The Silvis Locomotive Shops: From World Class To Near Abandonment

Today, we look at the life and history of the Silvis Locomotive Shops, from their start as a one of the largest locomotive shops in the world, to where they are now; a decaying husk of what they used to be. #history
Credits:
Steam Engine Video: • Vintage Steam With Liv...
Rock Island High Hoods: • This Was The Rock Isla...
1970’s background footage: • New York 1970s
MKT Discontinuance of service card: • 1965 MKT - News We Nev...
Rock Island Auction Flyers: • 1980 Rock Island - Aft...
RRHMA Instagram Page: / railroadingheritage

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Merch, anyone? okieprint.com/SPR/shop/home

[@ScottTooley]

I just hit 42yo last year, and watched this entire video without any distraction. Is this the age that I get really interested in the railroads? You never think it will happen to you, but I fear the day has come. Great video, thank you for making it. I'm from the Quad Cities, but the heyday of this rail yard was before my time. Seeing stuff like this makes me realize what the majority of adults remember when I was growing up in the 80's and 90's. The Quad Cities is a great place, but took a hard hit when manufacturers pulled out.

[@shumakerguitarworkssgw9505]

The silvis shops has now become a working restoration museum. They’re restoring steam and diesel locos and cars as well. Most of those old gp9 and sd40-45 engines are old imrl engines they got from other railroads. Today sept 12 2023 the place is open and giving tours daily.

[@williamschlenger1518]

I'm 79yrs old so I've lived through steam, diesel & electric.It's a shame to see all the railroads die off.Thanks for the video.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Hopefully we can see some new railroads be created in the future, weather they be shortlines or class 1’s. You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed.

[@markmccord1876]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan Really enjoyed this video! I am a nostalgia railfan, missing the ICG, GM&O, Seaboard System, KCS amd others. I used to railfan with a now departed friend from Austin, Bob Hicks. He was a RAILFAN, and he taught me much about railroads. I still like to catch stuff like this. Thanks again.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

@@markmccord1876 You're very welcome. Glad I was able to provide you with a blast from the past, and I'm happy you enjoyed this video!

[@DaMan-jt6dh]

​@@Southern_Plains_RailfanUP and SP merger needs to be broken up

[@KGnasty1]

My grandfather worked for over 40 years for the rock island. His home was 6 blocks away, on the hill by the water tower, overlooking this massive trainyard. I have so, so many memories in the 1980s when I was a kid. Great piece of history that i hope lives on.

[@richardrodgers2525]

HELLO NASTY JOE from "supercarman/engr rodgers

[@modelrailpreservation]

Sad to see what's become of Silvis. I grew up across the river, in Davenport, late 1980s into the early 1990s, and dad would often drive us to Frank's Pizza, which was very close to the SIlvis shops. Excellent pizza there, by the way, and I think they are still in business. Anyway, dad and I would scarf down our meals as quick as we could, mom and my sis would, of course, take their time. Dad and I, once finished eating, would drive over to the engine shops while my mom and sis were still eating, and we would check out the locos and sometimes friendly shop staff would even show us stuff they were working on. Back then security was pretty lax and so long as I didn't climb on anything or touch anything they were fine with a young railfan getting up close to classic locomotives. Dad still has a great photo of the family car nose to nose with a C&O GP-7 or GP-9 (I forget which it). So many good memories of the place, I hope better days are indeed ahead for it.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

What amazing memories to have. Thank you for sharing!

[@helixlancaster3218]

I believe I delivered to a warehouse nearby the Silvis Shops before. I remember seeing trackage like that and also many locomotives in storage. My best picture I took was of two strings of around 15 Union Pacific switchers parked along the building I was delivering to

[@TRRailfan]

Really nicely written video! Easy to follow and interesting. Hope to see these shops return to their former glory.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you, I'm glad you liked the script. I hope to see the shops be revived too; what an amazing thing that would be!

[@jooniejuice4395]

My dad was a mechanic and engineer there. Thanks for the memories.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

You’re very welcome!

