Historic steam-powered locomotive to make stops in Illinois
WOLF LAKE, Ill. (AP) — A steam-powered locomotive known as the Union Pacific Railroad’s “Living Legend” is making stops in southern Illinois.
The Southern Illinoisan reports (http://bit.ly/2e8T2b3 ) Locomotive 844 will make two 15-minute whistle stops on Wednesday while on its way to a celebration in Memphis. The stops are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. in Gorham and 12:15 p.m. in Wolf Lake.
The locomotive is the last steam engine built for Union Pacific Railroad and was delivered to the company in 1944.
It weighs 454 tons and will be pulling six other cars. Union Pacific spokeswoman Kristen South says onlookers will be able to see steam and smoke blowing from the locomotive.
She says, “It’s something that many of us will never see in front of us” and “it gives you goose bumps.”