MENDOTA--There will soon be another steam locomotive in Mendota.

A group of Chicago-area train buffs are in the planning phase of constructing a 1:1 scale replica of Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad “Mikado” type steam locomotive number 4979, to go on static display next to identical twin number 4978 at the Union Depot Railroad Museum, located near the Mendota Amtrak station.

To make room for the new display, the original station building itself must be removed. The BNSF Railway will take care of the demolition. The museum is working with several groups to relocate a larger brick station from nearby Earlville to be set up elsewhere on the museum property.

Funding for the project is being provided by the Illinois Railway Museum of Union, IL, who plans on donating the engineer’s cab and coal tender from their own Burlington locomotive, the 4963, to be used on the 4979 replica.

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