The 7, our old Alco S-1, had one cylinder head rebuilt and changed out. It also had two other heads reseated all with new gaskets. The valves were reset, and the injectors cleaned. We also changed the belts to the rear traction motor blower and the field voltage generator. She got a brand-new set of batteries this spring and is operating as a 79-year-old locomotive should. The 7 will be used as a backup locomotive and will be pulling trains at some of our special events next year. Now will come paint and bodywork for the 7. I want to thank Bob Dischler for helping me with this project and David Wantz for making a coupler for the blower motor shaft.
NORTH FREEDOM, WIS. — The Mid-Continent Railway Museum is embarking on the full operational restoration of Great Northern No. 2313, a historic and one-of-a-kind gas-electric motor car originally built in 1925 to connect the rural communities of the Great Northern Railway. Deemed a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 2003 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, it will carry passengers over the Museum’s 7-mile heritage railroad once restoration is completed. With an estimated restoration cost of $300,000, volunteers and donations are welcome to support the project at midcontinent.org.
“Great Northern No. 2313 is already an important display piece, but we want to provide visitors with an immersive and moving experience that tells the story of railroad technology through the last century,” explained Rusty Schramm, project manager. “We have recently undertaken repairs to the roof, radiator, control system, and fuel tank, but the antique Winton engine has not operated since 1987, and will be our first major undertaking.”
A precursor to the modern diesel locomotive, the motorcar was constructed in a partnership between Winton Engines and the Electro-Motive Company in Cleveland, Ohio. Mid-Continent has contracted with FMW Solutions, a rail preservation firm with experience in repairing vintage locomotives. “As someone who has spent my career dedicated to the maintenance and preservation of EMD locomotives, having the chance to oversee the restoration of this historic engine is a distinct privilege,” said FMW Senior Mechanical Associate and Winton Project Lead Allen Rider. “The engine / generator arrived at the FMW Tennessee machine shop earlier this month, and we will begin the initial disassembly and inspection in the coming weeks.”
After completing the initial inspection and assessment, FMW will work with Mid-Continent to formalize a restoration plan. The restoration will take place at FMW’s Soddy-Daisy facility, which hosts a complete machinery and fabrication shop that can handle the restoration work. The restoration of the engine is further aided by a large cache of original, new-old stock Winton Engine components that have been donated to Mid-Continent.
“Our goal is to have her up and running in time for her centennial in 2025,” says Schramm. “It’s a worthwhile goal and achievable with donations and volunteer help.”
GREAT NORTHERN NO. 2313 HISTORY
Motorcars of the era combined elements of a locomotive, baggage car, and passenger car all into a single vehicle and were often used to replace a two-or three-car steam-powered passenger train, greatly reducing maintenance as well as lowering the number of crewmen needed to operate the train from four or five down to just two. When the Great Northern began using the gas-electric motor car, it reduced costs for the route by 50% as well as reduced travel time compared to the train it replaced.
The development of the early gas-electric motor cars like the one at Mid-Continent directly contributed to the development of diesel-electric locomotives in the years that followed. The same basic technology that powers most of America’s trains today can be seen in its rudimentary form aboard the motor car. Prior gas-electric motor cars had separate controls for the gasoline and electrical controls, but the Hermann Lemp control system used on the #2313 replaced this with a single lever system that was simple enough that a steam locomotive engineer could comfortably use it—an important consideration in the transition from steam to gas-electric and later diesel-electric locomotives.
Motor car No. 2313 was donated to Mid-Continent Railway Museum in 1966 by the Great Northern. It was occasionally used to give rides over the years at the museum and was a featured exhibit at the locomotive manufacturer’s 50th anniversary in 1972, where at least 10,000 people toured the motor car. Since then, it has remained an important, albeit non-operational display piece at the museum.
Order your Mid-Continent Railway Museum Whistle on the Wind 2024 wall calendar! This 12-month calendar features 1 color cover, 10 black and white, and 2 color interior images of railroading past, each with an informative caption. Images are a mix of historical Midwestern railroad imagery as well as more contemporary scenes at Mid‑Continent Railway Museum.
