SILVIS, Ill. – Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA) has restored two diesels to service and is continuing work on its two Union Pacific steam locomotives, 4-6-6-4 “Challenger” No. 3985 and 2-10-2 No. 5511 at its former Rock Island shop complex in Silvis.
On Aug. 26 crews fired up Union Pacific “Centennial” No. 6936 for the first time in several years. It now becomes the only operating example of the world’s largest diesel locomotive. It is one of a class of 47 Centennials built for UP between 1969 and 1971, the largest diesel locomotives ever built in terms of size. They were named Centennials since their debut coincided with the Golden Spike Centennial in 1969. A total of 13 Centennials were preserved by UP. While there are still repairs to be done on No. 6936, it was able to move around Silvis under its own power. The UP “wings” on the nose of the unit have been removed, since they were not part of the Centennial’s paint scheme during their years of regular service.
Also returning to service is B40-8W No. 537, recently donated to RRHMA by BNSF Railway. The only preserved example of a B40-8W, volunteers made repairs to return the unit to operation. RRHMA’s next goal is to repaint No. 537 back into its Santa Fe red and silver “Warbonnet” colors, which is estimated to cost $65,000.
No. 537 was constructed by General Electric for Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe in October 1990 as part of its “Super Fleet” of new EMD and GE diesels painted in Santa Fe’s famous Warbonnet passenger diesel paint scheme revived by Mike Haverty, the railroad’s then-president. AT&SF was the only railroad to order the B40-8W. No. 537 is the first of the type to be preserved, although the model is still operated by four short lines in addition to BNSF.
RRHMA has completed repainting former Southern Pacific business car Stanford into two-tone Southern Pacific gray. The car, built in 1928, spent the majority of this year in the Silvis paint booth as crews applied the SP colors. Still to come are lettering and other details. The car was built by Pullman in January 1928 for SP as No. 140, Sunset. The car has four bedrooms finished in walnut and mahogany, a kitchen, crew quarters and observation room. It was renamed Stanford in November 1955 as SP acquired another business car with the Sunset name. Delivered in Pullman green, Stanford also wore SP two-tone gray, simulated stainless steel, and after UP acquired Southern Pacific in 1996, Union Pacific Armour Yellow.
Work continues on Union Pacific No. 5511, the sole surviving UP 2-10-2. The pistons and rings have been removed for cleaning and inspection. Needle scaling work is being done on the bottom of the front tube sheet and bottom of the smokebox to remove deposits left over when tires were burned in the locomotive during the filming of Union Pacific’s movie “Last of the Giants” in the late 1950s. Earlier this summer the firebox fire brick was removed, and the safety valves and dynamo (used to generate electricity for headlights and lighting on the locomotive) were removed for rebuild work. No. 5511 was built by Baldwin in 1923.
Alex Beams of RRHMA reports that volunteer crews have been diligently removing parts from No. 3985. The front tube sheet has been removed, as have flawed areas of the firebox. Boiler plate has been ordered for making firebox patches. Bad stay bolts continue to be identified and removed. The front air tank, air coolers, and other air piping on the front end have been taken off, and the front engine exhaust pipe to the smoke box has been removed. American Locomotive Co. built No. 3985 in 1943. It was part of UP’s steam program until 2010.
RRHMA is still seeking funds to restore the steam and diesel locomotives and repaint No. 537. Donations may be made at rrhma.com.
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