MONTICELLO, Ill. — The Monticello Railway Museum in Central Illinois is adding to its collection with the donation of former Illinois Central SW14 No. 1407. Following a career in private lease service, No. 1407 was graciously donated by GATX Locomotive Group.
The unit, now GMTX No. 526, is currently stored in Lexington, Ky.
No. 1407 is the third former Illinois Central locomotive to join the museum’s fleet, along with Illinois Central GP11 No. 8733 and SD40-2R No. 6071, the original SD40 demonstrator that became GM&O No. 950. Its addition will continue to help the museum preserve central Illinois railroading history.
The new acquisition is s one of 112 SW14 locomotives rebuilt by the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in its Paducah, Ky., shops between 1977 and 1981. Built as Illinois Central SW7 No. 9411 in August 1950, the unit was rebuilt in 1977 as the 1407, one of the first locomotives to go through the SW14 program. It worked for Illinois Central Gulf and Illinois Central until 1998, when it was retired and sold into private lease service.
The SW14s were the backbone of the Illinois Central’s switcher fleet from the time they were rebuilt well into the years following merger with the Canadian National, with units still in service as late as 2021. The units, with their unique angled cabs, could be found in practically every yard across the IC system, and were a constant presence throughout the central Illinois region.
The Monticello Railway Museum has begun fundraising to cover transporting the unit to Monticello and for its eventual restoration. A donor has offered a dollar-for-dollar match of the first $5,000 donated to cover these expenses. Individuals can donate to help move and preserve the locomotive by going to the museum’s donation page and selecting Illinois Central No. 1407.
The Monticello Railway Museum is a not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1966 as “SPUR”; Society for the Perpetuation of Unretired Railfans. SPUR’s goal at that time was to maintain and operate steam powered passenger train excursions.
In 1969 the name was changed to the Monticello & Sangamon Valley Railroad Historical Society, Inc., and then, in 1982, the name was again changed to Monticello Railway Museum (MRM) which stands to this day.
The prominent museum is home to over 100 pieces of rolling stock, including several restored diesel and steam locomotives plus passenger, freight (as well as cabooses) and maintenance of way equipment.
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