Many dates include “this day in history” factoids about railroads of the Upper Midwest and Mid‑Continent’s own history. The calendar features quality o-ring binding to ensure it stays flat against the wall.
How to Order
CALENDARS ARE CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION. ESTIMATED MAILING DATE FOR ALL ORDERS IS DECEMBER 13, 2023.
Calendars are $12.00 plus shipping and handling. They, along with many other items, can be purchased via our online gift shop.
Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society members receive one calendar automatically as a perk of membership. Look for it to arrive in mailboxes in mid-December. Members may order additional calendars for themselves, family members, or friends at a special members-only price of only $9.00 plus shipping and handling. Members can pre-order additional calendars online using the Order Calendar Now (Member Pricing) button.
The membership status of the purchaser will be verified prior to shipping.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum’s trains have traveled the rails at North Freedom for 60 years… rails which are themselves often over 100 years old. Mid-Continent’s railroad track is a critical piece of infrastructure that makes possible our museum’s signature experience – the train rides! Now we are asking for your help to make sure Mid-Continent’s rail line remains safe to operate for another 60 years and beyond.
MCRY Rail Relay Phase 2 is the next crucial step in addressing old, worn, and fatigued rail along Mid-Continent’s rail line on which its demonstration passenger trains are operated. Phase 2 involves replacing 11,431 track feet (2.16 miles) of rails, joint bars, tie plates, rail anchors, track bolts, and spikes. That is over half of our entire railroad.
Your help is needed to help keep the Phase 2 project on target. Since our initial appeal letter was sent out to museum members in September 2023, we have raised over $16,000 toward our original goal of $35,000. Although that fundraising goal has not yet been met, the situation has been evolving rapidly, including some exciting developments. Our new objective is to raise $53,000 for the next step of the Phase 2 project.
One of the rails currently found along Mid-Continent’s rail line. Markings on the side of the rail indicate it was manufactured by the North Chicago Rolling Mill Co. in December of 1883. Much of the rail found at Mid-Continent is reaching the end of its useful lifespan and needs to be replaced if museum train rides are to continue being offered. MCRM photo.
A Major Project Advancement: Rail Supply Acquired!
Thanks in large part to the generosity of donors who have given to date, Mid-Continent was able to place a winning bid of $198,118 on 625 tons of rail and On-Track-Materials (OTM). The rail was recently removed from the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad’s Prairie Subdivision as they upgrade that line. This is enough rail and OTM to allow Mid-Continent to complete all of Phase 2! Although the rail being purchased is used, it is newer and heavier-duty rail than what exists on Mid-Continent line now and will be good for many decades in service for the museum.
Mid-Continent’s Engineering Department and Board of Directors were specifically interested in obtaining this batch of rail because the rail has recently been ultrasonically tested and is known to be free of defects invisible to the human eye. The proximity of this rail supply to Mid-Continent will also greatly reduce freight costs compared to the alternative. Taking advantage of this unique opportunity would not have been possible without the help of donors like you.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum’s rail line is essential to the visitor experience. MCRM photo.
Next Step: Bringing the Rail to Mid-Continent
With this important first step of purchasing the rail now complete, we are asking for your continued support to keep this positive momentum going. The next step is to bring the rail to Mid-Continent. This is no small task. Due to the quantity of rail and weight involved, it will require 30 semi-truck loads to bring it all! Your donation today is essential to help defray the cost of trucking and allow it to arrive at Mid-Continent promptly. We are now seeking to raise $53,000 to cover these transportation costs.
Any donations received over and above that amount will be used toward the next step of the project – installing the rail onto Mid-Continent’s line. Mid-Continent will be seeking bids from railroad construction contractors in the coming months to perform this work, which could begin in late 2024.
Your Donation is Important
It may feel that with a project of this scale, a single person’s donation may not make a difference. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Each donation is important and makes a huge impact. Even modest donations help build a foundation of success which can then aid Mid-Continent in attracting funding from other donors and grant-giving organizations. Success breeds success, and your gift today, no matter the size, is greatly appreciated.
Your donation to this project directly supports Mid-Continent’s central mission of allowing for an immersive museum experience of riding aboard historic railcars on an authentic, rural branchline route. Please don’t let this opportunity to support Mid-Continent’s mission pass you by. Join us today in preserving America’s railroading legacy for tomorrow.
