This locomotive is an old Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific RR steamer No. 886, Class P31, 4-6-2 Pacific type. It was built in 1909 and retired from service in 1952, when it broke a union link and blew a cylinder head on tracks near Detweiller Park. When in service for the Rock Island it was numbered 887. The story is that the City of Peoria asked the Rock Island to donate the #886 because it was the last steam engine to operate out of Peoria. Unfortunately, the railroad had already scrapped the 886 before receiving the request, but they still had its identical sister, the 887. They simply repainted the number to 886. It is one of only two or three Rock Island steam locomotives ever saved from the scrapper and donated to a city, Peoria being the lucky recipient.
It had been moved to a pedestal in Glen Oak Park near Northeast Perry and Park avenues in 1956, but vandalism and a failure to keep it painted had let it deteriorate until it was declared an eyesore and about to be sold for scrap.
A Journal Star editorial urged immediate action: "The Park Board with title in hand would be doing the kids - and some of us old fogies, too - a real favor by preserving this priceless piece of Peoria's past."
In 1962, when it was moved from Glen Oak Park to the Rock Island engine house for repairs, a $6,000 drive to restore and relocate it was begun by the Commission for the Perpetuation and Preservation of Old 886. Old 886 then was moved to a location just off Galena Road opposite Detweiller Park on the golf course parking lot.
Then, in April 1985, it was moved again. With 70 tires under it and the expertise of Charles Balagna & Sons, the 130-ton steam engine made the steep climb up through Detweiller Park to its present home at the Wheels O' Time Museum.
For a steam locomotive that once pulled passenger trains at a speed of 80mph or more, it was a trip at a snail's pace, and it took the better part of a day for the 7.2-mile journey.
Its tender, which carried fuel and water supplies, was already at the museum.
Along its life journey, the locomotive has had a lot of help from train buffs.
The former president of Caterpillar Tractor Co., Louis Neumiller, helped to acquire the engine, which was the last passenger steam locomotive to operate on the Rock Island line in Peoria.
A special birthday celebration was held on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at the Wheels O' Time Museum, 11923 N. Knoxville Ave. Old 886 received a thorough sanding, power wash, more than 12 gallons of fresh paint and a new electronic train whistle for the occasion.
Jonathan Sadler, Eagle Scout candidate, made the painting a service project. Sadler received help from several area businesses to make the project happen. Born Paint donated 13gallons of black paint. Hanley Steel donated steel to re-create some parts. And Integrated Audio Systems made an electronic replica of the steam locomotive’s whistle.
In the old days, Engine 886 was fired by Swede Allstram and engineered by N.N. Brown and Ray Vonk. Both Swede and Ray were from Chillicothe and they were known far and wide for the way they handled their train. The train itself carried a crew of 2 brakemen, Len Roberts and Joe Carroll and the conductor, Joe Sales.
Engineers wore striped overalls and starched white caps. Firemen wore blue caps and red bandannas around their neck, supposedly for emergency flagging.
When 886 came around the Rome curve, you could hear the wheels squealing, as the track was banked to allow a full 65-mile per hour speed limit. Swede, the fireman, chained himself in the cab with a ten-inch wide leather belt/harness and shoveled coal from Peoria to Bureau Junction, and back.
The train made the trip from Peoria to Bureau in 50 minutes and speeds would reach over 75 miles per hour over the straight sections of track. Merle Bradley claimed it was the fastest steam engine run in America at that time. Stops were made in Chillicothe, Sparland and Henry.
More history of this train courtesy of the Chillicothe Historical Society:
