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Description
Steam still dominated American railroading when the Illinois Central began testing radically different diesel technologies during the 1930s. No. 9200 represented one possible future: a one-of-a-kind experimental transfer locomotive built by General Electric with Ingersoll-Rand power.
Completed in 1936, No. 9200 used two 900-horsepower diesel engines and a C-C wheel arrangement with six powered axles. Its polished semi-boxcab body, enormous twin radiator grilles, centered headlight, and long symmetrical hoods capture an era before American diesel design had settled into a familiar form.
The photograph shows No. 9200 standing in an Illinois Central railroad yard amid converging tracks, utility poles, industrial buildings, and several people. A crew member is visible in the open cab doorway. Glare makes only “200” immediately legible on the nose, but the locomotive’s distinctive construction corresponds with Illinois Central No. 9200.
The scene preserves more than an unusual locomotive—it documents the technological experimentation that helped railroads move beyond steam. No. 9200 never became a production model and was scrapped in June 1947, making surviving photographs important records of its short career.
Photograph Details
* Glossy black-and-white photographic print
* White border
* Landscape orientation
* Front three-quarter railroad-yard view
* Plain reverse
* No postcard layout
* No handwritten identification
* No photographer or publisher credit
* Printing date unknown
* Original-negative status unconfirmed
Item Specifics
* Railroad: Illinois Central Railroad
* Locomotive Number: 9200
* Builder: General Electric
* Builder Number: 11716
* Build Year: 1936
* Power Type: Diesel-electric
* Engine Manufacturer: Ingersoll-Rand
* Rated Output: 1,800 horsepower
* Wheel Arrangement: C-C
* Body Style: Semi-boxcab transfer locomotive
* Historical Significance: Experimental early diesel locomotive
* Disposition: Scrapped June 1947
* Subject: Illinois Central No. 9200 experimental diesel locomotive
* Theme: Railroad transportation and early dieselization
* Additional Subjects: Railroad yard, industrial history, railroad personnel
* Item Type: Vintage photographic print
* Color: Black and white
* Orientation: Landscape
* Photograph Date: Unknown
* Print Date: Unknown
* Location: Unknown
* Photographer: Unidentified
* Paper Manufacturer: Unidentified
* Print Generation: Unknown
* Postcard: No
* Framed: No
* Unit of Sale: Single photograph
Condition
Light corner and edge wear, scattered surface marks, minor age toning, and some fading and contrast softness are present. No major tear is visible in the supplied photographs. Please review all photographs carefully. They show the actual print offered and form part of the condition description.
Shipping
FREE USPS Ground Advantage shipping. The photograph will be enclosed in a protective sleeve with rigid backing and shipped inside a rigid mailer.