[@deanmeyer1815]

I worked for NRE from 1992 to 94. What a filthy grease pit. I rebuilt air compressors and reconditioned engine parts, and spent some time on “the ramp” and truck shop. Most of my time was spent reconditioning cylinder liners and building power assemblies. If I remember right, there were 3 sizes of cylinders: 1 had 8 1/2 inch bore, 2 had 9 1/16 bore diameter and could be either cast iron or chrome lined bores. I measured and sorted liners, honed the ones that were useable with a huge vertical hone, and the rest were sent out for repair by spray welding the inside bore and outside wear surfaces. It was an interesting place, but working conditions were terrible. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Thanks for the great vid. I hope the museum can make it a success, I would visit it often as I would not live 20 miles from there.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Could you please tell me more about what its like to be a diesel mechanic working for a railroad, because that is what I want my career to be someday.

[@deanmeyer1815]

It was the hottest, dirtiest, coldest, heaviest, most dangerous work I have ever done. And I have worked on everything from lawn mowers to cars and trucks, farm equipment to material handling, semis to locomotives. If you have the passion, get as much training as you can. There may be apprenticeships available. Working for an actual rail line likely has better pay and benefits as well as working conditions. I basically worked in a junkyard salvaging useable parts. Hope that helps and I didn’t turn you off to your dream.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

@@deanmeyer1815 No, you haven’t turned me away. I’m actually going to college for diesel mechanics right now, and I do hope to work for an actual railroad not a salvage company.

[@deanmeyer1815]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan Working for an actual rail line should have a lot better conditions and proper tools and training. I wish you all the best. Maybe we'll run across each other some day at the Silvis yard when they have the museum going.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

@@deanmeyer1815 Thank you. Wouldn’t that be something!

[@randyrobey5643]

It is a shame to lose so much history. Best wishes to the folks who want to save it.

[@marioxerxescastelancastro8019]

If I understood the video correctly, it was not lost but abandoned and recently purchased for restoration.

[@randyrobey5643]

@@marioxerxescastelancastro8019 The site has been purchased for restoration, but millions of dollars will almost certainly be required just for environmental damage mitigation. The ground is saturated with diesel fuel, and more than a century of old lubricants, both liquid and solid, with have to be dealt with. There will also be asbestos from old tubing, lead, and mercury residue from coal. Those are the most obvious things. I am sure there will be other issues as well. As I said in my first post, I wish the restorers well. I would love to see them succeed.

[@marioxerxescastelancastro8019]

@@randyrobey5643 I hope they do not waste money on environmentalism and focus it on repairing the locomotives and infrastructure.

[@randyrobey5643]

@@marioxerxescastelancastro8019 They will have to fix the environmental issues by Federal and state law. Environmental laws vary from country to country. In the United States, trying to open and operate a business on a site like this without addressing environmental issues will prevent them from getting permits to do any other work.

[@marioxerxescastelancastro8019]

@@randyrobey5643 Then USA sucks.

[@kens.3729]

Thoroughly Enjoyed this video and the job you did with the History of this Location. Breaks a Railfanner Heart ❤️ to see these Falling Flag Units in this Condition. 👍🙏

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed. Don’t worry, at least one of them will be saved. CNW 7009 is in the process of being purchased by the Illinois Railway Museum!

[@jwrailve3615]

The coastal city I grew up in had rail service from 1910-late 50’s early 60’s with passenger service ending in 1935. The tracks when I was there had been long gone sometime in the 70’s and ripped up 5 miles out of town ending outside the Dow chemical plant. The town had a awesome wye, and where it was then the city baseball field sits in the same configuration, and the point end went to a wharf out onto the bay which was wiped out for the final time in 1918, the only reminents of it in town is the pylons still used for the harbor, the huge trench formed by building up the grade and the oyster shells used for the ballasting. I’m modeling it these days, but pictures just make it hurt to see because I’d had loved to have seen it

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

So the point end of the wye went out over the ocean? That’s so cool! The tracks might be gone in real life but at least you’re preserving what used to be there. Have you thought about making two models; one for you and one that could be donated to a local museum. I’m sure lots of people would like to see sights of yesteryear as well.

[@jwrailve3615]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan so. It’s a triple decker that includes two branch lines operated by the gulf coast lines (at Louis Brownsville and Mexico) era 1910-1935, with them being connected by the Brownsville sub Bloomington yard, which the third branch line interchanges the brownie and is served by southern pacific. I actually have three wharfs that go out into the bay and one the prototype was over a half mile long. My main freight moved is seafood, cattle, and cotton, and it’s entirely all small steam, in fact two of the branch lines were served by the latest running 4-4-0 either in the state or country finishing its career sadly in a wreck in 1946. The layout takes up half my home, and has another room that’s my depot and operations office, I want to move out of this home and eventually reconfiguring and turning the entire home into a musuem/club layout. But hey I’m young and it’s been a next to 0% progress because the money hasn’t been there lately.

