| N&W GP38AC 4102 with the Saint Charles Air Line in the background at about 18th Street in Chicago, Illinois on July 31, 1983, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. I showed up at this location (18th Street and the south throat of Union Station) to catch N&W 4-8-4 611, but I got this instead. I'm not 100% certain about this train, I believe it's a diesel powered connection from Union Station to the C&NW's station for a steam excursion. The following was in the Extra Movements section of the June 1983 issue of Trains Magazine: 'Steam Chicago Style'. The Twentieth Century Railroad Club and Norfolk Southern Corp. are proud to announce the operation of four steam excursions from Chicago to be operated with N&W's J-class locomotive No. 611. The 'Nickel Plate Limited' will operate to Fort Wayne, Ind. and return on July 30 and August 7. The 'Wabash Cannonball' will operate to Decatur, Ill. and return on July 31 and August 6. All trains depart and arrive Chicago Union Station. Consist to include recording car, open window and air conditioned coaches, souvenir-snack car, and First Class section featuring domes, diner, and observation car. Prices: Coach, $49.95, First Class, $99.95. This may be a transfer move over to the C&NW, N&W GP38AC 4133 was autached to the rear of this train, and the following was a photo caption in the November 1983 issue of Trains: A highlight of Midwestern visit by Norfolk & Western's J-class 4-8-4 611 was August 6, 1983 departure from North Western Station, Chicago with 22-car Overland 400 excursion sponsored by the 20th Century Railroad Club to Sterling, Ill. and return. C&NW blurbed it as the last steam locomotive in the terminal, whose head building is to be razed. The big 4-8-4 was on a post-NRHS convention swing from Richmond, Va. to Chicago and Saint Louis, including trips over former Nickel Plate and Wabash trackage. C&NW trips were arranged after problems arose with the Illinois Central Gulf on turning 611 in Decatur, Ill. |