National Museum of Transportation near Kirkwood in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
#30
Illinois Central, University of Illinois Dynamometer Car
— 1943 —
Built by the Illinois Central railroad at it's Burnside shops in Chicago with the instruments provided by the University of Illinois (the car was jointly owned). The dynamometer car is a rolling laboratory that tests the pulling power of locomotives. The front coupler is attached to the frame by a hydraulic cylinder. The pull of a locomotive moves a piston in the cylinder and measuring instruments in the car record data. The system is so sensitive it can detect the forces of a person pulling on the coupler and so strong that it tested an engine pulling a 213 car coal train. Number 30 is 60 feet long, weighs 125,000 pounds and contains an operating compartment with recording table, instruments and tool bench, 2 staterooms which accommodate 4 people each, toilet, shower and kitchen. This car was last used behind a steam locomotive in 1952 and was only used once behind a diesel-electric in 1955. Donated in 1969 by the Illinois Central Railroad and University of Illinois.Erected by Museum of Transportation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education
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Location. 38° 34.326′ N, 90° 27.647′ W. Marker is near Kirkwood, Missouri, in St. Louis County. It is in National Museum of Transportation. Marker can be reached from Barrett Station Road east of Old Dougherty Ferry Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3015 Barrett Station Road, Saint Louis MO 63122, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jay Gould and the Missouri Pacific (here, next to this marker); The Missouri Pacific Today... (here, next to this marker); The Pacific Railroad of Missouri: Audacious Dreams & Harsh Realities (here, next to this marker); Ground-breaking! (here, next to this marker); Riot in the Tunnels (a few steps from this marker); #2804 (a few steps from this marker); Civil War Destruction (a few steps from this marker); The Pacific Railroad Controversy (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kirkwood.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 101 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
