A Proposal Becomes Reality

The proposal, with design, was submitted to Homewood's Congressional Representative, Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Illinois). Congressman Jackson's office was able to include a federal grant in the FY 2003 budget for construction of the platform and an adjacent equipment park, which was added to the project in the fall of 2003 at the instigation of Randy Olson and Paul Burgess, who wanted to include Illinois Central heritage equipment as a prominent feature of the new facility. Tom Grant built a scale model of the park including a scratch built model of Homewood's depot, and Dan Gunderson contributed custom painted models of the locomotive and caboose. The Homewood Village Board officially incorporated the equipment park into the site plan as a direct result of viewing these fine models. A formal proposal was written by Paul Burgess to Canadian National Railways, asking for the donation of an IC caboose and locomotive.

After a certain amount of negotiation over specifics, CN graciously donated IC caboose 199426 and partnered with Homewood and National Railway Equipment Company of Dixmoor, IL to share costs in acquiring retired Illinois Central GP10 8408. CN shop forces in Homewood's Woodcrest Locomotive Shops carefully restored 8408 to her in-service appearance as of 1996, while in Centralia, IL, the car shops did the same for 199426, turning back her clock to the late 1960's with a brilliant coat of IC “burnt orange” and renumbering to the original 9426.

This combination of the “Death Star” image of the 1990's and the famous “I-Ball” of the 1960's offers fans an opportunity to see both schemes in all their glory in one place and at one time. Additionally, the Union Pacific donated a complete “B&O style” signal light and mast from the ex-GM&O mainline, which is being restored to full function by committee member Craig Lint. This will represent the Illinois Central Gulf era of the railroad.

Due to the arcane nature of the rules involved in using federal funding, progress on the construction of the facility was slow with many environmental and work rules mandates having to be met in order to actually disburse the funds, but by late summer of 2006, construction was underway. The rail platform main structure on the east side of the CN/Metra right of way was finished by the end of 2006 and was open for business by the middle of January 2007.

On March 25, 2007, the locomotive and caboose were installed on the display track on the west side of the main line near the Metra platform and the Homewood Amtrak depot. Hulcher Heavy Equipment Services donated a portion of this move.

Final construction, including the signal mast, landscaping, lighting, security cameras and permanent fencing, will be completed in 2008. The official “Grand Opening” for both sites occurred when Homewood Railroad Heritage Day was celebrated on May 20, 2007.

Homewood's new facilities offer railfans and other area visitors a safe, secure place to congregate and watch a busy modern mainline, as well as an opportunity to enjoy the heritage equipment of one of the nations' most venerable railroads, the Illinois Central -- “Main Line of Mid-America.”

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