MCRM Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 2
President’s Message
Season’s Greetings from the Mid-Continent Railroad Museum. Even though we had a very successful season this year as you will read below in the newsletter, we are all still hard at work in the offseason. If you have the time or want to get involved, contact our office and a department head will contact you regarding workdays.
As of the December meeting I would like to welcome David B. and Chris S. to the board as newly elected directors by the membership, and Adam C. to the board as an appointed director.
We also approved as follows.
General Manager: Andy S. (ch), Robert A., Jeff H. Private Equipment Oversight Committee: James B. (ch), Edward R., Jay S., Gary B. Collections Committee: William B. (ch), Tom B., Rick T., Richard D., Pete B., Casey T. Election Committee: Chris S. (ch), Pete D., Colin O. Management Committee: Andy S. (ch), Robert A., Jeff H. Rolling Stock Disposal Committee: Andy S. (ch), Robert A., Bill B. Endowment Committee: Robert A. (ch), Andy S., Colin O., Jeff H. Steam/Diesel Training Committee: Colin O. (ch), Ed R., Bob D., Chris S., Pete., Andy S. Ground Equipment Committee: Gary B. (ch), Jim B., Larry S., Perry A. Collections Manager – Rick T. Restorations Manager – William B. Museum Store Administrator – Jeffrey H. Gen. Foreman of Diesel’s – Andy S. Gen. Foreman of Steam Power – Ed R. Gen. Foreman of Rolling Stock – Richard C. Training officer for Trainman/Conductors – Colin O. Supt. of Operations – Jeffrey L. Dispatcher – Rick T. Supt. of B & G – Andy S. Supt. of Engineering – Nick V. Roadmaster – David B. Director of Visitors Services – vacant. Member Services – Office Staff. Supt. of Dining Services – vacant. Educator – Richard C. Gazette & Mid-Continent News – Jeffrey L. Webmaster – Patrick W. MW 31 Restoration Manager – Rusty S.
As you can see, we have a few spots to fill and some positions we can have others to take over for. Needed Is 1: Head of Dinning Services, 2: Buildings and Grounds, 3: Car Forman, 4: Manager for the Milwaukee Road 988 project. These are very important to the success of the museum and if you think you can help let me know and I will give you details about the position.
Fundraising is going well, and we thank you for your continued support. The major projects still needing funding are as follows: Track rebuilding project, Montana Western-31, C&NW 1385, All these projects will be completed in the next few years and the financial support will allow for a faster finish of the projects. Please consider a donation to these projects. All donations small or large add up.
Locomotives: 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 Dishler for helping me with this project and David W. for making a coupler for the blower motor shaft.
The 988 trucks will be coming back rebuilt in the spring, but work has been going forward. We sent out the old leaking oil cooler and three governors out to a shop to be rebuilt. The shop has rebuilt Alco governors before, and this is the first step in the mechanical rebuild above the floor. In the spring we will do a total assessment of what work remains and determine what work we can do or what we need to have a contractor do.
The 4 is working as it should but will be getting the air compressor belts changed in the off season.
The 1001 will be getting new batteries in the spring. Once our rail is replaced, we will use the 1001 as backup power and for special events.
In closing for this year, I would like to thank you all for your financial support and labor this year at the museum. We have had almost record attendance at workdays and events all year round. We have had a highly successful year and have accomplished a lot. Now with the talk of another building we will have even more work to come. But in the long run MC and its equipment will be around for a very long time to come. We have all built a museum we should be proud of. Thank you for your help and support!
Update by Andy S.
Training Committee Update
The Steam/Diesel Training Committee (Chris S., Ed R., Pete D., Bob D., Colin O. and Andy S.) meets every two weeks with the goal of updating our training materials. An overhauled version of the Train Handling and Air Brake Rulebook is nearly complete, thanks to the assistance of Don P., and the group already has plans for updating other steam and diesel-related training materials.
The Diesel Locomotive Engineer program has been resurrected with the assistance of Bob D. and Rusty S. Two students are currently enrolled, and we are hoping to add two more next year.
