UNION, Ill. — The Illinois Railway Museum is currently auctioning off surplus items ranging from a former Chicago & North Western steam locomotive tender to a pickup truck to tools and artwork.
A total of 112 items are available and are listed here. The auction ends Friday, Jan. 17, at 10 a.m. CT. Items are available for inspection by appointment only; for purchasers, the museum will be open for pickup Jan. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or by appointment. Items must be removed within three days except for the locomotive tender, which must be removed within 12 months. More information is available here.
The items were purchased by or donated to the museum and have been determined to be surplus. Money raised through the sale will support the museum’s preservation and education efforts.
I recall a tender, such as the big one in the above article pic, when I first got hired by the E-L Rwy PD in 1968. It was situated at the Croxton Yard in Jersey City / Secaucus, and attached to a heavy duty, 8 wheeled steam crane. A few years later the combo disappeared and I heard that it was gotten rid of because the crane engineer and/or fireman had retired and E-L Rwy could not find a suitable qualified employee replacement. I don’t know if the combo was sold to another RR or scrapped???
Good for IRM for doing some deaccessioning, a.k.a. keeping the house tidy and staying focused on the mission! Hopefully this is a great outcome for all involved.