Midwest, West, South
Wabash F7 1189, UP E9 949, and Southern FP7 6133 line up momentarily during movements around the Spencer grounds.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Wabash F7 1189, UP E9 949, and Southern FP7 6133 line up momentarily during movements around the Spencer grounds.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
The Reading takes a ride
“Reading” F7 284 (ex-C&NW) rides the Spencer turntable.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
“Reading” F7 284 (ex-C&NW) rides the Spencer turntable.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
They don’t make ’em like they used to
Spanning decades of cab-unit design, Amtrak P42 No. 42, painted to honor U.S. armed services veterans, pulls beside Iowa Pacific E8 515, wearing magnetic signs to assume an “IC 4035” identity.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Spanning decades of cab-unit design, Amtrak P42 No. 42, painted to honor U.S. armed services veterans, pulls beside Iowa Pacific E8 515, wearing magnetic signs to assume an “IC 4035” identity.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
IC for a day
Iowa Pacific E8 515, dressed in IP’s standard Illinois Central-style livery, donned magnetic number-board and nose-emblem signs to become “IC 4035” on the first day of Streamliners at Spencer.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Iowa Pacific E8 515, dressed in IP’s standard Illinois Central-style livery, donned magnetic number-board and nose-emblem signs to become “IC 4035” on the first day of Streamliners at Spencer.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
E’s and F’s of four roads
Left to right at the Spencer roundhouse: Erie E8 833, Norfolk Southern F9 4271, “Lackawanna” F3 664 (ex-Bangor & Aroostook), and Wabash E8 1009.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Left to right at the Spencer roundhouse: Erie E8 833, Norfolk Southern F9 4271, “Lackawanna” F3 664 (ex-Bangor & Aroostook), and Wabash E8 1009.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
An Erie E Erie
E8 833 enjoys its moment in the turntable limelight. Painted blue and numbered 4022, the unit was for a time Conrail’s only executive E unit.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
E8 833 enjoys its moment in the turntable limelight. Painted blue and numbered 4022, the unit was for a time Conrail’s only executive E unit.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
CB&Q and ACL slant noses
Burlington E5 9911A backs onto the turntable past Atlantic Coast Line E6 501. The slant-nosed classics were generally stabled on adjacent tracks during the Spencer event.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
J meets F7
N&W class J 4-8-4 meets Wabash F7 1189. The J had arrived at Spencer a few days before the Streamliners event for work that will return her to excursion service.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
N&W class J 4-8-4 meets Wabash F7 1189. The J had arrived at Spencer a few days before the Streamliners event for work that will return her to excursion service.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Calling all cabs!
The signature image of Streamliners at Spencer was of cab units grouped around the turntable, as in this night view, which shows less than 40 percent of the 28 streamlined locomotives in attendance.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
The signature image of Streamliners at Spencer was of cab units grouped around the turntable, as in this night view, which shows less than 40 percent of the 28 streamlined locomotives in attendance.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
E9 outside, GP38-2 inside
Union Pacific 949, like its UP heritage fleet sisters 951 and 963B, was rebuilt in the mid-1990s with a single 645 engine and a modern electrical system. Externally they’re E9s; inside they’re the equivalent of a GP38-2.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Union Pacific 949, like its UP heritage fleet sisters 951 and 963B, was rebuilt in the mid-1990s with a single 645 engine and a modern electrical system. Externally they’re E9s; inside they’re the equivalent of a GP38-2.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
FP7 duo
Southern FP7 6133 backs off the Spencer turntable onto a track beside Soo Line FP7 2500.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Southern FP7 6133 backs off the Spencer turntable onto a track beside Soo Line FP7 2500.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
New Haven FL9
The Spencer turntable operator watches carefully as NH FL9 2019 eases back onto the table. Note the unit’s Hancock air whistle and third-rail shoe.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
The Spencer turntable operator watches carefully as NH FL9 2019 eases back onto the table. Note the unit’s Hancock air whistle and third-rail shoe.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Shades of Cincinnati Union Terminal
During a night photo session, fans focus on soon-to-be-overhauled Norfolk & Western class J 4-8-4 611, Southern FP7 6133, Pennsy E8 5711, “Baltimore & Ohio” F7 722 (ex-Bessemer & Lake Erie), and “C&O” F3 8016 (ex-Clinchfield).
Robert S. McGonigal photo
During a night photo session, fans focus on soon-to-be-overhauled Norfolk & Western class J 4-8-4 611, Southern FP7 6133, Pennsy E8 5711, “Baltimore & Ohio” F7 722 (ex-Bessemer & Lake Erie), and “C&O” F3 8016 (ex-Clinchfield).