The training dates for next year’s new trainmen class have been decided (the weekends of April 6th-7th and April 20th-21st) and a new conductor class (the weekend of March 23rd-24th) will also be held for those who are interested. Co-instructor Pete D. and I hope to continue the positive progress we made with last year’s class and add even more qualified crew to the museum’s Operating Department this year.
Update by Colin O.
Gift Shop Update
The gift shop is looking to have another custom HO scale car made. There is also a possibility of having a custom O scale car made as well. Please keep an eye out for new and interesting merchandise in 2024!
Update by Jeff H.
Montana Western #31 Update
Restoration of the Montana Western #31 Gas Electric motor car is off the ground and has taken some major steps. In late September, the crew assembled and removed the well-worn 106A Winton engine. In October, we sent the engine off to FMW works in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee.
They have started tearing it down and early reports are encouraging. The engine is worn out and tired, but there are no major components with serious issues like a cracked block or broken crankshaft. The engine will need an entire top end rebuild, but we do have a sizeable cache of parts available. There is a large amount of scale anddebris almost blocking some water passages, and lots of carbon build up in combustion chambers. Oil lines are clear, and the engine can be turned with the main generator. Overall, a very good report.
We have inspected the gas tank, and it is empty with a bit of rust on the inner walls. We feel that we can flush it out and spray some kerosene into it. We may not have to pull it out and have it purged. We still have a lot to do before its centennial in 2025. The radiator leaks, as does the roof. The body needs some work before we can repaint it, and of course: once we get the engine back, we must get it back to operating condition. This project keeps presenting new challenges, but I’m confident that we will meet them.
Update by Rusty S.
Restoration Department Update
Following is a summary of the work performed and completed by the Restoration Department since the last update submitted on July 31, 2023:
Volunteers were quite busy in the Restoration Department since the last update. During this period we had volunteering working on Restoration Department projects on (32) days and we averaged in excess of (6) volunteers on hand for each of these days.
East Jordan & Southern Combine #2: On the exterior of the car the recently applied canvas roof received numerous coats of a special formula canvas paint to make it impermeable to water. The drip edges and other exposed wood were painted the green color that will be used on the rest of the car body. Finally, the new deck screens that cover the clerestory window openings were installed to complete the last of the roof work. Inside the car the clerestory area was sanded and given several coats of white paint. All of the clerestory windows were installed as well as the two mirrors that are at each end of the clerestory area. The walls in the passenger section were sanded, stained and given the first coat of vanish. Reconstruction of the partition between passenger and baggage has begun with most of the wood cut and milled for the partition. All of the new cast seat parts are on hand and they were all painted over the past couple of months. In addition, the wood seat frame parts were made and have been varnished. The ceiling/headlining canvas and the reproduction of the upholstered seat cushions are the last major project for the interior. Plans call for moving the car out of the scaffold area next spring so work can continue on the car.
Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Sleeping Car DULUTH: Work on the outside of the DULUTH included removing the last of the old siding (above the windowsills), the window stops and sanding the wood blocking above the windowsills. In addition, the letter board and all of the arched windows were repaired by sanding, sealing (liquid epoxy), and filling as needed with epoxy putty. Inside the DULUTH volunteers were active in working in the sleeping compartment and in the smoking room. In the sleeping compartment window post parts, trim pieces and moulding were refinished and installed back in the car.
The veneer panels below each of the windows were stained and given the first coat of vanish. Reconstruction of the partition between passenger and baggage has begun with most of the wood cut and milled for the partition. All of the new cast seat parts are on hand and they were all painted over the past couple of months. In addition, the wood seat frame parts were made and have been varnished. The ceiling/headlining canvas and the reproduction of the upholstered seat cushions are the last major project for the interior. Plans call for moving the car out of the scaffold area next spring so work can continue on the car.
Lake Superior & Ishpeming coach #64: Inside the car more stripping of the interior finish has been performed. Most recent activity includes the two toilet rooms and the clerestory area. Presently the stripping process is more than 75% completed. On the exterior of the car new wood car siding was installed on both ends of the car and trim pieces that span the area above each of the arched windows were custom made and installed. The letter board, the roof overhangs (hoods), arched window frames and the windowsill were all sanded, sealed (with epoxy) and filled to provide a smooth surface. Remaining woodwork on the exterior of the car includes installing battens for all of the windows, framing in the two oval windows and installing the remaining car siding (approximately 15 feet). The remaining exterior woodwork as well as a new canvas roof are planned for the car in 2024.
