Illinois Central 201

Illinois Central 201 is a steam locomotive, originally owned and operated by Illinois Central Railroad. The engine hauled thousands of passengers to the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, at which time, Casey Jones was one of its engineers. In 1949, the locomotive was operated at the Chicago Railroad Fair as part of the "Wheels A-Rolling" pageant. It is now on static display at Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois.

Illinois Central #201 as was configured in its early years (note diamond stack and wooden pilot).
Illinois Central 201
IC 201 at the Illinois Railway Museum
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderRogers Locomotive and Machine Works
Serial number2588
Build dateMay, 1880
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-4-4T
 • UIC1′B2′ nt
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.56+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Loco weight107,600 lb (48,806.5 kg; 48.8 t)
Boiler pressure140 lbf/in2 (970 kPa)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size16 in × 22 in (406 mm × 559 mm)
Valve typeSlide valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort11,862 lbf (52.76 kN)
Career
OperatorsIllinois Central Railroad
Numbers213, renumbered 221 in 1884,
201 in July 1890,
1401 in July 1900
Retired1926
Preserved1975 (first preservation)
2002 (second preservation)
Current ownerIllinois Railway Museum
DispositionStatic display

Service

201 was one of several 2-4-4T locomotives built for commuter service between the edge of the Chicago Loop and the South suburbs (now part of the Metra Electric District).

Preservation

1401 was retired in 1926 when the IC electrified the route. The rest of the fleet retired in 1935 from yard service; some were sold to other railroads. in 1934, it was renumbered back into 201 where it took part at the Chicago Worlds Fair for many years until 1949. In 1975, the locomotive was sold to a private owner and displayed in front of the depot in Owatonna, Minnesota. It was donated to the Illinois Railway Museum in 2002.

References
  • Chicago Railroad Fair Official Guide Book. 1949.
  • Edson, William D. (Spring 1979). "Locomotive Rosters Illinois Central Railroad and Predecessor Lines". Railroad History. Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. 140 (140): 10–114. JSTOR 43523944.
  • Moshein, Peter; Rothfus, Robert R. (Autumn 1992). "Rogers Locomotives: A Brief History and Construction List". Railroad History. Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. 167 (167): 13–147. JSTOR 43521603.


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