How to Make Your Donation
Mid-Continent Railway Museum is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, educational entity. All donations are tax-deductible.
You can make your donation in one of several ways:
Click the Donate Now button to be taken to the project’s PayPal donation page. This method accepts credit and debit cards, as well as PayPal payments.
Send a check to with “Rail Relay Project” written in the memo line to Mid-Continent Railway Museum PO Box 358 North Freedom, WI 53951-0358
Speak to one of our office staff by phone at 608-522-4261 or 800-930-1385 to make a payment by phone or if you have any questions.
Tips for Maximizing Your Impact
Consider asking your employer if they match donations to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. If you’re retired, ask your financial advisor if donating a portion of your retirement account’s required minimum distribution (RMD) is right for you.
FAQs
Q: Is the rail currently installed on Mid-Continent’s rail line dangerous to ride on?
A: Not at all. Mid-Continent’s rail line is still very safe to take a ride on and will remain so for years to come. The primary issue now is the increased ongoing maintenance costs that are a direct cause of the aging rail. Mid-Continent is performing this rail replacement project proactively to address the issue well before it gets to the point of becoming a safety hazard.
Q: Why must the rail be replaced at all? How can steel rails “go bad?”
A: Each time a train passes over a section of track, a small amount of wear occurs. Because the wheels and rail are made of very strong steel, it takes a long time, but given enough time and enough trains, the railhead will eventually change from its original shape.
This is akin to driving a car with poor alignment. In that case your tires, bearings, and other components wear out much faster. Similar symptoms can occur to train cars and locomotives when riding on rail is worn and improperly shaped. These symptoms are currently appearing on Mid-Continent’s locomotives and cars and it is creating the need for expensive maintenance on an increasingly frequent basis. This takes money and volunteer time away from other worthwhile projects the museum could be focusing on instead.
Old rail with deformed head from decades of wear.
Q: Will the rail line be extended as part of this rail relay project?
A: No. This is a project to replace the rail already on Mid-Continent’s rail line. No new tracks are being added.
Q: Will the trains go faster when the new rail is installed?
A: No, train speeds will not be impacted.
Q: What will happen to the old rail?
A: A portion of the removed rail that is in the best shape will be retained for future use. Even though it is no longer suitable for Mid-Continent’s mainline, it can still be useful for future expansions to the museum’s display yard since those tracks are only used infrequently. Some rail will also be preserved at Mid-Continent for its historic value to be used as a future display. The majority of the rail will be put up for sale – in bulk – to help offset some of the cost of the rail relay project. Likely buyers include rail resellers and mining operations.
Q: Can I buy a small piece of the old rail?
A: We have received several requests to buy small quantities of the old rail, either as short pieces for use as a historic souvenir or full-length pieces usable for other purposes. These requests are being taken under advisement but at this time no rail is available for sale from Mid-Continent – the old rail is still installed and in use on our mainline until we complete the relay project!
“First, I want to thank Josh D. of Mechanical Technology Inc for his assistance and his employer for supporting him.
Saturday
Josh took the lead on basically performing an annual inspection on the power car boiler with much assistance from Jim B. The burner was removed and the front cover was opened up so the tube sheets could be cleaned and inspected. The stack extension from the boiler smoke box was rusted out to being almost nonexistent. Josh led the fabrication of a new stack extension. Once this was completed, the burner was installed with new insulation and the front door was resealed.
MCRY 4 received some attention. The batteries were removed from the battery box in the cab where the terminals were cleaned and the batteries were rinsed off. While the batteries were out, they were topped off with distilled water. The battery box was cleaned out and the batteries were re-installed into the box. Perry A and Larry worked together on this project.
Sunday
The remaining steam heat connector was installed on the DLW coach 595. There had been a failure on the last trip of Santa Express last year that resulted in the valve assembly on the coach being broken. A different valve and proper fittings were located and prepped for installation during the last work session. The car had been moved to the engine house to facilitate removal of the remnants of the valve. James W, Gary B and Larry worked together to complete this.”
