Illinois Central Steam Finale, 1950 – 1960

Illinois Central steam across three decades! This program features IC steam power running in the 1950s in Illinois and Kentucky as steam was winding down. You’ll visit the Paducah area and other locations on the Kentucky Division where 2-10-2’s and 2-8-2’s were the main freight power. Also included are some 2500 class 4-8-2s.

In 1960 we see 4-8-2 #2613 running excursions. This is footage not in our previous Illinois Central program. Some of the footage has live sound recorded on film with the rest augmented by actual IC steam audio. You’ll see why the Paducah shop was so important to the IC’s steam operations and you’ll see how those same shops cut up many of the steam engines.

Then, you’ll return to Paducah in 1992 when ex-Nickel Plate Berkshire 765 ran a pair of excursions to Central City with dramatic footage as the engine runs across Kentucky Dam and Barkley Dam and many other locations. Plus, we’ve added a bonus slide show of IC steam at Louisville and Paducah. All together, it’s a 75 minute program narrated by Danny Harmon, with 95% of this rare footage in color.