RRHMA Walk Among Giants Silvis, IL 6-29-24

Sorry if not in order, just wanted to get it done

[@DDA40Xman]

Thanks very much for the video. Especially the segment with the 6936. I have a slight bias for that one. 🥰 Tried to get by there last summer. Will try again soon, maybe this fall.

[@trains2495]

Don Steils, good video! I watched your full video on July 29th, one month afterward. I attended this event too, along with my friend "Mazon," from our home state Michigan! WOW!!!! It was great to see CP 2816 there and steaming!!!! 😲 😲 😲 😯 Even though I caught the CP "Final Spike" steam 2816 in MN/WI/IL with "Railfan" Gary Sample, I had to get it some more! We had tickets to go inside! It was amazing! The ex BNSF B40-8W (# 537) they are preparing to paint into fresh ATSF colors! This will be amazing! I am looking forward to UP 5511/3985 steam locos being re-assembled! I have photographed UP 6936 only once before. It was at Franklin Park, IL "Railroad Daze," June 5, 2010. That Chinese steam, Iowa interstate # 6988, was nice! I have seen it in operation in the past! I followed the "Triple Headed" steam trip with both Ji-Tong Chinese engines, 6988 and 7081, September 16, 2006! That was so great!!!! At the Silvis tour it was great to find NREX diesels! One engine is not in this video! The greatest was Hudson Bay Railway SD50 # 5003! I have never photographed a HBRY engine! I was so happy to finally see this HBRY SD50 inside the shop! I took excellent pictures of it on film. WOW! 😃 It had good light on the nose inside from the ceiling windows. There are still a couple of these on Illinois Railway but patched! I was told NREX is preparing to move this engine to another location! I did not catch IAIS SD38s running, just the stored ones and slugs! I could not walk up to those engines and took pix on my way out! Glad to see an IC&E SD40-2 still in full ICE colors/number! Number 6100. YESS!!!! WOW!!!! WOW!!!! Any locomotive in Conrail Blue paint in 2024 is amazing! How did this SD50 survive so long? I did not even think this was here. During the June month that CR was split 25 years ago! WOW!!!!! 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 After the Silvis event, Mazon and I went to the Galesburg, IL RR Days "V.I.P. Bus tour!" This was great! Captured lots of ex ATSF "Warbonnets" and some BN stuff too! Even a display engine at the Amtrak station was BNSF "Warbonnet" C44-9W # 720! Later Mazon and I followed the CPKC "Final Spike" train up to Bellevue, Iowa. I hauled myself and five cameras, tripods and chair to the shoulder of Route 52! I use only film cameras of both 35mm and 120 Medium Format. I also do S-VHS videos! 😉 Robert J

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@trains2495 thank you! also i bet you had a great time also! With 2816 being in Silvis, didnt have to worry about mainline/road issues regaurding the 2816! Good enough for me

[@MarkRenn]

My best friend would have loved to have seen that RI unit there. He was always a big time Rock Island fan. It's a shame he's not with us any more.

[@xand1472]

it’s so cool seeing this stuff from my area!!! thanks for sharing

[@TranscontinentalRailfan]

@12:34 Only about two more years until 3985 is back under steam, that’s great!

[@bdvids7930]

Oo really?

[@TranscontinentalRailfan]

@@bdvids7930 Yep, one of the folks at RRHMA said so.

[@bdvids7930]

@@TranscontinentalRailfan yay!!!! Can’t wait now I’m wondering if it will be the same for 5511

[@joshuamuir7577]

They have the Centennial running now? Awesome!

[@LisbonRailProductionsandF1]

Magnificent catches of the train coming by and pass, I like it 5 stars. Hearing that amazing diesel sound and cars is absolutely crazy. Thumbs up. Keep up the perfect work, you earned a new subscriber, Greetings from Portugal to the USA.

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@LisbonRailProductionsandF1 thank you so much for the kind words!

[@LisbonRailProductionsandF1]

@@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014 it was my pleasure, mate.

[@LisbonRailProductionsandF1]

@@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014 the trains in your country are amazing.

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@LisbonRailProductionsandF1 i agree!

[@LisbonRailProductionsandF1]

@@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014 oh yeah, in Portugal, we have diesel-electric locomotives doing service too.

[@midwesternrail4729]

Finally 2816 not using its emergency whistle lol

[@phillipmercer3641]

As far as I am aware, the DDA40X was the only diesel electric locomotive to have 4 axle trucks.