[@bixgomez2839]

Thanks for this video! Perfect length, well edited and presented; I learned a lot! I hope this facility receives the care and attention it needs...

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed. For sure, hopefully Silvis can be revived.

[@gevowavemagnet]

My grandfather worked as a laborer at the roundhouse pictured here. He and my grandmother raised 10 children including my now 94yr old mother. Retired sometime in the late 60's, my best guess. The Quad Cites area was an industrial powerhouse back in those days.

[@theseventhgeneration6910]

I've got Rock Island decals on my miniature railroad cars passed down from my father. I'm compelled to have one autographed by someone at the current yard for the sake of respecting the perpetuity of a historical American icon.

[@PeterT1981]

Very nice video. Informative and entertaining. High production value. Easy to listen to. Great editing and narration. I like the pace. Well done Sir.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you very much!

[@P61guy61]

Thank you for posting

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

You’re welcome!

[@robertbullcarmichael9856]

Really enjoyed the video. Thanks.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

You’re welcome!

[@thelnner6765]

The NRE shop in Paducah, KY is an ex- Illinois Central building that still have signs that remain true to its heritage

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

That’s really cool! Do you think NRE will take them down, or do they not really care?

[@thelnner6765]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan they probably havent even noticed them tbh

[@w9gb]

NRE also left the Rock Island Dixmoor Shops/Yard , which was handover spot with Blue Island to Eastern railroads.

[@allentimmerman7233]

My mother's father worked at the West Burlington RailRoad shops back in the 60's an 70's. This would be awesome to go see.

[@WhiteTrashMotorsports]

We had a PL&E yard here in Dickerson Run Pa. that was huge all that remains now is a sewage plant and bike trail parking, sad to see history lost.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Yeah, it can’t all be saved unfortunately.

[@vonmunchousen]

In the 70's when I was 10 to 12 years old I used to skip school and run around that factory all day. It was The Rock Island Lines at that time and was running full bore repairing engines and box cars. I had to watch out for the men with the white hard hats because they would chase me down and have me removed from the property. It was cool running around there and watching them repair everything and talking to most of the workers. It was something that happened in my lifetime that I will never forget. I now have a nephew who is an engineer driving them great trains, something I wish I would have done myself.

[@aA-ye1cf]

What a wonderfull preservation centre opportunity!

[@BrokenWrenches]

Im shocked you got that close. I grew up on the hill over looking that railyard in the early 90’s… the security was ridiculous there, all the way up to my last visit in 2018… you would think the president lived there. The second you even looked like you were gonna trespass the little barny fife twerps in their little minivans were onto you. Last time they were yelling at me not to take photos and i wasnt even on the property!!!! I would love to walk around the place now. My grandpa worked there and was yardmaster at one point. He died before i was built.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Wow, that’s a very stark contrast compared to the security when I was there. I was able to just walk right up to the locos. No one ever said anything or even approached me. I know I was seen by Iowa Interstate employees, but no one called the cops or asked me to leave. That being said, I don’t condone or encourage anyone to go wandering around the shops. That’s super cool that your grandpa worked there!

[@KGnasty1]

Where did you live and what was your family's name? My family (my moms clan) was the Keefe's. My grandpa, C.C., worked for the Rock Island from around 1935 to 1977 when he retired

[@BrokenWrenches]

@@KGnasty1 we lived in silvis, moline, carbon cliff and dads family lived on campbells island. I was born in 84 and grandad died 2 years prior to my birth at 42 years old.

[@tpep1693]

I love it, but the BIGGEST problem they face is the fact that they are in Illinois!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

What problems does being in Illinois pose?

[@Tofu_10]

Amazing Video SPR! How'd you get so up close to all of the engines? I thought the Shops/Yard were on Private Property. I've only seen Drone Videos of the Silvis Shops so I loved getting to see everything up close!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you! I just walked right up to the locos. I don't think anyone cared all that much. I know I was seen by Iowa Interstate workers in the adjacent yard, but no one ever called the cops or approached me to tell me to leave. That being said, I wouldn't recommend or condone anyone else galivanting around Silvis. I'm glad I was able to bring you a new perspective on the place, though!

