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Mid-Continent Railway Museum
Mid-Continent Railway Museum logo.png
North Freedom Depot Autumn Color Weekend 15 Oct 2011.JPG
The restored 1894 Chicago and North Western depot serves as the starting point for museum visitors
Locale E8948 Museum Road, North Freedom, Sauk County, Wisconsin
Coordinates Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 614: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Mid-Continent Railway Museum Route Map.png
Route map of the Mid-Continent Railway Museum
Connections Wisconsin and Southern Railroad
Commercial operations
Built by Chicago and North Western Transportation Company
Original gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Reporting mark MCRY
Stations 1
Length 3.7 miles (6.0 km)
Preserved gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened 1959
Closed 2008–2009
Preservation history
1959 Railroad Historical Society of Milwaukee formed and first steam locomotive acquired
1962 Train rides first operated on the Hillsboro and Northeastern Railway and North Freedom branchline purchased
1963 Equipment moved to new location and trains first operated
1965 Depot moved from previous location
Headquarters North Freedom, Wisconsin

The Mid-Continent Railway Museum is a railroad museum in North Freedom, Wisconsin, United States. The museum consists of static displays as well as a 7-mile (11 km) round trip ride aboard preserved railroad cars.

History

The rail line used by the Mid-Continent Railway Museum is a spur off the original Chicago and North Western Railway mainline. With the development of the Illinois Iron mine in early 1903, the C&NW sent a team of engineers on July 8, 1903, to survey a route to the iron fields. By August 12, C&NW president Marvin Hughitt had arrived in North Freedom in person to announce that a branchline would be built. A second major mine, the Iroquois Mine (also called the Sauk Mine), was established in October not far from the new rail line. By December 1903, the 3-mile (4.8 km) branchline was completed at a cost of $40,533.

To support the increasing number of miners in the area, a new town called La Rue was platted, named after William G. La Rue. William La Rue was an area mining pioneer who demonstrated that the latest technological advancements in diamond drill technology could make iron mining in the area economically feasible. The town was surveyed and registered in January 1903, but it was soon realized that its location in the southwest corner of the intersection of present-day Highway W and Diamond Hill Road would prove to be too far from where the mines were developing. By November 1903, the development of the town shifted nearer to the Illinois Mine, 0.5 miles (0.80 km) to the south at the present day location of La Rue. At the height of iron mining production, the population of La Rue likely did not exceed 50 people, but the town did include a hotel, lumberyard, church, general store, and two saloons to supply and entertain the several hundred miners living nearby. Another townsite named Oliver was platted just east of La Rue, slightly closer to the Oliver Mining Company-owned Iroquois Mine, but no construction ever occurred.

At its peak, the Illinois Mine was shipping between five and 12 train car loads daily over the C&NW branchline, but La Rue's ironing mining days would be numbered. By June 1904, the mines were reaching depths of 400 to 500 feet (120 to 150 m) at which water infiltrating into the mine shafts began being problematic. Costs continued to grow as a result of the water infiltration until finally the Illinois Mine closed in 1908. By this time it was burdened by costs associated with pumping out 2,600 US gallons (9,800 L) of water per minute. A similar fate befell the Iroquois Mine in 1914, at which time it was pumping 4,500 US gallons (17,000 L) per minute from its mine shaft. With the end of iron mining operations, the town of La Rue quickly disappeared. By 1925, only one building remained: the La Rue tavern, which still stands today.

As the La Rue area iron mining days were ending, the need for quartzite rock was increasing. In 1917, Harbison-Walker Refractories Company established a quarry south of La Rue. The railroad track was extended 0.8 miles (1.3 km) south to serve the quarry. Operations continued until 1962 when the quarry ceased operation. The rail line was slated for abandonment soon after.

Meanwhile, in 1959, a group of rail enthusiasts from the Milwaukee area had joined to form the Railway Historical Society of Milwaukee. With the group's first acquisition of the Consumers Company No. 701 steam locomotive, the search for a home for their collection began. An agreement was reached with the Hillsboro and Northeastern Railway to operate diesel-powered train rides over their line beginning in 1962 under the name Mid-Continent Railway Museum. When it was learned the North Freedom branchline was available in 1962, the line was quickly purchased and the small collection of cars and locomotives were moved to North Freedom in 1963. By the summer of 1963, the move was finished and repairs to steam locomotive No. 1385 were completed, allowing steam train rides to be offered for the first time that summer. Train rides have been offered out of North Freedom by the museum every year since and a small rail yard was gradually built to hold the growing collection of preserved rail equipment.

In 2023, the museum hosted a 60th anniversary celebration event on May 27th, marking 60 years to the day that the first train pulled passengers along the 7-mile route.

