J Neils Lumber Co. #5 and Frisco 1630 are seen staged at Spaulding Tower for the Shay It Forward night photo session at the Illinois Railway Museum.

JNLC 5 durning the ‘Shay It Forward’ photo charter at the Illinois Railway Museum.

Shay #5 heads down the line with a caboose train.

Shay 5 was the only steam locomotive operated at IRM in 2020. Here it is departing East Union with a train of socially-distanced passengers.

The fireman aboard Shay 5 scores a direct hit to the fireman on Frisco 1630 as they pass at Johnson Siding, just east of Union.

Both of IRM's operating steam locomotive are seen at the East Union station platform during Labor Day weekend, 2019.

IRM's steam powered passenger train departs from the depot as a work train pulls up behind. A pair of CA&E interurban cars wait to haul passengers after the steam train returns.

IRM's coach train, powered by Shay 5, crosses Olson Road as the sunset glints of it's side.

Throwback to the final weeks of summer in 2020... During the IRMs annual showcase weekend, the museum assembled a pretty large "Demonstration" freight consist for their locomotives to shuttle a... (more)

Shay 5 makes the reverse move from the siding and starts the return trip to the East Union depot.

JNLC Shay #5 leads a demonstration freight train pass Olson Road at the Illinois Railway Museum.

J. Niles Lumber Co 5 departs the East Union depot in a cloud of smoke.

Railroading in 2020. Labor Day Weekend marked the first event the Illinois Railway Museum held due to COVID-19. As the sun begins to set, one of the steam crew volunteers applies some fresh oil to... (more)

The Shay brings the caboose train back from a trip to Jefferson Street.

Both of IRM's operational steam engines, the J. Neils 5 and the Frisco 1630, lead the first steam doubleheader of the last 20+ years out of the station last evening.