My Pop is old. It is hard to find gifts for him. He grew up in rural Illinois in the 20s and 30s, and has recently expressed an interest in old steam locomotives.
He mentioned a train that the locals called "Old Jerk", apparently a local service steam engine used in the area in his childhood - in the area of Rockport Illinois or Griggsville Illinois.
Anyone here have some ideas on how I can fulfill his need for info on old stream trains? A history book perhaps, preferably large size with photos? And perhaps how I can find out the fate of "Old Jerk"?
Regards,
Will
(07-23-2010 05:17 PM)Proteus128 Wrote: [ -> ]My Pop is old. It is hard to find gifts for him. He grew up in rural Illinois in the 20s and 30s, and has recently expressed an interest in old steam locomotives.
He mentioned a train that the locals called "Old Jerk", apparently a local service steam engine used in the area in his childhood - in the area of Rockport Illinois or Griggsville Illinois.
Anyone here have some ideas on how I can fulfill his need for info on old stream trains? A history book perhaps, preferably large size with photos? And perhaps how I can find out the fate of "Old Jerk"?
Regards,
Will
The people at "Trains" magazine would be a good source. They probably either know what happened to the locomotive in question, or know someone who can find out. I would e-mail their editor with your story.
I figure this was a Stampy or Tagterp thread.
Google "Illinois Railway Museum".
There's also a place up in Union IL that has all sorts of "antique" transportation. I'll see if I can find a definite name for that place for you, but you could check on line also.
Given a significant number of major (class 1) and class 2 railroads ran through Illinios (getting to Chicago), I started w/ the old "Fallen Flag" biggies. I left out the Chesapeake and Ohio since keeping up w/ that railroad is an avid hobby of mine. I knew they had no such, nicknamed train. I started w/ the old Illinois Central and hit "Old Jerk" when I got to the New York Central.
The following link is a reference from an Indiana town. Which makes sense given the NYC like the C&O and the B&O ran through Indiana, Ohio, etc. making their way to Chicago.
This should get you started:
http://scican3.scican.net/oldtowns/mahala/mah1.html
It sounds like this was indeed the name of a train and not so much a particular steam engine. The NYC of the day used quite a few different locomotives. Possibly "Atlantics" or "Pacifics" for local passenger service and anything from a "Consolidation" to a "Mikado" for freight. Those names refer to "wheel arrangements" on steam engines. For example, a "Mikado" is a 2-8-2. Which means two small wheels up front under the smokebox, 8 drivers, and 2 trailing wheels below the firebox (cab). I am guessing here, but I would venture to say that it was not too large a steam engine assigned to this service ("Old Jerk") because the article references it stopping in a fairly small town twice a day. Sounds like a "peddler freight" or a "local passenger" train.
I belong to several railroad and railroad modeling forums in addtion to this forum. If you need some specific research, let me know. Also, there are several historical societies for the NYC. Research there may possibly be successful.
(07-23-2010 05:17 PM)Proteus128 Wrote: [ -> ]My Pop is old. It is hard to find gifts for him. He grew up in rural Illinois in the 20s and 30s, and has recently expressed an interest in old steam locomotives.
He mentioned a train that the locals called "Old Jerk", apparently a local service steam engine used in the area in his childhood - in the area of Rockport Illinois or Griggsville Illinois.
Anyone here have some ideas on how I can fulfill his need for info on old stream trains? A history book perhaps, preferably large size with photos? And perhaps how I can find out the fate of "Old Jerk"?
Regards,
Will
Here's an idea. Get him a membership here:
>>>El Linko to NYC Historical Society<<<
He can research steamers, even look up and research the "Old Jerk".
And/Or you can get him these books, or something similar:
>>>>El Linko to NYC Steam Books<<<