Equipment Information

Illinois Central 201 is the oldest steam engine preserved at IRM and the only standard-gauge 2-4-4T engine preserved anywhere. It was built for suburban passenger service, hauling commuter trains south out of Chicago, and remained in this role until the IC electrified its commuter operations in the 1920s. At that time it was retired and kept by the railroad as a museum piece.

FUN FACT: This may be the only engine still around that was run by the famous Casey Jones. Jones worked for the IC in Mississippi, but during the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago he temporarily worked on commuter trains running to the site of the fair in Jackson Park. It’s very likely – though not certain – that he would have run this engine at some point during the fair.

Builder: Rogers Locomotive Works
Year Built: 1880
Builder Number: 2588
Wheel Arrangement: 2-4-4T
Weight: 107600 lbs
Tractive Effort: 11862 lbs
Cylinders: 16×22
Boiler Pressure: 140 psi
Description: Commuter / Forney
Arrived: 2002
Condition: Complete – cosmetically restored – not operational

Ownership History
1880-1884 – Illinois Central #213
1884-1890 – Illinois Central #221
1890-1900 – Illinois Central #201
1900-1928 – Illinois Central #1401
1928-1965 – Illinois Central #201
1965-1975 – Vonachen’s Junction, Peoria, IL
1975-2002 – Privately owned, Owatonna, MN
2002-present – Illinois Railway Museum, Union, IL

Learn more about the Rogers Locomotive & Machine Works here