Historic Locomotive 9976 Undergoes Restoration and Temporary Display at Illinois Railway Museum

The locomotive originally built as Chicago Burlington & Quincy 9976 in 1953 has undergone a complex history of ownership changes, modifications, and preservation efforts. After being rebuilt and renumbered multiple times, it was retired in 1992 and eventually donated to the Illinois Railway Museum in 2005. Museum volunteers recently completed temporary cosmetic work to make the unit presentable for upcoming operations, with plans for a full restoration to its original CB&Q appearance. The locomotive is scheduled to operate on several dates in August and September 2025 and will be displayed at the museum through next year.