July 30, 2009 at 7:34 a.m.
Ironhorse adds engine to its fleet
Ironhorse adds engine to its fleet
It took a year of planning, but owner Mark Thompson saw his efforts to purchase and transport a 1909 Soo Line Railroad steam locomotive and coal box to the Ironhorse grounds.
The locomotive was retired from use in 1955, after being used in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and North Dakota.
It made its way to a new home in Enderlin, ND. where it was put in a park. Thompson said toward the end of its "display life" there, it was somewhat neglected and vandalized. In 1999, city officials moved the locomotive into a window-less storage shed, with no public access allowed.
Thompson started the process of purchasing the locomotive in 2007, and spent the equivalent of two months out of the next year in Enderlin, negotiating the sale.
He said although the locomotive was in storage for many years, he felt less than welcome from some of the townspeople, who didn't want to see the locomotive leave.
"In the end, most of them were gracious and nice about me buying it," Thompson said.
The locomotive purchase was finalized June 24 and arrived on four separate semi trailers June 26. Crews reassembled the locomotive, with the exception of the boiler.
Thompson said it won't be operational until the boiler can be repaired, so the boiler was left out.
For now, the 102-ton engine and 25-ton coal car are outside at the museum. It will take some work before Ironhorse is ready for it to be toured, Thompson said, but it's a very cool piece of machinery.
The addition to Ironhorse puts it as the second largest collection of steam locomotive engines in Minnesota, behind Duluth's Lake Superior Railroad Museum. It is now also the third largest railroad museum in the state.
Thompson said the museum sees between 2,000 and 5,000 visitors annually, most from out of town.
"I'd like to see that grow to 20,000," Thompson said.
This Saturday, steam locomotive #4 will be running at Ironhorse. Rides will be every half-hour, starting at 11 a.m., with the last ride at 4 p.m. Cost is $9 for kids (under 12) and seniors, and $11 for adults.
After Saturday, the locomotive will be taken off-line for two years for repairs, so Thompson invites people to come for its last run until 2011.
Thompson said concessions will be available and the museum will be open, along with some vendor booths.
The museum is open until 5 p.m. It includes cars like the dynamometer car, and an 1870 business car - "like a corporate jet before there was flying," Thompson said.
Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum is located at 24880 Morgan Ave., Chisago City. For more information, call 651-336-4531 or visit its web site: ironhorsecentral.com.
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