[@manga12]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan it is being revived as you said but a vintage railroad restoration shop. to start using it I belive or heard so it continues to service and rebuld historical railroad equiptment but I remember reading about the silvas shops in railway up to date 1907 its a great read for a prospective of turn of the century buildings and railroad practices as well as shop demensions and equiptment makers if your into vintage machines or things used to care for rollingstock and steam locomotives or build them ground up from the frame.

[@theodorethompson9032]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan guess your lucky security didn't catch you

[@geomodelrailroader]

TRAINS also announced that CP Rail sold them a former turntable from the old Milwaukee shops in Bensenville which were recently demolished. RRHMA will rebuild the turntable and excavate the pit and use it to turn engines around. Because of #3985's size they will have to remove the tender to service it in the shops and so it will fit on the turntable.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

That’s wonderful news!

[@w9gb]

Aaron, yes 5 miles from my house. I have been watching that turntable for past 20 years - as O’Hare modernization changed everything in area. The old Iowa Pacific stored their E9 locos and cars further north, on west side of Elmhurst Road (west of O’Hare). That old shop area will have new Tollway (west O’Hare bypass) above it.

[@TempoDrift1480]

Nothing breaks your heart like the passage of time.

[@alcopower5710]

Awesome content 👍

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@haxsa4467]

It’s so fun to stare at, I just love staring the main shop, absolutely eye candy! Also you should’ve talked about the old metra E8.

[@swedishlevelcrossingchanne2745]

Great video!😁👍🏻👌🏻

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@brianpaulus4291]

Nice video. There used to be a MKT wreck crane at the site. It was visible in the drone videos in the past. Was no longer visible around 2018. Do you or anyone reading these comments know of it's whereabouts?

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you! Sorry, I have no idea where that crane could be.

[@sernajrlouis]

Great video. Just subscribed

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you so much!

[@Cruminum]

This was great

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@MK-of7qw]

This would make an awesome museum.

[@Patric5590]

Awesome video 👍😎🇺🇸

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

Good work.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@RomeKG471]

I sure hope they can save that place! Everything either gets scrapped or torn down, so sad.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Me too, I’d love to see it renovated!

[@cdjames4246]

Very informative

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@richardrickett3593]

Great video. You obviously did a lot of homework!!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you. Yes, lots and lots of googling. Lol

[@kishascape]

Well thats good. I remember in 2020 the rumors and being concerned what was going to happen to the facility and all the rolling stock. Glad to see it was acquired by a heritage group.

[@evobsm2328]

This video is about to do great cause i rarely watch train videos and this popped up in my reccomended and i watched it

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

It’s already doing great! This is my most viewed video two times over.

[@evobsm2328]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan haha im happy for you 😁 probably gonna be a 100k + views video mark my words XD

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

@@evobsm2328 Lets hope so! 🤞It’s already over half way there and so far you’ve been right.

[@alexstewart9068]

I love this channel.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@mamanbear1]

Great storytelling of an historical place

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@expfighter5112]

Nice video!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@bradleyjanes2949]

Nice vid, 👍

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@alexstewart9068]

I always love old railroad buildings for their massive windows.

[@sd70macproductions24]

Fun fact: at 6:42, nrex ex c&nw 7009 was actually bought by the irm and was brought there a few days ago! And challanger, 5511, 6936 and the other things from Cheyenne have been successful delivered and now await preservation and restoration!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

I'm glad to hear that 7009 was safely delivered, along with all the equipment from UP. Hopefully they get the Challenger up and running within a few years!

[@englishkenny958]

great video, I am now a subscriber

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you very much!

[@jacktaggart2489]

Very nicely narrated video. I was unaware of this former 'Rock' stalwart. It will take a huge financial and investment of love to rehabilitate some of the property. It may be a 'superfund' environmental site NC Transportation Museum was formerly the Southern Railway's Spenser Shops. Miracles can happen. I certainly wish the new owners well.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Yes, it will take a lot. IDK if the land is bad enough to be a superfund site, but it’s still pretty bad. That’s cool that the Spenser shops got turned into a museum.

[@TonyLasagna]

Looks like this could be a great steam restoration shop..hmm.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

That’s what I’m thinking…

[@rearspeaker6364]

there is a rr historical society moving into the exact space, so its not over yet!! they have up 3985, 6936 coming there.

