Rock Island 905 Historical Society - Save the 905, Inc.

09/16/2025

Take a look at this magnificent “rolling piece of art” when it was brand new and rolled off the assembly line in 1910…. It’s seen thousands of miles and we are blessed to have it right here in Duncan!!!
 🚂 Rock Island 905 — Built in July 1905 by the American Locomotive Company in Schenectady, New York, this impressive 4-6-2 Pacific-type steam locomotive once pulled passenger trains for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. Standing over 15 feet tall, weighing nearly 300,000 pounds, and capable of speeds topping 80 mph, it was a marvel of early 20th-century engineering. Today, the 905 is proudly preserved at Fuqua Park in Duncan, Oklahoma, as part of the Rock Island 905 Railroad Museum — a living tribute to the golden age of steam.

09/16/2025

The amazing 1910 Caboose

09/15/2025

A recent post talked about cleaning the firebox ash by using a long handle
to move the firebox floor grates. This is called 'Shaking the Grates'.
There are actually 6 sections in the firebox floor that move separately.
There are 6 separate levers on the floor to move the grates. Come visit the
905 Museum to try shaking the grates yourself.

09/14/2025

The Water Tower….

09/14/2025

What the interior of a passenger train would have been like in 1910. The Top two pics would have been “First Class” and below would have been “Coach” with a Dinner car

09/14/2025

When coal was burned to boil water in a steam locomotive, ash would build a
layer in the fire box. After a while, the ash would choke the air for the
fire. Then the long handle shown in this photo would be used to shake the
firebox floor grates to remove the ash. Come visit the 905 Locomotive
Museum and we can demonstrate.

01/19/2025

Did you know? Steam Locomotives like the 905 had spring suspensions for
each axle. The photo here shows the massive leaf springs on one of the 905
Locomotives drive axles. The suspension allowed the axles to adjust up or
down as the locomotive moved over bumps in the tracks. Each drive wheel
could adjust individually to track changes to improve traction and reduce
shock loads on the locomotive. Come visit the 905 Locomotive Museum and see
how this suspension works. We are open for Winter hours Thursday, Friday
and Saturday from 1 to 5.

01/06/2025

We will be getting a new exhibit at the 905 Locomotive Museum - a track
inspection motor car. These little vehicles were used to inspect the track
for damage. This photo shows the controls for the car. On the floor is the
long hand crank used to start the small 2 cycle motor. Please come by the
Museum and make a donation to 'Help us Bring the Motor Car to the Museum".

12/18/2024

The 905 Locomotive Museum has acquired an exciting new future exhibit. It
is a Fairmont track inspection motor car built in about 1960. These motor
cars had a small gas engine to power the car on rail tracks to inspect for
hazards. Before we can display this car, we will need to enlarge a door to
the depot. We need to raise about $3000 for the door change and other
display efforts. Please help us bring the motor car to the 905 Museum.
Please Follow us on Facebook for updates.

12/17/2024

10/12/2024

The 905 Locomotive Museum has a working telegraph system with two stations.
You can practice your telegraph operator skills. During the early years of
the 905 Locomotive's operation, the telegraph was the primary method of long
distance communication. The Museum is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday
from 1 to 5 PM. We are also open sometimes on Sunday afternoon.