Wabash 1189 Builds The Polar Express!

Merry Christmas!

I started volunteering at the Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, IL when I had the time and energy to do so. On November 17th, after spending the better part of the day washing windows and cleaning the floors and seats of the museum's Polar Express, I watched them put together the train for a practice run with the dance teams that perform on the train.

Power for the train this year was Wabash F7A #1189, the last one ordered by the Wabash Railroad and the last one built by the EMD London, Ontario shops. While no Perre Marquette 1225, it was a good substitute. They built train train from the rear, then ran the power and CN steam generator car (which had one of its two steam generators replaced with a diesel generator to power the cars) around the train. IC business car #7 had been outfitted by the museum with ditch lights and a horn to serve as somewhat of a cab car, since there is no easy way to run the power around the train in Monticello where the train runs from.

Nerd Stats:
Monticello Railway Museum Polar Express
SB MRM IC Mainline
WAB EMD F7A 1189
Ex NW 1189
Built As WAB 1189, 03/52
Nathan M3
Canadian National Steam Generator #15421 (Built 1958)
Illinois Central Business Car #7 (Built 1917)
Wabash Passenger Coach #1420 (Built 1947)
Illinois Central Passenger Coach 2920 (Built 1925)
Illinois Central Diner #4112 (Built 1946)
Illinois Central Diner #4110 (Built 1949)
Illinois Central Diner #2612 (Built 1947)
Illinois Central Passenger/Baggage Car #892 (Built 1918)
Rock Island Commuter Coach 2541 (Built 1925)