[@Gfysimpletons]

Literal monster on the rails.

[@davidng2336]

So did the DD35 and DD35A; however both have sadly been scrapped.

[@trainmaster4014productions]

And the u50 and u50c they too have been scrapped

[@Eric-xr3xx]

The Meter-gauge DDM45 for Brazil were D-D locomotives as well. Based on the SD45, but narrow gauge, with two 8-wheel trucks.

[@notbro4537]

The DD35, DDA35, DDA40X and DDM45 were the only american diesels to have 4 axle trucks. The ALCO 855 and the GE u50 had 4 sets of 2 axle trucks instead of 2 sets of 4 axle trucks.

[@haaseshouseoscience6377]

Awesome video Don! Did they just finish restoration on 6936 (seeing that its light were on & the bell ringing)?

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

yes it will fully operational🙂

[@haaseshouseoscience6377]

@@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014 wow! Never knew they finished 6936 that quick.

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@haaseshouseoscience6377 they didnt have alot to do, engine check over and special inspection is all it needed. They actually tested it last August in the yard

[@davidstrawn9272]

First run since 2016 during the test run of the 844!

[@thatpilotdylan2024]

I love hearing the horn on 6936. So happy for as long as it was down in Cheyanne. They never took the horn off of it.

[@nolanharder167]

I was there but it happened after we left

[@TrainMedia00]

I will join the RRHMA because they could run steam locomotives better and running classic locomotives, 3985, 5511, 261, 6988 are my goal locomotives.

[@chooch1764]

Appreciate your support for RRHMA!

[@rodcurry6387]

It's good to see Union Pacific's DDA40X. I wonder what happened to the U.P. shield and wings decal that was on the front of the cab? It would be even better to see it on tour on the road. Hey Union Pacific, do you hear me!!!

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@rodcurry6387 UP added those, however front is back to orginal setup

[@macwolf3007]

Hey thank you for showing 4014 tender after converting to a oil tender after 4014 tender is done they can swap it with 3985 tender since it’s behind Big boy 4014 oh and nice little update on 3985 and 5511

[@Strasburg_Railfaner611]

They likely won’t switch it out now since 3985s original tender which is on 4014 already got PTC electronics and antennas installed

[@trains2495]

@@Strasburg_Railfaner611, when I was at this tour, they mentioned this tender will swap with UP 4014! Robert J

[@dstahl5260]

@@trains2495I wonder if after all of this, 4014 and 3985 are both going to end up with PTC. Can’t imagine they would want to remove everything from the tender that 4014 has now but maybe they will

[@frankym274]

Nice Catch What About UP 3985 And UP 5511 Steam Engine Are 12:33

[@thomasandfriendssong]

Any idea if the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America will put up an update on the restoration on their website because last one I saw was in February and a few months went by and I still haven’t seen an update yet?

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

good question, i think its when they reach a milestone or so they will

[@williamburroughs2273]

UP 6936 is the coolest diesel electric, what a hoss! I'd like to see if that thing could pull a loaded grain train by itself.

[@heckingaxle6618]

what? its 6936...

[@bentheidioticnerd8993]

Never knew the Iowa Interstate had all this!

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@bentheidioticnerd8993 RRHMA owns the historic stuff, other diesels that sit belong to NRE

[@trains2495]

@@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014, Good video! One month ago, now it is July 29th! I went here with my great friend "Mazon!" There were NREX diesels inside you didn't capture!!!! The greatest was HBRY SD50 # 5003! I have never photographed a HBRY engine (live in MI)! I was so happy to finally see this HBRY SD50 inside the shop, # 5003! I took excellent pictures of it on film. WOW! It had good light on the nose inside from the ceiling windows. There are still a couple of these on IR but patched! I was told NREX is preparing to move this engine to another location! I did not catch IAIS SD38s running, just the stored ones and slugs! I could not walk up to those engines and took pix on my way out! Glad to see IC&E SD40-2 # 6100 still in full ICE colors/number. WOW! I use film cameras and I am sure I captured nice ones! CR painted NREX SD50 8683 was cool to witness! Especially over 25 years since CR disappeared. That is more years than Conrail even existed! 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😃 😃 😃 😃 😃 Robert J

[@Strasburg_Railfaner611]

Iowa interstate owns some of the diesels seen in the video like the rock island unit and also owns steamer 6988 which I hope gets its 1472 soon

[@mratsfrailfan1894]

@@Strasburg_Railfaner611they haven’t owned the QJs for several years, a separate organization owns them now

[@Strasburg_Railfaner611]

@@bentheidioticnerd8993 the parent company of Iowa interstate owns them

[@ChurchSandy]

3506 Hickle Locks

[@PetersTrainz]

Will they use these additional passenger cars such as the hi-levels for excursions?