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Portholed pioneers
Floodlights for a night photo session illuminate the flanks of Electro-Motive FT 103 and an FTB at Spencer.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Floodlights for a night photo session illuminate the flanks of Electro-Motive FT 103 and an FTB at Spencer.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Cab-booster-cab
“Lackawanna” F3As 664 and 663 (ex-Bangor & Aroostook) bracket F7B 664B (ex-Boston & Maine) on a freight consist on the Spencer grounds. Currently, only the 664 is operable.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
“Lackawanna” F3As 664 and 663 (ex-Bangor & Aroostook) bracket F7B 664B (ex-Boston & Maine) on a freight consist on the Spencer grounds. Currently, only the 664 is operable.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
C&O in Southern country
“Chesapeake & Ohio” F3 8106 (ex-Clinchfield, owned and restored by the C&O Historical Society) rides the Spencer turntable as New Haven and Wabash F units look on.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
“Chesapeake & Ohio” F3 8106 (ex-Clinchfield, owned and restored by the C&O Historical Society) rides the Spencer turntable as New Haven and Wabash F units look on.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Two builders, three nose types, six models
At the Spencer roundhouse, from left: CN FPA 6789, Soo FP7 2500, “C&O” F3 8016 (ex-Clinchfield), CB&Q E5 9911A, ACL E6 501, and NH FL9 2019.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
At the Spencer roundhouse, from left: CN FPA 6789, Soo FP7 2500, “C&O” F3 8016 (ex-Clinchfield), CB&Q E5 9911A, ACL E6 501, and NH FL9 2019.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Bath time
PRR E8 5711 gets a bath at Spencer after its journey (with sister 5809) from Philadelphia. The two Juniata Terminal–owned E8s were among the few streamliners to arrive under their own power.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
PRR E8 5711 gets a bath at Spencer after its journey (with sister 5809) from Philadelphia. The two Juniata Terminal–owned E8s were among the few streamliners to arrive under their own power.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
By their noses ye shall know them
Pan Am Railways FP9 PAR1, Southern FP7 6133, and “Lackawanna” F3 664 (ex-Bangor & Aroostook) compare noses at the Spencer roundhouse.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Pan Am Railways FP9 PAR1, Southern FP7 6133, and “Lackawanna” F3 664 (ex-Bangor & Aroostook) compare noses at the Spencer roundhouse.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
NS’s executive F9s
Most of the streamliners at Spencer were museum pieces, but a few still worked for major railroads. NS executive F9s 4271 and 4270 brought a four-car special to the event.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Most of the streamliners at Spencer were museum pieces, but a few still worked for major railroads. NS executive F9s 4271 and 4270 brought a four-car special to the event.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Crowd favorite
The most celebrated of the two dozen streamliners was the Alco PA1 being restored as NKP 190 by owner Doyle McCormack. The Spencer event marked the public debut for the ex-Santa Fe unit, which is not quite operable yet.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
The most celebrated of the two dozen streamliners was the Alco PA1 being restored as NKP 190 by owner Doyle McCormack. The Spencer event marked the public debut for the ex-Santa Fe unit, which is not quite operable yet.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
The first was last
The last locomotive to arrive at Spencer, late in the afternoon of May 28, was Electro-Motive FT 103, built in 1939 as part of the very first set of F units. SOU GP30 2601 retrieved the historic unit from the NS interchange. For its move from St. Louis, No. 103 was given the temporary reporting mark CNTP (for NS component Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific).
Robert S. McGonigal photo
The last locomotive to arrive at Spencer, late in the afternoon of May 28, was Electro-Motive FT 103, built in 1939 as part of the very first set of F units. SOU GP30 2601 retrieved the historic unit from the NS interchange. For its move from St. Louis, No. 103 was given the temporary reporting mark CNTP (for NS component Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific).
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Alco smoke
CN FPA4 6789, built by Alco licensee Montreal Locomotive Works and the only operable Alco-design diesel at the Streamliners event, clears her throat during a spin on the Spencer turntable on May 29.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
CN FPA4 6789, built by Alco licensee Montreal Locomotive Works and the only operable Alco-design diesel at the Streamliners event, clears her throat during a spin on the Spencer turntable on May 29.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Slant-nosed sisters
CB&Q E5 9911A and ACL E6 501, two of the four surviving slant-nosed E units, stand in elegant repose during a night photo session at the Spencer roundhouse.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
CB&Q E5 9911A and ACL E6 501, two of the four surviving slant-nosed E units, stand in elegant repose during a night photo session at the Spencer roundhouse.
Robert S. McGonigal photo
Thanks for the support, guys. It has been almost 2 years since I pointed out this error. Guess no one checks these comments or reads them. In a data driven society, just counting the comments is enough to calculate viewership. I too have a book from the real fair. I was there, at least according to my parents. It was in 1948; I was 1, going on 2 and already train crazy. A lifelong infection.
Ward Kimball and Walt Disney visited the Railroad Fair at the suggestion of Mr. Disney’s secretary. Walt asked Kimball if he’d like to accompany him since they both were interested in trains. They rode aboard Santa Fe’s “Super Chief” to Chicago. From what I’ve read, the engineer found out about the celebrities aboard the train and invited them to ride in the cab for a short time. While at the fair, both Kimball and Disney operated locomotives in the pageant. I have a copy of the program from the 2nd year of the fair that I purchased on eBay.
Here is a PDF of the 1948 Guide from the living history of Illinois site: http://livinghistoryofillinois.com/pdf_files/1948%20Chicago%20Railroad%20Fair%20Official%20Guide%20Book%20Wheels%20a-Rolling.pdf
It would really be nice to see the real Guidebook. My mom and dad both attended, loved it and talked about all they saw.
I agree I would like to see the 1948 Rail Fair pictures.
Will this ever get fixed?
These pictures are NOT the 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair pictures. Looks more like a recent show in Spencer.
Yes, it’s “Streamliners At Spencer” from several years ago.