Flooding and reopening

In June 2008, the museum grounds were inundated by floodwaters of the Baraboo River. The museum closed for repairs until February 2009. The bridge's out-of-service status did not affect the route used by the museum's train rides, but did prevent the movement of rail cars and locomotives to and from the museum via the national rail network. Repairs to the bridge were completed in July 2018.

Operations

Heritage railroad

The museum operates a heritage railroad which offers passenger excursion trains on a 7-mile (11 km) round trip. Trains leave from North Freedom, pass through the former mining community of La Rue, and turn around at a rock quarry, returning on the same route. The excursions take approximately one hour and operate daily from early June through Labor Day and most weekends in May, September, and October. Trains operate at a top speed of 15 miles per hour (24 km/h), requiring approximately 20 minutes to travel the length of the rail line. Roughly 15 minutes are spent at the end of the line to move the locomotive to the opposite end of the train for the return trip to North Freedom. During the ride, a uniformed conductor punches passengers' tickets, shares railroad history, and answers questions.

Special event trains are also offered several times throughout the year, including Autumn Color weekends in the fall, Pumpkin Special runs near Halloween, Santa Express Weekends at the end of November, and the Snow Train in February. During special events, additional ride options are frequently offered such as first class trains, dinner trains, and brunch trains which offer onboard food and beverage service and utilize cars which are more luxurious than the train cars typically used.

For most of the museum's history, nearly all trains were pulled by steam locomotives although since February 2000, all trains have been pulled by diesel-electric locomotives pending the restoration or repair of the museum's steam locomotives.

Collection

The Mid-Continent Railway Museum's collection emphasizes the preservation of railroad items operated in the upper Midwest from the period of 1880–1916, what the organization refers to as the "Golden Age of Railroading". During that time, railroads saw an unprecedented rate of expansion, growing in size in the United States from 93,000 to 254,037 miles (149,669 to 408,833 km) of track.

Two steam locomotives, Chicago and North Western 1385 and Western Coal and Coke 1, are being restored to federal guidelines. The museum's collection consists of nine steam locomotives, eight diesel locomotives, and over 100 other pieces of rolling stock. The museum has the largest collection of wooden passenger cars in the United States as well as five of only six surviving wooden boxcars built by the Mather Stock Car Company and the nation's last surviving fish car, Wisconsin Fish Commission "Badger Car No. 2". In 2015, the Museum decided to rationalize their collection by deaccessioning some of their equipment, including most of their disassembled locomotives.

The depot is an original Chicago and North Western Railway depot from the small town of Ableman, later Rock Springs, Wisconsin. It was built in 1894 and moved to the museum location in 1965. The depot consists of two seating areas separated by the ticket office, and a gift shop occupies the former freight room. The interior was extensively renovated following water damage during flooding in June 2008.

In addition to the depot, other railroad structures moved to the museum's location include a crossing shanty, crossing tower, section shed, and water tower. Additional structures have been built new to house and maintain the collection but attempts were made to make the structures appear period appropriate.

