One of the best ways to learn about Railroad Preservation is to visit some of the Museums, Historic Sites or Tourist Railroads that are in operation throughout the United States. Here are some of the sites in Wisconsin.
This Museum operates steam engines on a 4 1/2 mile former branchline of the Chicago & North Western Railway. The line passes through the former mining town of La Rue. The trip takes about one hour. Steam Trains run daily from Mid-May to Labor Day. Weekend operations continue until the end of May. Special events include the: Autumn Color (First two weekends in October); Santa Train (on the Saturday and Sunday following Thanksgiving); and Snow Train (3rd weekend in February). The Museum is a volunteer nonprofit organization and was originally formed in 1959, with operations at the present location beginning in 1963. The Museum has the largest collection of wooden passenger cars in the United States. It is the only private, nonprofit museum to operate steam engines on a daily basis in the United States.
Memberships are available, learn to operate full size railroad equipment.
Directions, Address and Telephone Number. The Museum is located in North Freedom, Wisconsin, about 12 miles west of Baraboo. Take Hwy 12 to Hwy 136 to Hwy PF. Address: P.O. Box 55, North Freedom, WI 53951 Telephone (608) 522-4261.
webpage:Mid-Continent Railway Museum
East Troy Electric Railroad
This Museum is an actual segment of the Wisconsin Electric Railroad and Light Company, the electric railroad that served Milwaukee and surrounding communities. You can see street cars, interurbans and other electric locomotives in operation. The line is about 5 miles long and runs from East Troy to Mukwonago and is entirely electrified. The East Troy depot is a former sub station for the MER&LC. Operates weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to October. The line was recently purchased by the Society from the village of East Troy and is a volunteer nonprofit organization. memberships are available
Directions, Address and Telephone Number. The Depot is located in East Troy, Wisconsin at 2002 Church Street. Take I-43 to East Troy, go to the downtown town square and follow the signs. Address: P.O. Box 466, East Troy, WI 53120. Telephone (414) 548-3837.
webpage:East Troy Electric Railroad
Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway
This line is actually part of the Minnesota Transportation Museum, but it's in Wisconsin!. They provide passenger service on weekends during the summer and fall between Osceola and Dresser and Marine on the St. Croix, MN. They operate on tracks of the Wisconsin Central Railroad and use vintage steam and diesel passenger equipment. The Depot is in Osceola.
Directions, Address and Telephone Numbers. Take State Highway 35 to Osceola. Osceola is in the northwest part of Wisconsin, close to the Minnesota border, just north of the Twin Cities. Address: P.O. Box 83, 2500 W. 54th Street, Osceola, WI 54020. Telephone: (715) 294-3040 or 1-800-643-7412.
Webpage:Minnesota Transportation Museum
National Railroad Museum
The National Railroad Museum was chartered by an Act of Congress and has an extensive collection of static locomotives, including a Big Boy, the Union Pacific locomotive which was the largest in the world. One of their engines, former Milwaukee Road steam locomotive 261, is leased to North Star Rail and operates in Steam all around the United States. The extensive static displays and exhibits make this museum worth seeing. There is a very nice visitors center, with a multimedia presentation, displays and a gift shop. Unfortunately, the train ride here is a steam engine that is pushed by a propane powered engine hidden in the tender. It sounds and smells more like a diesel than a steam engine. The other, static steam engines are worth a visit however.
Directions, Address and Telephone Numbers. The National Railroad Museum is located in Green Bay. Turn North off Highway 172 onto Ashland Avenue. Proceed to the first stop light and turn right onto Cormier Road. Drive East 4 blocks to South Broadway. Address: 2285 S. Broadway, Green Bay, WI 54304. Telephone: (920-437-7623.
Webpage:National Railroad Museum
Laona and Northern Railway
The Laona and Northern Railway is actually part of the Camp 5 Museum, a logging museum located in Laona. The ride is short, but the steam engine is worth the trip. The Laona and Northern is a small segment of a former common carrier logging railroad, which operated into the 1980s. The steam engine was used on this railroad and was originally built for another Wisconsin short line, the Fairchild and Northeastern. Most of the displays relate to logging, but there are pictures of logging trains and some maps.
Directions, Address and Telephone Numbers. Camp 5 is located 1/3 mile west of the junction of State Highways 8 & 32, in the far northeastern part of Wisconsin. Address: RFD #1, Camp 5 Museum Foundation, Laona, WI 54541. Telephone: 715-674-3414(summer), 1-800-774-3414.
Webpage:Camp 5 Museum
Kettle Moraine Scenic Railroad
Alas, the Kettle Moraine has ceased operation, partly due to residential development, the 'Not in My Backyard' syndrome and rising land prices.
The Kettle Moraine Scenic Railway operates over 4 miles of former tracks of the Milwaukee Road. They have several steam engines, including a Heisler that is in operating condition. The line only operates on Sundays in the summer and on some holidays.
Directions, Address and Telephone Number. Located 9 miles north of I-94 on Highway 83 (Exit 287). Close to Milwaukee. Address: P.O. Box 247, North Lake, WI 53064. Telephone: 414-782-8074, 414-966-2866.
Webpage:Kettle Moraine Railway
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MidContinent's Steam Engine CNW 1385. Photograph copyright John Gruber, used with his permission.