[@voidjavelin23]

UP doesnt have any bi-level cars

[@mratsfrailfan1894]

@@voidjavelin23if you watch the video you can see some Amtrak cars, ex el captain bi-levels

[@chooch1764]

@@mratsfrailfan1894RRHMA doesn’t own them.

[@centamangila1217]

​@@mratsfrailfan1894probably they will use it.

[@catlover2368]

hang in there 3985! you will one day rule the rails and run once again!

[@RANDOMCNWGUY]

What was being. Painted ?

[@TranscontinentalRailfan]

A former BNSF dash 8 unit that will be painted into the famous red and silver Santa Fe warbonnet livery.

[@RANDOMCNWGUY]

@@TranscontinentalRailfan that’s nice!

[@justinmalachinski1]

@@TranscontinentalRailfanwhere did you find that info I’m curious

[@TranscontinentalRailfan]

@@justinmalachinski1 The Railroading Heritage of Midwest America mentioned this in an article a while ago.

[@trains2495]

​@@justinmalachinski1, during the Silvis shop tour they explained that ex BNSF B40-8W # 537 will be repainted into fresh Santa Fe "Warbonnet" colors!!!! YESS!!!! This is awesome! 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😃 😃 😃 😃 😃 I also did this tour with my friend "Mazon!" Robert J

[@heckingaxle6618]

Good to see DD40X UP 6936 run again.

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@heckingaxle6618 it was my 1st time ever to see it powered up! i seen it when it came across iowa with steamers, only other dd i seen prior was 6900

[@blastonightfb77ryan86]

Great video! Do you have any idea when 5511 will be ready to roll?

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@blastonightfb77ryan86 close to same time as 3985

[@blastonightfb77ryan86]

@@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014 gotcha, although the video made it sound like it was closer, maybe that’s just me, plus it in general looks to be in better shape, probably because they haven’t dug into it yet

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@blastonightfb77ryan86 5511 actually was totally rebuilt just before retirement. Was in better shape than 3985! they are not taking it all the way apart, moving parts and some tubing needs replaced just because it sat for many decades

[@blastonightfb77ryan86]

@@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014 Interesting, but that still makes me curious as to why it’s going to take as long as Challenger if it doesn’t need a full rebuild, maybe they wanna launch them at the same time? Is there something about 5511 that will make it take a good while like Challenger?

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@blastonightfb77ryan86 other than volunteer weekend, the weekdays there is a small full time crew, they also are doing tender, passenger cars, and soon caboose

[@RANDOMCNWGUY]

Do you know if 8683 will stay?

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@RANDOMCNWGUY no idea

[@douglasskaalrud6865]

Crazy seeing an SD80 on Flexicoil trucks. Only on Conrail!

[@davidpoor8638]

That is an SD50 not SD80.

[@bdub215]

Finally someone snags a picture of 6988 cause those nice folks in Silvis seem to not post anything about the work going on with it.

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@bdub215 The 6988 belongs to Central States Steam, Newton, Iowa setup is not as good as Silvis in terms of overhul and 1472

[@jakekreutzer]

@@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014I’ve been wondering, where is 7081? Haven’t heard a peep about it in years.

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@jakekreutzer still in Newton, I would expect maybe just maybe once 6988 is offically done, who knows 7081 may go there and get same thing done. But dont quote, i feel its possible now that Silvis is slowly moving back over to steam

[@IowaGrandpaTrain]

Thanks for sharing!

[@citxsd70m-2]

I spot Amtrak hi-levels :0

[@Cmanjp427]

Very nice keep up the great work brother

[@ericwilliams2619]

Extraordinary video 👍🏻✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[@donsteilsrailfanproduction4014]

@@ericwilliams2619 thank you!

[@BNSFFanLate2012]

@Don Steils Railfan Productions Hope You Enjoyed Your 3985, 5511 & 6936 But I Don’t Donated It A Dollar & I’m Not Interesting About It

[@chooch1764]

Why do you have to say “you don’t donate”? Do you just want attention? Also fix your grammar. Smh