Members of the museum recalled working with Rock Island GP7 1275, which was well liked by engineers. To honor the unit, the museum purchased an ex-Santa Fe chop nosed GP7, ex-Santa Fe 2830/BNSF 3822, from National Railway Equipment in Silvis, Ill. The unit renumbered 1275 and repainted by NRE in Rock Island’s red and yellow paint scheme with white block lettering, which was completed on Aug. 20. The employees at NRE were proud of their work, producing the first Rock Island-painted engine at the company’s former Rock Island shops since the railroad shut down in 1980.
The logistics of moving the “new” 1275 from Silvis to Eldon are not yet finalized.
The museum was formed when the Eldon depot was put up for sale in 2001. Interest in saving the depot was particularly keen among several of the area’s retired railroad employees, who formed the Eldon Depot Committee. They raised funds from the community, along with proceeds from various fund-raising activities to buy and restored the depot. By 2006, the exterior of the depot had been restored and much of the interior had also been completed.
The depot is currently used as a railroad museum with numerous items on display. It also serves as a meeting place for morning coffee Monday through Friday and as a welcome center for city activities. A wide vision former Chicago Central caboose is on display at the depot painted in Rock Island colors.
In addition to No. 1275, the museum also purchased an original Rock Island flatcar from NRE, No. 91333.
For information on the museum, go to www.eldondepotmuseum.org.
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@Zach H., I didn't know that AT&SF's Topeka Shops did that modification, I thought that was only done in their Cleburne Shops, learn something new every day!
It's strange up here to hear that called a "Cleburne Cab". 'Round these parts (Kansas City) they're called "Topeka Cabs".
Nice work, but isn't that Geep sporting a "Cleburne Cab" like what was seen on "square cab" CF7's? Either way, it's nice to see the CRI&P colors on a loco again.
I have consulted my book "Rock Island Diesel Locomotives" and found that number 1275 was indeed chop nosed. Great job and I hope to see it sometime!
Is it operational, or was this just a cosmetic restoration?
Very nice!
Remember the Rock! Great looking engine but was RI 1275 chop nosed? Still, I hope to see it in Eldon some time!
It's nice to see a piece of railroad "history" restored for future generations to see and appreciate.
Great paint job! Getting it back to Eldon will be interesting. Eldon is at the intersection of the Des Moines- Keokuk line & the Davenport- Allerton section of the Golden State route, both long-abandoned. Closest railroad is BNSF in Ottumwa. It will have to be trucked from there.
Good use of the colors, which I would say are hard to make work.
Apropos of nothing, other than it's locomotive related, Clickhole (a parody site run by The Onion) posted this today, which I thought some here might find amusing: http://www.clickhole.com/article/look-your-best-7-most-slimming-trains-stand-next-2968