Founded in 1877, C&EI Railroad connected Chicago with southern Illinois, St. Louis, and Evansville, Ind. In the 1960s C&EI was purchased by both the Missouri Pacific Railroad and Louisville & Nashville Railroads (L&N). The L&N piece, through Evansville, Ind., became part of CSX. The Missouri Pacific piece became part of Union Pacific (UP).
The locomotive, CSX No. 1877 (recognizing C&EI’s founding year), is the 17th in a series of heritage locomotives to roll out of the shop as a “way of reinforcing employee pride in the history of the railroad” and sharing it with the public.
The C&EI heritage unit stands out with its unique design elements. Jeromy Hutchison, a carman painter involved in the project, highlighted the intricacies of the paint job: “The handrails on the C&E unit are a different color than the rest of the locomotive, making this particular paint job a bit difficult. It takes an additional day or two just to paint and uncover that section of the unit.” This attention to detail, CSX says, “underscores the dedication and craftsmanship that goes into each heritage unit.”
CSX previously unveiled units commemorating the Georgia Railroad, Seaboard Coast Line (SCL), Pere Marquette, Atlantic Coast Line; Louisville & Nashville (L&N); C&O; Conrail; Chessie System; Seaboard System; Monon Railroad; New York Central; Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad (RF&P); Family Lines System; and Western Maryland Railroad.
“Thanks again to everyone who helps bring these heritage units to life so we can celebrate our history and heritage while also showcasing that we are ONE CSX team moving forward,” wrote President and CEO Joe Hinrichs in a LinkedIn post. “Enjoy. The back end of this engine is particularly interesting.”
CSX Unveils Heritage Locomotive Honoring Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad from CSX Transportation on Vimeo.
