south of Rock Island but we found a small museum and trains but the video you put out is probably the one we should have been at because we were looking for the Rock Island Line witch it was in the video of yours...Thanks

[@electricboyo]

IRM is a whole heck of a lot bigger now than it was 25 years ago. AFAIK the IRM is the only RR museum in northern Illinois with operating equipment and train rides.

[@marksrealtrains7926]

Yes, IRM has been around for as long as I can remember and like the other commentor said it has got a lot bigger.! Probably the most in door storage I have ever seen in a railway museum. Most of the buildings are not open but I'll bet they have a lot of stuff being restored.! You are welcome and thanks for watching.!

[@DennisW19copyy-lg1du]

This is my favorite railroad museum. I'm about 400 miles away so I don't get there very often.

[@marksrealtrains7926]

I can see why.! It's really awesome.! We are about an hour drive from it.! Well worth going that's for sure.! Thanks for Watching.! 😊

[@scottmoore5083]

Love the IRM! Hope to get back there soon! Thanks for sharing! ❤

[@marksrealtrains7926]

You are very welcome.! Thanks for Watching.!😊

[@jebbthetrainkid1281]

Pretty Cool Mark. I know you had a Blast.

[@marksrealtrains7926]

Gosh Yes Matt.! I have never been in the cab of a real working Locomotive let alone ride down the rails. What a great day it was. Just got back from the EAA Air Venture camping week so getting caught up on KZbin. Very strange that a bird got into my train room somehow while I was gone (caught him on my security camera) and messed up my scenery. I'm trying to decide if I want to fix it or pack everything up because I want to move soon? Have a great week.! 😊

[@marktompkinstreasurehunter4363]

Great video. It was really great to see a variety of perspectives of railroading. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@marksrealtrains7926]

You are very welcome. Glad you enjoyed the Video. Thanks for Watching.!😊

[@mikeberthold1593]

Thank you so much for sharing, I do want to see this place considering I'm only 20 minutes away from Union Illinois

[@marksrealtrains7926]

You are very welcome. Gosh Yes.! You are close. We had to drive and hour to go and it was really worth it. I have been before just never got to ride on a locomotive. 😊

[@peteraltman6374]

It's a nice museum i belonged to it and worked on different things for 25 years had a good time, but with a business to run had to move on 👍

[@marksrealtrains7926]

Understand that. Life sure does tend to get in the way some times. Thanks for Watching.!😊

[@HunterHoward-jy4et]

Dang I could have seen you there I went 2 days ago it’s a realy cool place rode on a streetcar and an 0-6-2 :)

[@marksrealtrains7926]

It sure is a cool place.! Awesome you got to ride on a steamer👍Yes, the streetcars are really fun.!

[@MackeyBigBoy4014]

0-6-2?

[@book1957]

The buckets over the stacks are to keep rain out of engine. Those locomotives can run.

[@modelrailpreservation]

Ideally they would cover every exhaust stack, operational or not.

[@marksrealtrains7926]

That's what I thought as well. The Locomotive does look in good enough condition to run though. Really cool to see and actual SW1 in person.! 😊

[@chooch1995]

Union Pacific’s Belvidere Subdivision ( built as the main line of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, later the Chicago & Northwestern ) paralleling IRM’s mainline. Speaking of IRM’s mainline, it was originally built as the Elgin & Belvidere Electric Railway ( 1907-1930 )…glad that these pieces of history remain!

[@marksrealtrains7926]

Thank You.! I wondered about the rail line next to the one we were on.! Very interesting to know about the tracks we were on as well.! Great information.! BIG 👍

[@robertwhite9898]

Awesome 👏

[@marksrealtrains7926]

Glad to hear you enjoyed.! Thanks for Watching.😊

[@markfortin421]

Mayday! (10:25) If that switch was on my MODEL railroad...I'd have a bunch of cars on the ground...

[@marksrealtrains7926]

Someone commented that the switches are spring switches and open automatically. I noticed that as well.! 😊

[@NJP76]

😯10:25 That switch (turnout) is not lined up for this track. Again at 10:40.

[@DDLCRAILFAN92]

It’s a spring switch, that’s why it wasn’t aligned with the track.

[@NJP76]

@@DDLCRAILFAN92 Ahh ok, that makes sense. I kind of thought it might be a spring switch, but I didn't see the usual sign indicating it.

[@marksrealtrains7926]

I noticed that as well now I know why. Thank You.! 👍

[@IronAndDiesel]

14:15

[@cpm1003]

I had my 7th birthday party at the IRM back in 1978. :)

[@Heritage_railfan]

That’s crazy! New sub here!

[@marksrealtrains7926]

Awesome and Thanks.! 👍Welcome.! 😊

[@NYCS19339]

Looks like the Alco switcher is likely an S3 or S4 based on the trucks. Couldn't make out the stack arrangement for turbocharger or not?

[@marksrealtrains7926]

Thank You.! Not much to go on like a road number or the like. Good to know.! 😊

[@ourv9603]

California has several historic steam trains you can ride. The state has contacted them all and informed them to keep operating they need to convert the coal fired powerplant to electric. The state & fed have money to help get this done. It dont matter where you played before, California is a brand new game. !

[@marksrealtrains7926]

I recently read about some new restrictions on Rail roads in California soon. Shame they would do that to old historical ones as well. Not surprised though. That state seems to be not happy with anything.

[@albertcyphers1532]

California is just screwed up. Their governor is completely out of his mind. He thinks it's a dictatorship

[@hogger288]

Nice video.

[@arunbhoopathyt6503]

❤ 2 strok class y 2 6 tonish roolish on u good luck. 🎉. ❤❤

[@marksrealtrains7926]

Thanks for the comment and for watching.! 😊

[@FrankMosch]

None that we as humans know of the dark star will suck everything in, including lite itself gravity pull to strong even lite

[@davJanko8052]

Will I still have the internet?

[@marksrealtrains7926]

🤷Thanks for Watching.! 😊

[@1974rail]

Was this run a train thing they have?

[@marksrealtrains7926]

Yes, My friend signed up to run a Locomotive a few months ago and the price is around $300.00. I was lucky enough to be able to ride along. They offer steam as well but only have 6 slots per season so you have to sign up very early for those.

[@FriscoTheRailroadFurry]

they have the Amtrak toaster my favorite locomotive from Amtrak❤🚇🚆🛠💙🤍