[@Band__geek]

At 3:35 you can see a cnw gp-50. And in Jan. 2023, it became the first operational gp-50 in preservation

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

The IRM got it operational? That awesome!

[@cowsgohuh7328]

Huh....my last name is Silvis....But never been there.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Do you think there’s any connection between your family and the town’s name?

[@cowsgohuh7328]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan I don’t think so. We’re all from Pennsylvania via Germany. Saw the Oregon trail and thought it was too much bother. So we waited for cars to be invented. Then waited another 80 years just to be safe and migrated out.

[@johnross6314]

Don’t forget about Paducah Kentucky rebuild yard. Still there.

[@KibuFox]

You see something similar if you look at Ogden Utah from aerial photos. There's massive concrete pads and remnants of the once extensive engine servicing facilities there. There is an interesting twist to the end of the Rock Island. Union Pacific did not buy the railroad itself. Rather UP bought the tracks and locomotives. In a funny twist of fate though they didn't buy out the company name. So sometime around 2018, or 2019, this allowed a small railroad in Mississippi to purchase the "Rock Island" name, and now resurrected the fallen flag.

[@richardrodgers2525]

I was there 15 years, carman-switchman, engineer, still miss the old "Rock" "supercarman engineer" Rodgers

[@muir8009]

Fascinating mini-doco; excellent informative narration (with the coolest accent ever), graphics flowed nicely with really good modern day footage interspersed with high quality photos, great production values generally and just plain watchable. Really hope you're going to do more like this. Btw, doesn't the lionel log loader make the most horrific mechanical noise you've ever heard and is the turbine the 1946 atomic double worm drive (I noticed the wheels are all tyred)? Keep up the excellent work

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you so much! I will be doing more content like this come winter when it’s to cold to be trackside. Omg yes, it sounds a chop saw! Lol The ‘46 turbine is worm drive but I don’t remember if it’s double worm drive. Will do! I don’t plan to stop any time soon.

[@muir8009]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan awesome bro. Really looking forward to them. you're a good man :)

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

@@muir8009 Thank you 🙂

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

7:36 Use the engines that are already there as Muesuem pieces *Sounds Smart*

[@WhitfieldProductionsTV]

the company I worked for out in utah, was trying to buy a few prime power units from them a couple years back, but all we got was deadend after deadend, we ended up having to goto UP and go pluck a smaller unit to move our cars with.

[@thechubbypuertorican917]

I drive thru here often when delivering to the train companies. Outside old school dock, and a massive mud pit for trucks.

[@ken0272]

The CP rail Angus shops in Montreal were huge (1200 acres), did everything with steam and Diesel Locomotives, built tanks in the war, all gone now (1904-1992)...reclamation costs-500 million (!)

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Wow, that’s unfortunate that so much history was lost.

[@Hambone571]

So much history. Brings a tear to the eye of what it is, to what it was. Progress does not always mean better.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Well said

[@Tyhammonds06]

New sub.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@RdgRails2102]

Great video, I've always wanted to visit the Silvis Shops, quite the yard it was when it was operational. Although im a bit surprised that Union Pacific didn't make a Rock Island Heritage. Was the Iowa Interstate a part of Rock Island?

[@briansmith8967]

They've just received 4-6-6-4 3985, DDA40X, 2-10-2 5511 and several more cars from UP on 11/19. I read that at least the 3985 will be restored to operating condition. Silvis lives again!

[@victoriacyunczyk]

CNW 7009 is now at the Illinois Railway Museum and operational.

[@mustachemike802]

Another great historical railroading video, but did you know Vermont Railroad had an equally as large, if not larger facility in Saint Albans, Vermont back in the day? Of course, like many facilities like these, it is a barebones skeleton of its once majestic self, yet it's still in operation with one of the two turntables still in operation a couple historic buildings left standing.

[@petecasillas4727]

NRE leases a small part of the shop for contract work , on cp and iais locomotives and various others ... rrhma has done a considerable amount of work , such as all outside lights are now LED , tie replacement, new ballast, even the bight light tower is LED now , lights the yard up pretty good

[@SnepperStepTV]

Trains are very important and should be revived. The real seal of truth about the matter is every modern attempt to make mass transit is just a poor attempt at reinventing trains. Monorails are pretty great too, but really, they're basically trains that are above ground on one track and are more serviceable than blunders like the hyperloop. Something cool trains can do is make themselves fancy again, that would make people want to take cross-country trips at slower speeds instead of flying.

