The last existing EJ&E steam engine

"Its so sad to see how the engine looked as recent as 1962"

As recent as 1962!?!?!?!  That's 51 years ago.  Even to me that seems like a long time ago

Seriously, your layout looks like it's going to be terrific!

Thanks Chris. Ha, I guess 1962 is not that recent now that you mention it. If Gary would have stored this engine inside it could still be in perfect condition.

Zett,

Great write-up on an old steam locomotive that is near and dear to me.
Glad you survived to; it goes without saying there is very little safe about Gary these days!
I grew up a few more miles east of that very location along route 12 in the small beach community of Ogden Dunes along the South Shore Line. Now living out in Seattle.
Growing up, both my parents worked in Gary so trips out that way had us passing that train on a regular basis. I remember always looking forward to passing by and getting a glimpse of it!
Also, there's a cheater entrance to the Indiana Tollroad right there where you don't actually have to pay a toll to get on (see above statement about the safety of downtown Gary), so trips to Chicago would always have us passing by.

If I remember correctly, it was touched up several years ago (a decade?), since it was in even worse shape than it is now.  So what you saw was better than it could've been if efforts hadn't gone into preserving what they did.

I agree with you though, that is no longer the appropriate final resting place for such a historic icon.

Also, great job on digging up some old photos of 765 from "back in the day". I'll be sure to share the link to your site with the family, since I know a few of them would be interested in seeing the photos of that familiar train from back in her glory days.

OK, this is gonna sound harsh, but:

Gary, Indiana has enough problems without worrying about a steam locomotive on display.

Rusty

Not quite. 

All the more reason to sell it to me. Haha.

Yeah Gary is having some problems. On our way to the engine my brother in law called me to say where the heck are you taking us. There was a few good looking spots I cold have stopped to pick up some 'snow' nearby, and I did see a few ladies standing around, almost like they were looking for some companionship, haha. I would gladly take the 765 off Gary IN hands and have her moved to Joliet, the heart of the EJ&E. polish her up, run some electrical to the headlight, whip up some new number boards... 

Press2meco, those old 765 photos are from the Blackhawk NRHS. If you check out their sales page they sell some EJ&E CDs. They have a lot more pictures of the 765, including a line of 100s of people lined up to see the engine. Worth buying if you follow EJ&E history.

Transferring title is the easy part, you can probably do it for a buck.

Paying to move that piece of heavy metal, well, that's quite another thing.

Rusty

You can still find Baldwin bells; If you know the construction number, Baldwin builder's plates can be easily reproduced.

I saw that engine at Gary from a rented car on my way to visit a steel mill when I worked for GE. I was wearing a coat and tie and a white shirt. As soon as I exited the car, a police squad car pulled up and the driver got out and asked me to state my business. Then his partner got out of the car with his shotgun....

I told them that I was on my way to pay a sales call at the mill. They told me that with my dress I stuck out like a sore thumb, and told me to get back into my rental and leave the area, "as it was not safe in this area", and "they could not adequately protect me". They told me that the office was relocated to Merrilees? (sp?) and followed me until I got on the thruway.

So I did not get a photo, and

I think you are pretty lucky....

I had a similar experience on the south side of Chicago in 1980. Got out of my red Firebird rental car at a park area to take a photo of the lake and skyline, and plain-clothes cops pulled up and asked me what I was doing and looked through the car. They warned me that it was a risky neighborhood to be in.

Safer view from the plane on departure.

Wow...Gary sounds like Kabul!

Surprised the bell was stolen?? Lucky the whole train hasn't been stolen and the Gary Historical Society burned to the ground and then stolen! Get the train out of Gary, it will serve no purpose there historically or academically. Why continue to keep this in a dangerous area where interested people would get hurt,robbed or murdered unless you want to increase the crime rate.

thank you

Keith

Merrillville, perhaps...