While none of us were alive when the Pioneer locomotive and the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad first arrived in what is now West Chicago, the city would most certainly be different had not this treasure passed through.
The Pioneer, in its glory circa 1852, from the Railway Preservation News
Remembering the Pioneer - A Day Trip
The Pioneer on Display at the
Chicago History Museum. Note the tracks are wood with a thin strip of metal on top.
In our search for information about the old West Chicago roundhouse, we stumbled on the location of the Pioneer locomotive, the first engine of the old Galena and Chicago Union Railroad. For those unfamiliar with these names and their relevance to our city, the G&CU was the predecessor to the C&NW and now the Union Pacific Railroad. This prompted a day trip to the Chicago History Museum on the near north side of Chicago.
In mid May, 2015, Bill & Kay Nolan, Tom & Sandy Overton and Reid & Margo Simmons boarded a METRA train from their respective cities and, using a little pre-planning and the modern informational devices we all carry in our hands (including an old fashion map), hooked up in the same car for a ride into Chicago’s Ogilvie Transportation Center then CTA’s bus system for continuation on to the museum.
The Pioneer locomotive itself was built circa 1837 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Utica & Schenectady Railroad in New York. The U&S RR dubbed it the Alert (in those days, locomotives all had names instead of numbers). It was built without the cab and cow-catcher and used for several years on the U&S and the Michigan Central railroads.
The G&CU RR purchased it used in 1848 but there were no tracks between the fairly well established east coast railroads and Chicago. This 10 ton locomotive was actually shipped to Chicago on a Lake Michigan schooner. The G&CU renamed it the Pioneer and added the cab and cow-catcher. For you stream locomotive aficionados, this is a wood burning class steam locomotive with a
4-2-0 wheel arrangement.
It was the first steam engine to leave Chicago on the first railroad to operate in the state of Illinois. When the C&NW decided to retire the Pioneer in the early 1870's, they stored it in the Turner Junction (present day West Chicago) roundhouse for almost 20 years. From there it appeared in the 1893 Columbian Exhibition in Chicago, the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, the Century of Progress Exhibition in 1933-34 in Chicago, and the Museum of Science and Industry before moving to its present home at the Chicago History Museum.
Our trips in and out of the city were made much easier with the current day access to information we can carry on our belts or in our purses. Train schedules, bus routes and locations for the enjoyment of food and beverages of choice make traveling both enjoyable and relaxing. Throw in a walk through time past with a great late afternoon dinner at Orso's (a short walk from the museum) and we can further explain the true meaning of retired.
In mid May, 2015, Bill & Kay Nolan, Tom & Sandy Overton and Reid & Margo Simmons boarded a METRA train from their respective cities and, using a little pre-planning and the modern informational devices we all carry in our hands (including an old fashion map), hooked up in the same car for a ride into Chicago’s Ogilvie Transportation Center then CTA’s bus system for continuation on to the museum.
The Pioneer locomotive itself was built circa 1837 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Utica & Schenectady Railroad in New York. The U&S RR dubbed it the Alert (in those days, locomotives all had names instead of numbers). It was built without the cab and cow-catcher and used for several years on the U&S and the Michigan Central railroads.
The G&CU RR purchased it used in 1848 but there were no tracks between the fairly well established east coast railroads and Chicago. This 10 ton locomotive was actually shipped to Chicago on a Lake Michigan schooner. The G&CU renamed it the Pioneer and added the cab and cow-catcher. For you stream locomotive aficionados, this is a wood burning class steam locomotive with a
4-2-0 wheel arrangement.
It was the first steam engine to leave Chicago on the first railroad to operate in the state of Illinois. When the C&NW decided to retire the Pioneer in the early 1870's, they stored it in the Turner Junction (present day West Chicago) roundhouse for almost 20 years. From there it appeared in the 1893 Columbian Exhibition in Chicago, the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, the Century of Progress Exhibition in 1933-34 in Chicago, and the Museum of Science and Industry before moving to its present home at the Chicago History Museum.
Our trips in and out of the city were made much easier with the current day access to information we can carry on our belts or in our purses. Train schedules, bus routes and locations for the enjoyment of food and beverages of choice make traveling both enjoyable and relaxing. Throw in a walk through time past with a great late afternoon dinner at Orso's (a short walk from the museum) and we can further explain the true meaning of retired.
In 1873, the Pioneer locomotive was retired after 25 years of service in Illinois and was stored in the Turner Junction roundhouse for the next two decades. According to the picture caption on page 46 of "100 Years of Incorporation - Turner 1873 - West Chicago 1973", the two men are believed to be either Sam Wheeler or David Hanney and Spencer Smith.
The restored Pioneer and a new E class diesel at the 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair.
For more information and a brief history of this locomotive, see Wikipedia's 'Pioneer (locomotive)' page.
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