Monticello in Piatt County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Lincoln Sand & Gravel No. 44

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 26, 2026

1. Lincoln Sand & Gravel No. 44 Marker

Inscription.

Lincoln Sand and Gravel No. 44. . , We are very fortunate to have several pieces of rare equipment at the Monticello Railway Museum, including this 44-ton diesel switcher locomotive, No. 44. Built in 1940 by the Davenport Locomotive Works of Davenport, Iowa, this unit was one of only seven built and may be the only one left in existence. It has two Cummins 6-cylinder engines that each develop 150 horsepower., An Industry's Workhorse , During the 1940s, many rail served industries purchased small diesel locomotives for moving cars around their property. No. 44 was one such locomotive, and began its career at the John Morrell Meatpacking Company warehouse in Ottumwa, Iowa, where it was used to shuffle refrigerated boxcars carrying the company's meat products around their property. Designed for low speed switching moves, No. 44 was perfect for this small operation., Off to Illinois , After several years of service in Ottumwa, No. 44 was purchased by the Lincoln Sand and Gravel (LS&G) Company of Lincoln, Illinois, where it was used for moving cars full of aggregate products around LS&G's quarry on the southside of town. By the mid-1970s, the aging No. 44 had been retired. Instead of selling or scrapping the locomotive, Lincoln Sand and Gravel generously donated it to the museum in 1975, conveniently around the time where we were in need of a diesel locomotive for our operations. Soon after its arrival in Monticello, it was painted red, white and blue to celebrate America's bicentennial., Retirement of a Rare Bird , No. 44 saw regular operation at the museum until the early 1990s, when it was withdrawn from service due to mechanical issues. This, combined with its inability to pull longer trains, resulted in the decision being made to retire No. 44 and let larger diesel locomotives the museum had acquired take over its duties. Today, Lincoln Sand and Gravel No. 44 is prominently displayed at various locations around the museum - a fitting and well deserved retirement for a very rare locomotive., LOOK AROUND THE LOCOMOTIVE TO VIEW ITS UNIQUE STYLE , WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR VISIT

We are very fortunate to have several pieces of rare equipment at the Monticello Railway Museum, including this 44-ton diesel switcher locomotive, No. 44. Built in 1940 by the Davenport Locomotive Works of Davenport, Iowa, this unit was one of only seven built and may be the only one left in existence. It has two Cummins 6-cylinder engines that each develop 150 horsepower.

An Industry's Workhorse
During the 1940s, many rail served industries purchased small diesel locomotives for moving cars around their property. No. 44 was one such locomotive, and began its career at the John Morrell Meatpacking Company warehouse in Ottumwa, Iowa, where it was used to shuffle refrigerated boxcars carrying the company's meat products around their property. Designed for low speed switching moves, No. 44 was perfect for this small operation.

Off to Illinois
After several years of service in Ottumwa, No. 44 was purchased by the Lincoln Sand & Gravel (LS&G) Company of Lincoln, Illinois, where it was used for moving cars full of aggregate products around LS&G's quarry on the southside of town. By the mid-1970s, the aging

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No. 44 had been retired. Instead of selling or scrapping the locomotive, Lincoln Sand & Gravel generously donated it to the museum in 1975, conveniently around the time where we were in need of a diesel locomotive for our operations. Soon after its arrival in Monticello, it was painted red, white and blue to celebrate America's bicentennial.

Retirement of a Rare Bird
No. 44 saw regular operation at the museum until the early 1990s, when it was withdrawn from service due to mechanical issues. This, combined with its inability to pull longer trains, resulted in the decision being made to retire No. 44 and let larger diesel locomotives the museum had acquired take over its duties. Today, Lincoln Sand & Gravel No. 44 is prominently displayed at various locations around the museum - a fitting and well deserved retirement for a very rare locomotive.

LOOK AROUND THE LOCOMOTIVE TO VIEW ITS UNIQUE STYLE
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR VISIT

Erected by Monticello Railway Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1940.

Location. 40° 3.33′ N,

Lincoln Sand & Gravel No. 44 and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 26, 2026

2. Lincoln Sand & Gravel No. 44 and Marker

88° 33.509′ W. Marker is in Monticello, Illinois, in Piatt County. It can be reached from Iron Horse Place. The locomotive is on the Monticello Railway Museum grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 992 Iron Horse Place, Monticello IL 61856, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Illinois

and in Champaign-Urbana.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Canadian National 102 (within shouting distance of this marker); Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Water Column (within shouting distance of this marker); Railroads Bring Change (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Monticello Journeys (approx. 2.1 miles away); Trail of Death (approx. 2.1 miles away); Potawatomi Trail of Death

Lincoln Sand & Gravel No. 44 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 26, 2026

3. Lincoln Sand & Gravel No. 44

(approx. 2.2 miles away); Abraham Lincoln - Eighth Judicial District (approx. 2.2 miles away); Piatt County Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Monticello.

Also see . . . Monticello Railway Museum. (Submitted on June 13, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 13, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.