Vintage Rail Car Tours: Sixteen volunteers from the Restoration Department were on hand to conduct this year’s Vintage Rail Car Tours (VRCT) on September 30th and October 1st. The weather was great and we had a nice turnout for the tours (150). Everyone seemed to enjoy seeing the varnished woodwork and the polished brass in the restored cars as well as seeing the restoration work in progress in the Car Shop.
Chicago & Illinois Midland business car #90: Work in the observation room included installation of mahogany plywood, work on window trim, new inner windowsills, and center lamp bases. In the north stateroom tasks include wiring, installation of ceiling and headlining panels, and installation of mahogany plywood walls.
Great Northern Coach #3261: The interior of two toilet rooms were stripped, sanded, and had three coats of varnish applied. The toilet hopper and other accessories were installed, and the entire care thoroughly cleaned in time for use on a charter trip in September.
Chicago & North Western coach #613: Volunteers installed a pair of new windows and painted the lower siding on the car, greatly improving appearance. A new roof is in the 2024 plans.
Work Performed This Quarter:
Goodman Lumber Co. Shay locomotive #9: Installation of the new metal jacketing, jacketing bands, and hardware is now complete and is the first time it the boiler has been jacketed since 1988. 2024 plans include reinstalling the headlights, new wiring, and painting the entire locomotive. This work was able to be performed thanks to generous donations from last year’s fund drive for the locomotive.
Chicago Rock Island & Pacific combine #1094: The car was relocated next to the Car Shop. Work has begun to up the car for use by volunteers as a lunchroom and overnight bunk facility. Rubber roof installation is slated for 2024.
Cazenovia Southern Combine: Work is taking place on the pair of passenger car trucks to be placed under the car. Work so far includes needle-scaling, wire brushing, and priming. More of this plus wood repairs will continue in spring 2024.
Upcoming Restoration Department Needs and Opportunities: Volunteers (all types and skills) are needed to assist with the restoration and maintenance work planned in the Car Shop in 2024. Volunteer sessions are held regularly, and a full 2024 volunteer session calendar will be made available this winter for the 2024 season. You can mark your calendar now for the ALL HANDS ON DECK volunteer session June 26-30, 2024. After great success with the first such session in 2023, the 5-day volunteer session will be back in 2024 providing a chance to make significant progress on many projects in just a few days.
The Restoration Department is also seeking to raise $32,000 from donations to proceed with constructing and upholstering the seat cushions on the EJ&S #2 combine.
Update by Bill B.
Mechanical Department Update
Work Performed This Quarter:
DM&IR C-74 Caboose: While trying to make the caboose ready for a return to service before the end of the 2023 season, major brake pipe leakage was found to be coming from the conductor’s valve in the caboose’s cupula. We attempted to lap in the valve to try to get it to seal, but this did not make a difference. We have been looking into options to either make this valve work or change it out with a quarter turn valve.
We took one of the wheel sets acquired from the former private rolling stock collection in Annendale, MN) out from its truck and sent it to a shop with a large enough lathe.
The journals on this wheel set were cleaned up and brought back to North Freedom. These wheel sets were then exchanged. The wheel set that came out from the C-74 was then taken back to the same shop where the journals were cleaned up. The other wheel set from the Annendale truck was also taken to this shop to clean up its journals. Now we have two spare wheel sets available to use under the C-74.
Power Car: The repair and service work of the boiler was led by Josh Dykstra of Mechanical Technology Incorporated’s Boiler Division with support from Mid-Continent’s volunteers. Work on the boiler included rebuilding the exhaust stack on the boiler smoke box. Both ends of the boiler were opened to gain access for cleaning and inspection. Once this was completed, both ends were closed up and resealed.
The power car boiler has two injectors. A ½ inch and a 3/8 inch. The ½ inch injector that was last used on the boiler was borrowed from Mid-Con- tinent volunteer and member, Pete Deets. Pete had been looking into having the original injector repaired. He finally found a shop that would work on it. We received the repaired injector and plumbed it in while preparing the boiler for service on Friday November 24. The boiler ran well the during Santa Express.
