MONTICELLO, Ill. — Illinois & Midland RS1325 No. 31 made its operating debut at the Monticello Railway Museum during this past weekend’s sold-out Throttle Time event, pulling a vintage freight train while run by “student engineers” who purchased a ticket for the opportunity to run the rare locomotive. The museum acquired the RS1325, one of only two of its type built by Electro-Motive Division, in late 2020.
Museum member Bill Crisp acted as instructor during the hour-long throttle time, which included 15 minutes of instruction and 45 minutes of operating time. The seven-car train operated between the County Road crossing, a mile North of Nelsons Crossing station, on the north side of Monticello, west past Stair Tower, a replica of an Armstrong-lever interlocking tower, and the Camp Creek trestle. Art Purchase, a longtime museum member, suggested using freight cars during the Throttle Time runs.
Each Throttle Time ticket holder made two round trips with the freight train, and upon completion of the trip was presented with a certificate along with a magnet featuring artist Andy Fletcher’s drawing of No. 31.
Jeff Heinie, a pharmacist, said, “Well, I feel like I’m back home in my hometown. I’m from Havana (Ill.) and that’s where these engines were always found.’’
Francis Drnjevic of Girard, Ill., was given his Throttle Time ticket as a Christmas present from his wife Wendy. “It was wonderful,” he said. “The last time I was in an engine was probably that same engine in Taylorville, when a friend of the family, Pat Walton, moved that from the shed in Taylorville to the sand pipe and back, so it’s been a while.’’
“He just loves trains,’’ said Wendy, who had also purchased a set of overalls and an engineer’s cap for her husband.
The museum plans to repaint No. 31 into its Chicago & Illinois Midland paint scheme. Those interested in helping fund the project can do so at this page on the museum website. Member Bill Crisp has also set up a GoFundMe fundraiser for the 31 and recently arrived Illinois Terminal Railroad SW1200 No. 784.
