IC Mikado No. 1518 rests "dead" at the terminal in Clinton, Illinois, in May 1955. While other locomotives stored there had their valve gear disconnected and piston rod severed, and were clearly destined for the scrapyard, that was not the case for No. 1518. She was sent to Kentucky and restored to service, being photographed in August 1957 heading toward Central City, and being recorded by an IC engineer in his time book on September 6 of that year. (Careful sleuthing by Mike Favre has turned up this information.) She was chosen for preservation, and placed on display in Paducah in 1964. One source claims No. 1518 was the last Illinois Central steam engine in regular service. She had the same dimensions as No. 1362 on the previous page. No. 1518 appears in the Herron Rail video-DVD Illinois Central Steam Finale. For my photo of No. 1518 in operation at Bloomington, Illinois in September 1954, click here.