The 999 steam locomotive in the Museum of Science and Industry’s Transportation Gallery is also very popular with kids. Master mechanic William Buchanan designed it for the New York Central Railroad, which had it built in-house at a cost of $13,000 by its workshops in Albany, New York, in 1893. The New York Central Railroad had the 999 haul it’s newest passenger train, the EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS, which ran between Syracuse and Buffalo. On May 10, 1893, the 999 became the first land vehicle to travel over 100 miles per hour. The top speed was 112.5 m.p.h., a record that stood for 10 years. The 999 came to Chicago for the WORLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION (1893), A CENTURY OF PROGRESS (1933-34), and the CHICAGO RAILROAD FAIR (1948-49). The 999 retired in May of 1952 after a re-enactment of the record-setting run. On September 25, 1962, the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad presented the 999 to the M.S.I. For decades, it stood outside with two other trains and the U-505 submarine. It underwent restoration from May to October of 1993, after which Double J Heavy Haulers moved it inside in November of ‘93. In 2008, a boarding ramp was added. Fueled by bituminous coal, the 999 had a 2 horizontal cylinder, 19” bore, 24” stroke, 160 lbs. psi steam-power engine. It had tractive power of 16,270 pounds. The drive wheels are 7’, 2” in diameter. The 999 weighs 124,000 pounds. Fans of steam punk science fiction should love it. #museumofscienceandindustry #msichicago #steamtrain