[@minecraftertracey01]

NRE is lease some of the building back, also the UP steam locos are there now. just some more info

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thanks for the update.

[@IGuessIDoThings]

*”it’s like burning memory” intensifies*

[@lian3101]

RRHMA has now moved their steam locomotives to silvis and plans on rebuilding them there as soon as possible

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Sweet

[@douglongmire635]

Used to work their 1998- 2018

[@NishnaValleyRailVideos]

From what I have heard they also plan to somewhat return it to its former glory, including the roundhouse since I think just a few days after this video was made, they announced they were donated a turntable

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

That'd be awesome if they rebuilt the turntable! Hopefully they have the funds to do it.

[@wst8340]

J

[@brianberthold3118]

wasnt UP 3985 sold to Silvis ??

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

It was sold to Railroading Heritage of Midwest America. Silvis will be it’s new home.

[@timothyorendorff7642]

I grew up in Silvis, Illinois, it is still a nice little town. Frank’s pizza still there! Large Mexican community also. My Italian immigrant Grandparents came there with the railroad and many family members worked there. Also, Greeks, Slavs and other European ethnic groups were there. Under the right circumstance I could live there again.

[@caltrain910]

This is the future home for 3985.

[@2001SRN]

As of posting this comment, that CNW SD50 is in the process of being bought by the IRM. Latest info about it states that the money has been sent to the NRE and is currently pending according to some Museum volunteers.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Glad to hear that it’s being preserved

[@martinstallard2742]

7:18 I was wondering if there was going to be any sort of preservation at the site

[@golfingbuddy1]

In less than a year, the new owners have accomplished a tremendous amount. The shop has been cleaned up, NRE is leasing space to help offset operation cost. The Challenger has arrived, a turn table has been donated and is onsite. Several historical Pullman cars have been donated. Major partnerships have been formed and no doubt the 90 acre/400,000 sq ft facility is on it was for a comeback. State and federal legislators have toured the facility, and grant applications are being worked out to assist in reconstruction, including the hopes of the returning walking sky bridge from 9th St across the tracks. Yes it is a lot of work, but essential work in the preservation of railroad history. This facility is the missing link the railroad heritage community has been seeking for many years. The Silvis facility, the keystone of railroad heritage brings together the east coast, west coast, north to the Canadian border, and south to the Gulf of Mexico to on centrally located and iconic facility. Steve Sandberg and he’s group, no doubt will accomplish what they have set out to do.

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

Just because you can't send a freight train screaming down a track at 70mph doesn't mean it's irreparable. If there's two rails out there all you need is to hold them apart at the correct gage and have enough support beneath them so as to not sink below the surface. FRA says a good tie every 20 feet and under each rail joint is substantial for Class 1 track. So even if you can't see the rails, so long as they're in gage they can still pass as excepted track, which is the most maintenance any yard tracks are kept to anymore.

[@Mildcat743]

I was taking photos of the place when I was around 12 or 13, from a public parking area near NRE, and was accosted by an old man claiming to be some kind of groundskeeper and was told I couldn't photograph the place at all and demanded I delete my pictures. Still don't know if he was what he claimed to be, but I'm still bummed I deleted those pictures.

[@ohioandnortheastern]

6:43 That c&nw unit is in irm

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

So I’ve heard. I’m glad it got saved.

[@michaelbenitez539]

Hopefully 3985 and 5511 will bring more popularity to Silvis

[@Lonestar101]

Very similar the the Texas & Pacific Rail Shops in Marshall, Texas. Marshall was the headquarters of the T&P until the early 1900's. The shops continued to operate until a devastating fire in the paint shop in the early 1970's destroyed the entire operation. As you mentioned, the 1970's were a terrible time for the railroad industry, and T&P chose not to rebuild the Marshall shops.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Sounds like the T&P had it coming from all angles during the 70's! Thank you for sharing this history.

[@jimmyhook4852]

So just wondering.... will you be in Silvis when 3985 and 5511 arrive there by hopefully in the Fall of this year? :)

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

I had no idea they were being delivered. I’ll try my best to be there!

