As the 2025 season comes to a close, we are reflecting on our accomplishments this year at RRHMA-Silvis. 2025 was a transformative year for Silvis, with many new firsts from our Silvis location. From installing new tube sheets, to our first public fundraiser trips; all of this couldn’t have been done without you. And for that, we thank you!

Let’s take a moment to reflect on our previous accomplishments this year, while highlighting some new ones for the month of December.

During the month of April, RRHMA had the opportunity to host an open house event on-site, and it was an overwhelming success! On Friday, RRHMA hosted a members-only insider dinner, featuring our steam restoration crew answering questions about the ongoing restoration projects within the shop, including but not limited to Union Pacific #3985 and #5511.

After our insider dinner, guests had the opportunity to venture outside where Gunnoe Media & Dave Zeman Photography hosted an exclusive photo shoot, featuring UP #6936, ATSF #537, and Jeddo Coal #85.

On Saturday, guests had the opportunity to explore the grounds and have an exclusive shop tour, which featured our most recent accomplishment of removing the front engine on UP #3985. Other features included train rides behind Jeddo Coal #85, Hand Pump car rides, Speeder rides, horn display, HO Model Railroad Setup & Booths, and more!

2025 was an extremely productive year for RRHMA- but we are far from finished with our projects. Without your support, our pace comes to a halt. We rely on YOU for our progress on these locomotives and equipment, and your outstanding support has allowed us to move at an incredible pace throughout the year. And for that, we sincerely thank each and every one of you. Our goal for 2026 is to push our pace even further than ever, and we need YOUR support to do so.

In 2026, a few of our major goals include:

• Tubes installed in #3985
• Tubes installed in #5511
• Appliances Rebuilt (Air Compressors, Dynamo, Etc.)
• Front Engine Re-Installed on #3985
• Staybolt work completed on #5511
• Hydrostatic Test on #3985 and #5511
• Hydro, Mount, and install appliances
• Union Pacific Caboose painted and stenciled
• Turntable Pit excavated and concrete poured
• Track improvements on-site
• And More!

Now that we have highlighted our most important achievements of 2025, lets discuss our latest and final achievements of the year in detail!

Union Pacific #3985 has had substantial progress made in moving forward towards the hydrostatic test. Some of the major improvements include the re-installation of the water columns on the backhead of the locomotive, and the re-installation of the injector top-check on the top side of the boiler.

The water columns on the locomotive serve the purpose of supplying water and steam to the sight glases for the fireman and engineer; a crucial component within steam operation. The top check on the boiler serves the purpose of allowing water to enter into the boiler through the Nathan 4000 Injector, or Elesco Type TP-502 Exhaust Steam Injector, but not let water back feed into the injector. 

At the same time, both insides of each boiler was coated with Apexior No. 1 paint. This paint is an anti-corrosive paint that is commonly used on steam boilers, and it is used to help preserve the life of the boiler for future use.

In additon to all of the boiler work on #3985 and #5511, shop crews have also begun working on inspecting and bead blasting brake rigging components for the #3985 centipede tender, which includes the freshly rebuilt tender truck. This truck- along with the rest of the tender- has brand new axles installed underneath it with a custom sealed roller bearing conversion. Adapter plates were installed in the original bearing boxes, allowing the sealed roller bearings to adapt to a direct fit.

There are many more things that our shop crew has accomplished since our past update, and pictures and documnetation of those accomplishments are within the pictures below!

With the end of the year now arrived, it is important to remind everyone that Railroading Heritage of Midwest America is a 501c3 Tax Deductible organization. Although every day of the year is an important day to donate, we would like to remind everyone that this will be the last time of the year to donate to be included on your 2025 tax forms. Help us keep history alive by donating today!

If you would like to help us out in a bigger way than a one time donation, become a member of RRHMA today through our donation page. Now is the best time to become a member- memberships start at a yearly level and move up from there. Give the gift of one year of exclusive RRHMA Updates, and you will receive:

• Exclusive Email Updates- before anybody else!
• First to know about RRHMA-Silvis events and excursions (plus buy tickets in advance!)
• Volunteer opportunities on #3985 and #5511!

Be on the lookout for more RRHMA Updates within the new year. We have some BIG news coming your way… and members will be the very first to know. Trust us, you are not going to want to miss out on this.

Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year from your steam crew at RRHMA-Silvis!