Countryside in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

1925 Erie "Type B" Steam Shovel

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 15, 2026

1. 1925 Erie "Type B" Steam Shovel Marker

Inscription. Steam shovels are the earliest type of power shovel and were designed for lifting and moving large amounts of rock and soil. Steam shovels played a major role building roads and railroads in America during the 19th and early 20th century. While steam shovels would be replaced by diesel-powered shovels in the 1930s, this 1925 Erie "Type B" Steam Shovel was the most prominent small excavator of its day. It was essential to the construction of U.S. Route 66, and it was run by Operating Engineers from Locals 569 and 42, which later combined to form IUOE Local 150.

The steam shovel featured in this display was found in a field in Vermont in a state of advanced decay, and was meticulously restored from head to toe at Local 150's William E. Dugan Training Center in Wilmington, Illinois.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Labor Unions • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the U.S. Route 66 series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1925.

Location. 41° 46.62′ N, 87° 52.281′ W. Marker is in Countryside,

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Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Joliet Road (Old U.S. 66) 0.2 miles west of La Grange Road (U.S. 12/20/45), on the right when traveling east. The marker and machinery are in front of the headquarters for the International Union of Operating Engineers. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6200 Joliet Road, La Grange IL 60525, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: This was "Countryside" (a few steps from this marker); Hodgkins Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Specialist John R. Sullivan (approx. one mile away); Memorial Park (approx. one mile away); John H. Brancato, Jr. (approx. one mile away); Last Camp Site of the Potawatomie Indians in Cook County

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 15, 2026

2. 1925 Erie "Type B" Steam Shovel Marker

The marker no longer accompanies a 1925 steam shovel. Sometime in 2025, it was replaced by a Liebherr Rough Terrain Crane.

(approx. 1.3 miles away); Veteran's Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Veterans Memorial Flagpole (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Countryside.

More about this marker. The marker no longer sits in front of green Erie steam shovel; today a white Liebherr Rough Terrain Crane is on the concrete pad behind the marker. The marker follows the style of the Route 66 markers erected by Enjoy Illinois, the state's official tourism agency, and includes a Route 66 logo on the side of one of the legs. However, that group is not named at all in this marker, which appears to have been erected by the International Union of Operating Engineers, whose headquarters are here on Joliet Road.

Photos from a nearby database listing and Google Street View illuminate the story of this marker and its location here in front of the IUOE building. The concrete pad for this was completed by 2019, but the steam shovel was not added until sometime in 2021. The historical marker was added in front of the crane at some point in 2022, and the marker and the crane were together in photos from 2023 and 2024. At some point in 2025,

Two markers in front of IUOE 150 headquarters image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 15, 2026

3. Two markers in front of IUOE 150 headquarters

A marker on the right is about the City of Countryside, the Chicago suburb where this marker is located. The one on the left is for a historic steam shovel that used to be located on that concrete pad; the white machinery is a Liebherr Rough Terrain Crane.

the steam shovel was replaced by the white crane.

Also see . . .
1. IUOE 150: History of the Steam Shovel.

Excerpt: "While steam shovels would eventually be replaced by diesel-powered shovels in the 1930s, the 1925 Erie 'Type B' Steam Shovel that IUOE Local 150 has on display on the site of the old Route 66 (now known as Joliet Road) was the most prominent small excavator of its day. It was essential to the construction of U.S. Route 66, and it was run by Operating Engineers from Locals 569 and 42, which later combined to form IUOE Local 150."

(Submitted on February 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. The Erie Steam Shovel Type B in action (Video). From "The Kids Should See This" website, a video of the Erie Type B in operation. (Submitted on February 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 45 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.