Iron Horse Memorial
Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky
Marker Inscription
Iron Horse Memorial. This Mikado-type steam locomotive is dedicated to Illinois Central men and women, past and present, and to the importance of the railroad to Paducah's history and commerce. No. 1518 is the last "Iron Horse" owned by the ICRR. Engines built or rebuilt in the Paducah shops many years until 1960, played prominent role in the age of steam. See other side. (Reverse) Iron Horse Memorial - Locomotive donated by Illinois Central Railroad. Maintenance funds provided under leadership of the Western Kentucky AFL-CIO Area Council. No. 1518 was moved from Barkley Park to its present site in 1985 when sponsored by city-county government and community action. The baggage car and caboose added at that time. Marker presented by City of Paducah.
Erected by Kentucky Historical Society
The Story
Paducah grew up around the Illinois Central Railroad, whose shops built and rebuilt engines here well into the twilight of the steam age around 1960. This Mikado-type locomotive, No. 1518, was the last "Iron Horse" the line owned, and it stands as a tribute to the generations of railroad workers who kept the region's commerce moving. Relocated to this site in 1985 with a baggage car and caboose, it anchors a small display honoring that heritage.
Why it matters
Railroads made towns like Paducah, and this preserved engine honors the industrial workforce that powered a century of American growth.
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Themes & tags
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