Tours of Silvis shops offered after UP engines arrive

Aerial view of large brick building in railroad shop complex — With the Union Pacific Railroad donation of historic locomotives scheduled to arrive later this week, Railroading Heritage of Midwest America plans to offer tours of its Silvis, Ill. facilities on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. The main shop building at Silvis encompasses more than 400,000 square feet and is now home base for RRHMA restoration operations. Erik Rasmussen

SILVIS, Ill. – Railroading Heritage of Midwest America will offer one-hour tours of its Silvis shops, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, one day after several historic Union Pacific steam and diesel locomotives arrive on the property. RRHMA is billing the event as a “Walk Among the Giants” and will feature UP 4-6-6-4 No. 3985, 2-10-2 No. 5511, and DDA40X “Centennial” diesel No. 6936. It will be the first time the group has offered public tours of the complex since it took ownership of the ex-Rock Island Silvis shops last spring [see “Friends of the 261/Railroading Heritage of Midwest America to expand to Silvis shop complex,” News Wire, Jan. 10, 2022].

Each tour lasts one hour, with an additional hour of free time so visitors can look over the shop and equipment on their own. Tours will begin at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Lunch is included and is being provided by Central States Steam Preservation Association. CSSPA is working on the 15-year inspection and rebuild of No. 6988, a Chinese built QJ-class 2-10-2, which is also at the Silvis complex.

Railroading Heritage of Midwest America, based in the Twin Cities, is also the owner and operator of Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 and a fleet of historic passenger cars.

Tickets are $250 each and are available through the RRHMA website.