Locomotive roster

Locomotive Image Manufacturer Model Build date Status Museum acquire date Previous owner
Chicago and North Western 1385
Train locomotive, Mid-Continent Museum, Wisconsin LCCN2011630627.tif
American Locomotive Company R-1 4-6-0 steam locomotive March 1907 Undergoing operational restoration 1961 Chicago and North Western Transportation Company
Consumers Company 701 Mid-Continent Railway Museum 7-2016 Consumers Company No. 701.jpg American Locomotive Company 0-4-0 steam locomotive 1914 Awaiting cosmetic restoration 1959 Consumers Company
Copper Range 29 Copper Range - 29 steam locomotive (2-8-0) & tender 2 (19152300740).jpg American Locomotive Company C2 2-8-0 steam locomotive February 1907 Static display 2003 Trans-Northern
Dardanelle and Russellville 9 Dardanelle & Russellville's Number 9.jpg Baldwin Locomotive Works 2-6-0 steam locomotive 1884 Undergoing cosmetic restoration 1963 Dardanelle and Russellville Railroad
Goodman Lumber Company 9
Goodman Lumber Company - 9 steam locomotive (two-truck Shay) 1 (18691517414).jpg
Lima Locomotive Works Class B Shay steam locomotive 1909 Static display 1988 Historyland Museum
Kewaunee, Green Bay and Western 49 Mid-Continent Railway Museum 7-2016 Kewaunee Green Bay & Western No. 49.jpg American Locomotive Company 2-8-0 steam locomotive March 1929 Static display 1981 City of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Lake Superior and Ishpeming 22 Mid-Continent Railway Museum 7-2016 Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railway No. 22.jpg American Locomotive Company SC-4 2-8-0 steam locomotive January 1910 Static display 1985 Marquette and Huron Mountain Railroad
Soo Line 2645
Soo Line - 2645 steam locomotive (E-25-S 4-6-0) 5 (19318807661).jpg
Brooks Locomotive Works E-25 4-6-0 steam locomotive November 1900 Static display 1988 City of Waukesha, Wisconsin
Western Coal and Coke 1 Montreal Locomotive Works 4-6-0 steam locomotive September 1913 Awaiting operational restoration 1965 Lethbridge Collieries Limited
Arkansas, Louisiana and Missouri 10 Electro-Motive Diesel NW2 diesel locomotive 1949 Operational 2018 Domtar
John Morrell and Company 7
MCRY 7 20041010.jpg
American Locomotive Company S-1 diesel locomotive 1944 Operational 1996 Association of American Railroads
Milwaukee Road 988 Mid-Continent Railway Museum 7-2016 Milwaukee Road No. 988.jpg American Locomotive Company RSC-2 diesel locomotive 1947 Static display 1985 Trans-Northern Incorporated
Montana Western 31 Montana Western Railway Doodlebug No. 31.jpg Electro-Motive Corporation Gas-electric car October 1925 Awaiting operational restoration 1965 Montana Western Railway
United States Army 4 Mid-Continent Railway Museum No. 4, 7-2016.jpg General Electric 45-ton switcher diesel locomotive 1943 Operational 1972 Pullman Company
United States Army 1256
Mid-Continent Railway - 1256 diesel locomotive (Baldwin RS-4-TC) 2 (19122899820).jpg
Baldwin Locomotive Works RS-4-TC diesel locomotive 1954 Operational 2006 United States Army
Wisconsin Power and Light 3 Plymouth Locomotive Works 30-ton switcher diesel locomotive 1952 Operational 1987 Wisconsin Power and Light Company
Wisconsin Sand and Gravel 2 Mid-Continent Railway Museum 7-2016 Wisconsin Sand and Gravel No. 2.jpg Plymouth Locomotive Works HL-18 diesel locomotive 1928 Operational 1963 Wisconsin Sand and Gravel Company

Former locomotive roster

Locomotive Image Manufacturer Model Build date Status Time on the museum Current owner
Alabama, Tennessee and Northern 401 Baldwin Locomotive Works SC-1 2-10-0 steam locomotive 1928 Static display 1964-2015 Age of Steam Roundhouse
Central Illinois Public Service Company 5 St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern -5 (Porter 2-4-2) - 10570956923.jpg H.K. Porter, Inc. 2-4-2 steam locomotive 1945 Awaiting restoration 1963-1971 St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
Central Illinois Public Service Company 6 Vulcan Iron Works 0-4-0 steam locomotive 1923 Awaiting restoration 1965-2019 Private owner
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 4960
GCRY 4960 idling during its 100th Birthday celebration.jpg
Baldwin Locomotive Works O-1a 2-8-2 steam locomotive 1923 Operational 1970-1989 Grand Canyon Railway
Lake Superior and Ishpeming 29
The Grand Canyon Railway (48306379861).jpg
American Locomotive Company SC-3 2-8-0 steam locomotive 1906 Undergoing overhaul 1985-1989 Grand Canyon Railway
Louisiana Cypress 2 Disassembled steam locomotive at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum - December 2008.jpg Lima Locomotive Works 2-6-0 steam locomotive 1906 Awaiting restoration 1960-2015 Private owner
McCloud Railway 9
Steam locomotive at the Age of Steam Roundhouse April 2022 4.jpg
Baldwin Locomotive Works 2-6-2 steam locomotive 1901 Static display 1964-1971 Age of Steam Roundhouse
Milwaukee Road 30 Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific No. 30 Inspection Car at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum - December 2008.jpg Dodge Sedan inspection car 1947 Display 1961-2014 Illinois Railway Museum
New York Central 6721 New York Central No. 6721 at Utica Station, NY - May 2015.jpg American Locomotive Company B-11k 0-6-0 steam locomotive 1913 Static display 1963-1980 Utica and Mohawk Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society
Saginaw Timber Company 2
Tillamook Air Museum in Tillamook, Oregon 34.jpg
Baldwin Locomotive Works 2-8-2 steam locomotive 1912 Operational 1982-2017 Rick Franklin
Union Pacific 440 Trainpark.jpg Baldwin Locomotive Works C-57 2-8-0 steam locomotive 1900 Static display 1975-2003 Langlede County Historical Society
Warren and Ouachita Valley 1 Baldwin Locomotive Works 4-6-0 steam locomotive 1906 Static display 1965-1985 Private owner

Gallery

See also

  • List of heritage railroads in the United States
  • List of railway museums
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