HISTORIC PROPERTIES & PRESERVATION FOUNDATION

DECATUR, IL

Making the Quota I was chatting with a friend about roadrailers, sharing photos and the like, when I realized I almost never actually photograph the things. I had a look through my folders and have consistently only shot them once a year. This is frankly absurd considering the the things run within spitting distance of home. What have I been doing the last five years?

For once, I actually went out and sought the elusive Triple Crowns out. After already meeting my yearly quota back in January, it seemed like snatching a roadrailer would be a good way to spend a day. I got more than I bargained for when the day was said and done, but more importantly, I did find the 255.

At Milmine, NS 255 makes haste on its westward journey to Kansas City. NS7676 had quite a lengthy train of trailers on it today, and pairing that with warm temps, clear skies, and even a friendly wave from the conductor, I don't think I could complain about anything here if I wanted to. Nice day out! — Making the Quota Credit: Leo Blackwelder

The Historic Properties & Preservation Foundation is a non-profit organization located in Decatur, Illinois. The foundation was established in 1989 to preserve and protect the historic properties in the Decatur area.

The foundation's mission is to promote the appreciation and preservation of historic properties and to provide education and resources for property owners and the community. The organization works to protect and restore historic landmarks, buildings, and sites throughout Decatur and the surrounding area.

The foundation also offers various educational programs and resources to help property owners and the community understand the importance of preserving historic properties. They provide technical assistance, advice, and financial support to property owners who wish to restore or renovate their historic properties.

The Historic Properties & Preservation Foundation is governed by a board of directors, made up of community members and experts in historic preservation. The organization also relies on volunteers and partnerships with other organizations to support their preservation efforts.

Overall, the Historic Properties & Preservation Foundation plays an important role in preserving the rich history and culture of Decatur, Illinois, for future generations to enjoy.

HISTORIC PROPERTIES & PRESERVATION FOUNDATION is a Historical Societies, Historic Preservation in DECATUR IL. US MID #8401701169

The museum is classed as HSC (Historical Societies, Historic Preservation). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Midwest (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin). Total revenue from most recent IRS 990 Form: $ 19,011 from tax period 201212 (YYYYMM).

Golden Opportunity I never seem to shoot the DREI very often despite it being pretty local to me. My opportunities to do so typically fall on weekends that I don't usually like waking up very early on, but here and there I make the effort, especially when I'm basically invited out there. Can't argue with that much, but the timing was good, so hey, off I was.

The Decatur &amp; Eastern Illinois Railroad is undergoing a power shuffle presently. The leaser fleet, made up of HLCX and FURX power of various colours and models, is going away, now replaced by power taken from the WSOR and by the freshly shopped WAMX 5909. Built as the NS 4616, this rare GP59 is new to the railroad, but far from a new locomotive. It's one of just 36 of its type, all built for Norfolk Southern in 1989, but NS pruned its roster of the remainders of the class in 2020, selling them to PRLX. In 2022, Watco purchased ten of the units and had them sent to Metro-East Industries for refurbishment and paint. It joins two SD45s - derated to SD40-2s - in todays train, the 101.

I arrived in Decatur just as the three locomotives were starting to pull out of the yard, giving me just seconds to grab my camera and snatch a quick photo. With golden morning light on my side, it'd be hard to lose here. A fine start to a much needed day out.

Triple Crowned Pans are fun, and I rarely take them, so I've started practicing that a little bit. NS 255 is one of only two roadrailer trains left in the US - and I think the world, frankly - and its classic Triple Crown trailers make for a great subject to try and pan.

La Place To Be As I was out and about following DREI 101, La Place was one of the spots I was very much hoping to shoot. I'd shot here before with a friend once, and the shot hadn't come out well, so to go back and get some much better positioning was a treat. The elevator is what midwestern railroading is all about and was simply a must-shoot. I about didn't make it there in time, either, as I'd tried a shot at a crossing 2-3 miles back that didn't pan out. Good thing there's not much traffic out that way, eh?

It's A New Dawn The DREI's Decatur-Chrisman train, 101, gets out of Decatur pretty early most days - and today was no exception. Despite a slight delay, our newly certified engineer got the SD40-2 triplet underway pretty quickly as light takes hold of its surroundings finally.