MCRY 1256 Diesel Locomotive: The 30 operating day service work was completed on the 1256. This includes topping off the traction motor support bearing sumps, battery water and inspection of the undercarriage while it is over the pit.
Steam Heat Connections: The damaged steam heat connectors on the Lackawanna cars were repaired before Santa Express so that all four Lackawanna coaches were available for use.
Engine House: New battery-operated tools have been acquired for use in the engine house and machine shop. Along with this a new tool cabinet was also acquired. The ¼ inch, 3/8 inch and ½ inch drive sockets and ratchets were moved from the old tool cabinet to the new one. As part of this move, socket organizers were used. Now it will be easier to find the socket that one may need. The wrenches were split up between the old and new tool cabinet. Wrenches up to 1-1/4 are also in the new cabinet utilizing wrench organizers.
Work to be Completed:
Perform annual inspections and running repairs on the MCRY 1256, MCRY 4, MCRY 7.
Prepare the 1385 tender for service. Some of the items include installing the wiring, rearrange the truck brake rigging, install side bearings and the air brake/steam heat piping. Continue work on the Western Coal and Coke 1 front truck.
Evaluate the generator that is currently in the engine house to determine if it is still suitable for service. This had gone through the 2008 flood but was brought back to running condition. Then it went through the 2018 flood.
Recent work on the C&NW #1385 has included refurbishment of the Barco M-23 Power Reverse Gear. When built, #1385 had a manual reverse lever or “Johnson Bar,” but as one of many improvements the C&NW made to the R-1 class engines, a power reverse was added in Jan. 1942. Another update from the C&NW was the runboard step design, altered in the 1940s to meet I.C.C. requirements. The existing runboard steps had cracks and were thinned by corrosion. New plate steel has been bent to shape and the steps are currently being mounted.
Update by Ed R.
Engineering Department
Hello all, it’s been a very busy year for the museum.
A lot has been accomplished and the Engineering Department is no exception. As you all know, we completed our Phase 1 Rail Relay earlier this year and in the last few months more work has been done. Brush clearing has taken place on our line along Wood Curve allowing our patrons better views of the countryside. Additionally, brush has also been cleared by the crossing in town, next to our interchange with the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad. This helps us show W&SR and WisDOT that we have an interest in maintaining our rail connection with the rest of the national network. We’ve also taken delivery of a semi-trailer load of 250 crossties.
And the big news, as has already been announced, MC has purchased rail from the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad. Our department has done cleanup and reorganization of space down on the south end of the yard to hold all of the OTM (On-Track Materials), joint bars and tie plates, for the “new” rail. All these materials have started to arrive at the museum in the last couple of weeks.
Next year we want to keep the momentum going. After the holiday season I want to keep up with the brush clearing, with a focus on cutting down trees that strike the train and trees that look to be falling towards the track. I’ll be posting a work weekend schedule in the next couple weeks, from the time I’m writing this, on the members’ webpage. With the arrival of ties there are spots on the mainline that are going to need them. We will be evaluating spots on the line for new ties and coming up with a work weekend schedule once we know when the ground will thaw in the Spring. And of course, management has started fundraising for Rail Relay Phase 2 which will allow us to replace all of our 60, 72, and 75 lb. rail on our mainline with 90 lb. rail. If the fundraising goes well the relay could start next year.
This is an exciting time to be at Mid-Continent and I’m glad we are all able to experience it together. Thank you all for all you do!
Update by Nick V.
Dining Train Update
Since the last newsletter, there have been two more weekends of Dining Trains at Mid-Continent Railway Museum.
Following is a summary of those trains:
On August 26, 2023, there were two BBQ Trains. The 11:00 AM train served 48 diners and the 3:00 PM trains served 40 diners. The total net profit from those two trains was $3,690.84. The following members assisted as dining staff: Cate B., Jay S., Steve P., Chuck P., John T., John T. Jr., Tom D., Tom H., Robert D., and Jeff H.
