ILLINOIS CENTRAL #8733

Builder: EMD; rebuilt by Illinois Central Gulf’s Paducah Shops
Build Date: December 1958
Type: GP11
Status: Operational

Illinois Central No. 8733 started life as a GP9 type diesel locomotive in December of 1958, when it rolled out of the LaGrange, Illinois factory of the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors (EMD). Designed for pulling freight trains across the Illinois Central (IC)’s extensive network spanning from Omaha, Nebraska to New Orleans, Louisiana, the locomotive was originally numbered 9386.

On August 10, 1972, the IC merged with the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad to form Illinois Central Gulf (ICG). Through the merger, the ICG inherited the Paducah Shops, a massive locomotive repair and rebuilding facility built by the Illinois Central in Paducah, Kentucky. It was here in March of 1980 that No. 9386 and many other locomotives were rebuilt and upgraded.

The rebuild of the 9386 was extensive. In addition to mechanical and electrical upgrades, the locomotive’s short hood was “chopped,” meaning the area in front of the cab was lowered and windows were added to improve visibility for the locomotive crew. It left the Paducah Shops in 1980 with so many modifications that it was considered a brand new locomotive. Renumbered to 8733 and reclassified as a GP11, the locomotive continued to operate in freight service.

In 1988, the ICG renamed itself back to the Illinois Central Railroad. Ten years later, the IC was merged into the Canadian National (CN) Railway. The 8733 operated under CN ownership until 2001, when it was retired and placed into storage at Homewood, Illinois to await disposition. In June of that year, it was selected for preservation and donated to the Monticello Railway Museum. Before it left Homewood, CN shop forces gave it a fresh coat of paint, inside and out!

Initially, No. 8733 was displayed at the museum’s Nelson Crossing depot, but it was returned to operating condition in 2004. Today, the locomotive is one of several vintage diesels that pull museum trains throughout the year.

Scroll down to see photos of No. 8733 over the years.