Illinois Central 2900 Class

Illinois Central 2900 Class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderLima Locomotive Works (LLW)
Build date1921-1923
Total produced125
RebuilderIllinois Central’s Paducah, Kentucky shops
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte2-10-2
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Fuel typeCoal
CylindersTwo, Outside
Valve gearWalschaerts
Career
OperatorsIllinois Central Railroad
Class2900
Numbers2900-3024
Disposition56 rebuilt into Illinois Central 2500 Class, 69 scrapped

The Illinois Central 2900 Class was a class of 2-10-2 "Santa Fe" or "Central" type locomotives that were manufactured by the Lima Locomotive Works (LLW) for the Illinois Central Railroad (IC).

History

Revenue service and design

125 locomotives were built by the Lima Locomotive Works (LLW) between 1921 and 1923.[1] The first 100 locomotives were built in 50 batches and equipped with duplex stokers, and The last 25 locomotives were built with DuPont stokers.

Disposition

56 locomotives were rebuilt into 2500 Class 4-8-2 "Mountain" type locomotives between 1937 and 1943. The un-rebuilt 69 locomotives were upgraded and were renumbered to 2700 through 2747, 2750 and 2800 through 2819. Nos. 2700-2747 were scrapped between 1955 and 1962, No. 2750 was scrapped in 1961, and Nos. 2800-2819 were scrapped between 1957 and 1962.[2][3]

Preservation

Though none of the Illinois Central 2900 Class were preserved as 2-10-2s, two locomotives that were rebuilt into 4-8-2s were preserved:

  • No. 2953, later rebuilt into IC 4-8-2 #2500 is on static display at the Fairview Park in Centralia, Illinois.
  • No. 2906, later rebuilt into IC 4-8-2 #2542 is on static display at the former Illinois Central Railroad depot based in McComb, Mississippi.

References

  1. ^ Trains. Vol. 13. Kalmbach Publishing Company. 1953. p. 56.
  2. ^ Collias, Joe G. (1960). The Last of Steam: A Billowing Pictorial Pageant of the Waning Years of Steam Railroading in the United States. Howell-North. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-8310-7018-2. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  3. ^ Downey (2010), p. 97

Bibliography