Illinois Terminal 1565



Facts and Figures


Current Number1565
Railway RepresentedIllinois Terminal
BuilderIllinois Traction System
Built In1910
Builder's order id
Currently in (State)Illinois
--(Locality)Union
Totally out of svc date1960
(Initial retirement date)
Car Typelocomotive
-subtypeboxcab
-designationClass B
Statusoperated occasionally
More infohttp://www.irm.org/player/it1565
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionsteel
Roof typeAR
EndedDE
Length34'0"
Width9'3"
Height13'0"
Weight120000
#Seatsn/a
#Wheels/Conf.8
Total HP800
TrucksAlco RM63B
Brakes14EL
CompressorWABCO D4P (2)
ControlGE M (C83A)
MotorsGE 69C (4)
Voltage (if not 600DC)

Locomotive 1565 in operation at IRM in 2011
Facebook
photo: https://www.facebook.com/IllinoisRailwayMuseum/photos/a.218580784867446/218580814867443/?type=3

Locomotive 1565 on display at IRM in 2007
Illinois Railway Museum
photo: https://www.irm.org/gallery/IT1565/aag
Car History by Frank Hicks


Illinois Terminal 1565
The country's second largest interurban network was the Illinois Traction System - the McKinley lines - that stretched across much of the state of Illinois and lasted into the late 1950's. The ITS shops in Decatur, where literally hundreds of cars were maintained and rebuilt, was perhaps best known for the large fleet of boxcab locomotives that were designed and built entirely in-house. The earliest of these homebuilt units were the Class B's, of which the ITS built 18 between 1910 and 1918. One of two Class B locomotives preserved, and the only one still operational, is 1565, part of the first series of the type built. It operated in freight service across the ITS, and later Illinois Terminal, until it was sold to IPC during the dieselization of the IT's freight operations in the mid-1950's. IPC used it to switch the Champaign power plant for five years, but in 1960 it was bought by IRM where it was restored to its IT appearance. It is fully operational.

Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
Illinois Traction System (Missouri, St. Louis)15651910 1928 NO NO
Illinois Terminal (Missouri, St. Louis)15651928 1955 NO NO
Illinois Power Company (Illinois, Decatur)905251955 1960 NO NO
Illinois Railway Museum (Illinois, Union)15651960 present YES NO

Additional Media

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Locomotive 1565 in operation at IRM in 2013
YouTube
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-sTzF-GBUs