On September 23, 2023, there were two Pizza Trains. The 11:00 AM train served 54 diners the 3:00 PM trains served 55 diners. The total net profit from those two trains was $4,188.46. The following members assisted as dining staff: Jay S., Allyn B., Shelly H., Grant H., Chuck P., Jami S., Mary S., Jim B., Robert D., and Jeff H.
Once again, based upon the comment cards that we have the diners fill out, the diners were incredibly happy with their dining experience. A big thank you goes out to the dining staff for making the dining trains such a success.
In addition, the Dining Services Department is still looking for a Superintendent of Dining Services for next year. If anyone is interested in serving as Superintendent of Dining Services, please contact the office.
Now that all the Dining Trains offered for the 2023 season have been completed, below is a summary for the year:
Dining Services Department Year-End Report
31-Oct-23
Trains, Patrons, Net Income and Tips:
For the year, the Dining Services Department ran 8 dining trains, served 356 patrons, had net profits and tips as detailed below:
| Net Income | Tips | ||
| 1. BBQ Train – June 17, 2023 – 2 Trains – 52 Patrons | $1,784.55 | $280.00 | |
| 2. Pizza Trains – July 22, 2023 – 2 Trains – 106 Patrons | $3,785.63 | $255.00 | |
| 3. BBQ Trains – August 26, 2023 – 2 Trains – 88 Patrons | $3,383.71 | $307.13 | |
| 4. Pizza Trains – Sept. 23, 2023 – 2 Trains- 109 Patrons | $3,864.46 | $324.00 | |
| Totals | $12,818.35 | $1,166.13 | |
17 different volunteers from the Dining Services Department worked on the various dining trains during the year. If any member of the museum is interested in serving on the Dining Train, the Dining Services Department is always looking for more volunteers to help service on the trains. No experience is necessary, and we do on-the-job training. If interested in helping out on the Dining Trains, please contact Jeff H.
In addition, the Dining Services Department is still looking for a Superintendent of Dining Services for next year. If anyone is interested in serving as Superintendent of Dining Services, please contact the office.
Update by Jeff H.
Endowment Committee
Mid-Continent’s endowment funds for the last Fiscal Year (11-1-2022 Through 10-31-23) has generated $125,865.84 that will be transferred to the museum’s general funds by the end of December 2023 to financially support the museum. Total value of the assets in the Endowment fund as of 10/31/2023 is $2,735,461.19.
Update by Jeff H.
Shelter Building Commitee
On 10-21-23 the first meeting of the Shelter Committee was held to discuss building a structure to house and protect the working fleet and engines at the museum from the weather to prevent or lessen their deterioration. The committee members are Bill B., Dave B., Peter S., Gary B., Robert A., and Jeff H.
The building would be an open shelter building approximately 240’ long, 50’ wide, and 18’ high, with siding coming down from the top approximately 10’. The location of the building would be south of Coach Shed #1. Placing the building at that location will give the museum the largest area to build the biggest building possible under the Wisconsin Building Code to store cars/engines. As a result of placing the building in that location, the drainage will have to be improved and culverts, a drainage main, perforated laterals, and a French drain will need to be install. In addition, the tracks leading into Coach Shed #1 will need to have the base/subgrade improved and the tracks reconfigured to have the correct access to the building.
The committee is getting a final estimate of the cost to construct the building and working on putting together an estimate for the total cost of the project. The committee will share that information with the members of the museum in the future.
Update by Jeff H.
Operating Department Update
The Operating Department welcomed several new members in 2023 upon the completion of their trainman student trips. This includes Grant H., James W., David S., and Ken R. Grant became Mid-Continent’s weekday trainman as well. This brings our active-status operating crew members to 9 engineers, 12 conductors, and 12 trainmen. If you’d like to join this group, please consider signing up for new trainman class in the spring.
A thank you goes out not only to the Operating Department volunteers for helping provide those 19,336 passengers with a memorable experience aboard the trains, but also to the Mechanical Department and Restoration Department volunteers for helping keep the cars and locomotives roadworthy, the depot and grounds staff for their important role in the visitor experience, the Engineering Department volunteers for maintaining a safe route for us to travel on, and the members and donors that supported the museum’s train operations.