The DREI is a young railroad, born from a struggling CSX line. Remnants of its CSX - and previously even B&amp;O - past still linger along the way, such as the no trespassing signs at the bridge over Lake Decatur, still lettered for CSX. Signs of fall are beginning to appear as the leaves turn and the sunrise (and sunset) change their times, which allowed for some fine golden morning light to shine across the scenery. Nice start to the day.

You Gotta Get Out Personally? I don't like being in Decatur that much.

IC1000 and UP3807 couple onto a long string of cars at ADM Decatur, shoving back briefly before stopping and putting the string beside them on yard air. Decatur is not known for its cleanliness - or safeness, or much of anything positive these days if we’re being really honest here - and this ADM plant is one of the worst offenders. It and T&amp;L are able to make the entire city just plain stink. No amount of interesting RSSX critters nor IC1000 can make up for that. By the time we did find our favourite deathstar by ADM, dusk was coming quick, so we made a point to get our quick couple of photos, and get the hell on out of there before darkness really hit.

At least the smoke and steam looks neat from a distance.

Slowdeath All good things must come to an end. MEC609 rests at Mervis Recycling in Decatur, waiting for its turn to be torn apart.

MEC609 is far from an original MEC unit and far from home. The true identity of this engine is Milwaukee Road 156 - the legendary bicentennial unit. After 49 years, she’s been through a lot, but this is the end.

Built in 1972 as the 3026, it was renumbered to 156 in 1973 during Milwaukee’s latest grand renumbering project. In 1975, the 156 was selected to be repainted into the railroads bicentennial scheme, where it would join railroads across the nation to celebrate the 200th birthday of the United States. It wore the scheme until 1977, crossing the system and making impressive meetups over time.

The 156, back in its orange and black dress, remained in service with the Milwaukee until the company’s final bankruptcy in 1985, when it went with its sisters to the Soo Line. SOO renumbered it to 6333, banditized it, and ran it for two years. It was retired in ‘87 and sent to Morrison-Knudsen for a rebuild, where it gained a full sized fuel tank and other unspecified work. Turned out in April ‘88, the engine was promptly sold to the Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México, or NdeM, along with 40 of its sisters. Given the number 13022, it ran in Mexico for 9 years, when it was given to TFM after a short stint on FNM and applied the new number 1420. From there, she worked in both Mexico and the US for a number of years before being moved to the US full time. Officially, it was renumbered KCSM 3269, but it never wore those marks. As TFM 1420, it operated until 2010 when the Pan Am Railways bought the engine and shipped it to Maine.

It was promptly renumbered 609 and patched for a few months, then it was repainted into the dark blue and white of Pan Am, living in the Maine Central subsidiary. For 8 years, the 609 worked hard for the Pan Am, but time ran out in 2018 when she and two sister engines were sold to GATX and shipped off to Altoona. 156 never turned a wheel for them and instead sat idle for two years.

Then, out of the blue, she appeared at Mervis in Decatur, missing parts and ready to be torn apart. Where is her future now? Likely joining the towering mountains of scrap metals in the facility. The MRHA and IRM have been contacted, apparently, about the status of 156, but Mervis is known for being quick to scrap. And so, given the information we have, it’s time to say goodbye to the bicentennial. 49 years of service isn’t a bad track record at all. Goodbye, MILW 156.

EDIT: 156 is confirmed to have been purchased and saved! She ain't dead yet!

Contact HISTORIC PROPERTIES & PRESERVATION FOUNDATION

HISTORIC PROPERTIES & PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
1420 W SUNSET AVE
DECATUR
IL
62522-2740

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HISTORIC PROPERTIES & PRESERVATION FOUNDATION Information

MID #	8401701169
Name	HISTORIC PROPERTIES & PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
Alternate Name
Classification	Historical Societies, Historic Preservation, , Midwest
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)	371388683
NTEECC	A80
Tax period of the latest return filed (YYYYMM)	201212
INCOME	19,011
REVENUE	19,011
LAT/LONG	39.834831, -88.980833
CODES	FIPS State Code: 17 FIPS County Code: 115 US Census Tract: 001600 US Census Block: 1015