[@jimmyhook4852]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan Alrighty :3 Besides... man.... can't wait until 3985 is fully restored, and this time more properly of course than the one back in from the late 1970's to 1981. =3

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

@@jimmyhook4852 I hope 3985 sees as much use with RRHMA as it did with UP.

[@jimmyhook4852]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan Indeed. :)

[@OwenLartz-ch3fq]

Wow. Btw I live close to it only like an hour away

[@theodorethompson9032]

We are doing CP work in the shop right now as NRE.

[@w9gb]

NEWS: The Large (~105 foot) old-Milwaukee RR turntable at Bensenville (just south of O’Hare Airport) has been disassembled and donated to Silvis, IL shop restoration !!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Yay! So glad to hear.

[@w9gb]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan Yes, just happened last week. The Silvis turntable pit was only 85 feet, so it will have to be enlarged to fit the 105 feet turntable donation. That longer length should fit the UP Challenger ! The Illinois Railway Museum (Union, IL) has the large 135 foot turntable from the Rio Grande RR (Denver) donated by Union Pacific. They need to raise addition $$ for installing and New Roundhouse. The 135 foot will fit the UP Centennial they have.

[@MrAwesomedude808]

The CNW SD50 had a happily ever after! It’s off to IRM!

[@davidhoffman6391]

We should build a mag-lev grid across the country. Put everybody back to work.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Lol, not a bad idea

[@josefhyatt2780]

So sad to see what has befallen our railroads...check out KCS Pittsburg, KS....My Old man told me stories of those facilities....now, they're all gone.

[@shawnkelley3695]

Nooo,...., (Hope to see these shops return to their former glory...❤️) Rock Island, Illinois and Silvis, Illinois 1850-- 1969.❤️❤️❤️....1970 --1981😭😭💨🕳️

[@Blaze06]

6:41 that SD50 is in IRM in operation!

[@cnw1302]

The CNW 7009 was donated to IRM Illinois museum

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

So I’ve heard. Very glad to see it being saved.

[@ILSRWY4]

Everything wasn't going fine for the Rock Island until the 1970's The Rock had already gone through 2 bancrupcies, and even before 1970's was finacially strapped and would have gone out of business by 1968 if the Capital Rebuild hadn't taken place, which resurecting older engines and modernizing them, which gave the rock about another 12 years before they finally went belly up in 1980.

[@thevideocamman5674]

I live in mount Vernon Illinois!

[@jhonsiders6077]

It is sad how over and over we look at these once great industrial complex’s be this locomotive shop or a steel mill a automotive plant or a once thriving rust belt city and wonder why did it go from a busy full of employees to this ? How and why did it happen ?

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Just a series of financial setbacks and unfortunate events I guess. I’m sure the Silvis shops would be alive and well today if The Rock never went under.

[@randallfawc7501]

Isn't this the facility that recently acquired the UP 3985 (4-6-6-4) Challenger with the intent of rebuilding back to a fully operational steam locomotive?

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Yes, it is.

[@ricksadler797]

Don’t forget about Oaklawn shops of the C&EI in Danville. They were huge back in the day Great video thank you for your work

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

I’ve never heard of the Oaklawn shops. I’ll take a look at them on google, though. Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed!

[@ricksadler797]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan ya it’s a pretty similar thing there. C&EI was a local short line around the coal fields near Danville I’ll .. Eventually folded into the old Mopac, then family lines , then onto CSX Was a good little RR , now just another Fallin Flag. They also had a nice passenger depot in Danville now a construction co owns the property. There is a C&EI historical scocioty in the old Roseville depot maby they have more info

[@wgc53217]

@@ricksadler797 C&EI wasn't really a "short line." The main line ran from Chicago to Evansville, Indiana. There was also track that went toward St.Louis, but I think part of that route was over the NYC. L&N gave their passenger trains to the C&EI at Evansvile. My parents and I would spend some Saturday evenings watching the passenger trains at the depot on Fulton Avenue. As a kid I used to ride my bike to the C&EI yard and Wansford and sometimes get to ride with the hostler around the engine terminal. L&N at Howell was never as friendly as the crews at Wansford.

[@ricksadler797]

@@wgc53217 my grandfather was a dispatcher in Danville then transferred to Evansville just before the mopac turnover

[@wgc53217]

@@ricksadler797 What was your grandfathers name? I hung around the L&N DS office in Evansville, both the ones at the old depot and the newer ones in the building at Howell. I probably met your grandfather during one of these visits.