The 2023 Santa Express and Holiday Flyer trains fall within the 2024 fiscal year. Those trains are now in the books and started the new fiscal year out on a very positive note. Between the two weekends, Mid-Continent welcomed a total of 4,021 passengers. There were 18 total departures (16 Santa Express and 2 Holiday Flyer) and of those, 14 departures were either fully sold out or very nearly so. This was the second year of the Holiday Flyer (hot chocolate) trains after last year’s initial experiment and given the positive response, we will be looking at how to expand these types of offerings going forward.
Update by Jeffrey L.
Meet a Member
I am delighted to introduce you to Bob and Beth K.! They generously donated the DULUTH Sleeping Car to Mid-Continent Railway Museum and on September 7, 2016, this incredible addition arrived at MCRM. I had the pleasure of meeting them during their visit for our Vintage Rail Car Tours a few months ago. So, when I was asked to do my second article of Meet a Member, I really wanted to do an article on them. I basically had two questions for them; and their replies made me swell with pride for MCRM and all our volunteers!!!
The couple, who both became MCRM members in 2016, reside in Virginia. The DULUTH was used as a cabin on the shore of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on property owned for several generations by Beth’s family. The previous owners placed the DULUTH on a lakeside lot owned by Beth’s family since the mid-1800’s. Bob and Beth bought the DULUTH in 2015. When I asked them what influenced them to donate the DULUTH to MCRM over all the other railroad museums they could have chosen; this was their response:
“We chose to offer the DULUTH to MCRM (M-C) after exploratory visits to another upper-Midwest rail museum and to North Freedom in October 2015. M-C was our second stop, and about a half-hour into that visit it was obvious to both of us that MCRM was where the DULUTH should spend the next phase of her life. At a sit-down presentation in the glorious BADGER fish car, we were given a folder containing a history of the DULUTH, along with builder’s photos of several of her sister sleeper cars. M-C had done its research and not only knew of its existence in the woods along Lake Superior, but members had visited and photographed her at the site. They had compiled a comprehensive file on the DULUTH, not only towards the goal of keeping track of historical railcars and artifacts, but apparently also in case the opportunity to one day acquire the car might occur.
“Following the presentation in the BADGER, we received an amazing tour of the Display Shed and the Car Shop. Seeing the M-C collection, it was our opinion that the quality of the restorations at M-C was superior to those at the other museum we had visited. We certainly are novices at the internal structures of rail cars, but we noticed that the external appearances of M-C’s restored cars were superior in details like paint, lettering, and upholstery. A major factor in our decision was that the other museum’ staff said that if they received the car, they would “cocoon” it in tarps for a period of five to seven years while it awaited a place in the museum’s restoration schedule. However, the deciding factor was that the other museum’s “vision” for the DULUTH was to stabilize and repurpose the car into a lounge and snack-bar car, to be placed at the terminus of their excursion route for use by their riders. As we left North Freedom that day, we both were confident that the DULUTH should go to Mid-Continent, if the board would accept the donation. That was a decision that we have never regretted!”
I mentioned to them that the Restorations Department Manager, Bill B., and his volunteers are passionately restoring the DULUTH to its authentic beauty for our visitors to be able to see and learn about railroad history for many years to come.
So, I had to ask Bob and Beth, “While you were visiting MCRM at the end of September this year, what were your thoughts when you saw the progress being made on your “baby”? They replied:
“During our visit to M-C for the Vintage Rail Car Tours last September, we were very pleased to personally see the significant progress made to date on restoring the DULUTH. We hadn’t been able to get back to North Freedom since 2019, due to the COVID pandemic and some family issues. However, we have kept up with the progress through the M-C member’s forum website and through additional photos, emails, and phone calls from Bill B. Although we came prepared with knowledge of the progress made in the last several years, we were still pleasantly surprised to see in person the great strides made by the Car Shop volunteers and contractors. To see the extraordinary work done to restore or reproduce the myriad of parts and pieces was gratifying and exciting! It is thrilling to know that the disassembly phase is over, and that the reassembly phase has begun. We eagerly look forward to our next visit as the DULUTH continues to regain her original splendor!”
Written by Theresa A.