Great to see someone preserve this film of these engines in action. They were old and dirty but they were a source of pride in Sterling, IL for many of the employees of Northwestern Steel and Wire. Many were sad to see them go when they made the switch to diesel. Thanks for posting.
I am a retired UPRR (former C&NW) engineer and I used to set out cars of scrap steel at the Northwestern Steel and Wire plant to be melted down in the furnaces to make wire and nails. Used to pick up the empties too on the eastbound trip.
I saw these engines in 1973 when I worked for the Chicago & Northwestern. As we passed through the yards they'd be sitting there shunting cars around. I was told the river flooded several times a year and the diesels would short out. These old gals kept goig through 4 or 5 feet fo water! It was a rare privilege to see this glimpse of the past still earning their keep.
Terrific distant and close up footage of the NWS&W's former Grand Trunk & Western RR 0-8-0 switchers in their last full year of operation. Hard to believe these steam locomotives where still in operation as late as 1980. Thanks for sharing!
The one at IRM looks to be in great shape, hopefully someone would restore it to operation, after all anything is possible once someone has restored a big boy.... :-D
@@skylershummingbird1667 they had a lot more of Northwestern Steel and Wire the engines but since they were all identical the museum traded I think five of them to a scrap yard in order to get a Chicago Burlington & Quincy locomotive but I could be wrong
There is one in Amboy il. On display and at the Dillon home and museum in Sterling. And 05 seen at 3:38 is sitting on an abonded side track near galt il. Rotting away
@@uhlijohn I believe you nailed it with Mr. Dillon having "a soft spot for steam" and consequently the engines lasted up until his passing in 1980. Had anyone else been running that steel mill they would have dieselized long before.
Great to see someone preserve this film of these engines in action.
They were old and dirty but they were a source of pride in Sterling, IL for many of the employees of Northwestern Steel and Wire.
Many were sad to see them go when they made the switch to diesel.
Thanks for posting.
I am a retired UPRR (former C&NW) engineer and I used to set out cars of scrap steel at the Northwestern Steel and Wire plant to be melted down in the furnaces to make wire and nails. Used to pick up the empties too on the eastbound trip.
What year did you work there? Perhaps you knew my grandfather, Douglas Troxell
I saw these engines in 1973 when I worked for the Chicago & Northwestern. As we passed through the yards they'd be sitting there shunting cars around. I was told the river flooded several times a year and the diesels would short out. These old gals kept goig through 4 or 5 feet fo water! It was a rare privilege to see this glimpse of the past still earning their keep.
Terrific distant and close up footage of the NWS&W's former Grand Trunk & Western RR 0-8-0 switchers in their last full year of operation. Hard to believe these steam locomotives where still in operation as late as 1980. Thanks for sharing!
The one at IRM looks to be in great shape, hopefully someone would restore it to operation, after all anything is possible once someone has restored a big boy.... :-D
IRM got one of these switchers?
@@skylershummingbird1667 they had a lot more of Northwestern Steel and Wire the engines but since they were all identical the museum traded I think five of them to a scrap yard in order to get a Chicago Burlington & Quincy locomotive but I could be wrong
@@RailPreserver2K No that is correct, they obtained cb & q 2-8-2 4963
There is one in Amboy il. On display and at the Dillon home and museum in Sterling. And 05 seen at 3:38 is sitting on an abonded side track near galt il. Rotting away
When i was little, we’d pass over the bridge this mill was next to, and i ‘ve always wanted to go in
In 1978, I delivered scrap there as a brakeman for C&NW. I was told that Ronald Reagan had been born nearby.
Used to watch the engines work while going to college in Sterling in 1969.
Great video I also didn’t know steam locomotives were used any in that time period.Fascinating indeed!
Kenneth Marshall I think the last revenue service steam line was the crab orchard and Egyptian and they stop steam operations in 1985
@@southjerseyboy2844 they ended steam in 1986 when 17 suffered a mechanical failure
Yes ,I believe 17s dry pipe collapsed which is probably why she hasn’t run since
The president of Northwestern Steel & Wire had a soft spot for steam and did not want to get rid of them.
@@uhlijohn I believe you nailed it with Mr. Dillon having "a soft spot for steam" and consequently the engines lasted up until his passing in 1980. Had anyone else been running that steel mill they would have dieselized long before.
My grandpa sotelo worked there . straight from Mexico
What ever happened to engines????
That train went from this to abandoned?!
Only train 05 is left sitting in a row of trees until the end of time😢
This is awesome
I worked there one summer in the mid 60's, during summer break, between college terms. It was a great motivator for staying in school and doing well.
Would walk across the bridge to the Sterling Theater, and wait for the steam engines to go buy for many years.
Anyone else notice how clean the stack is?
Wow, prehistoric trains!
No, that’s steam locomotives
Not really. These are steam locomotives. Very well historical
This is in Illinois isn't it?
TheBamaPrinceable Sure is!
Sound?
There isn't any. This is silent film.
My grandpa Lupe Martinez retired from there in 1978. I always loved hearing the train whistles in the evening
Cool steam power
And to think a canadian 2-8-0 would beat these locomotives record by another 5 years
Not sure what engine you are referring to.
@@fabio40 its a steam locomotive that ran on the crab orchard and Egyptian railroad until 1986
@@RailPreserver2K You mean Canadian built, and not from a Canadian Railroad?
@@fabio40 look at this ruclips.net/video/1EK7F1Z0xRM/видео.html its explains it better then i can
The steam engines on the Mexicano Del Pacifico out of Los Mochis Mexico lasted until 1991 😁