Mid-Continent Railway MuseumPosted on by Jeffrey Lentz
Due to the challenges associated with offering onboard dining during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mid-Continent Railway Museum is announcing the cancellation of all ONBOARD DINING TRAINS for the remainder of 2021.
We apologize for any inconvenience these cancellations may cause. The cancellations do NOT affect Mid-Continent Railway Museum’s COACH TRAINS, which continue to operate as scheduled and are better able to accommodate CDC social distancing and mask requirements.
Mid-Continent Railway MuseumPosted on by Jeffrey Lentz
Mid-Continent Railway Museum to offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum is pleased to announce that it has joined museums nationwide once again this summer in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently-serving U.S. military personnel and their families. The 2021 program at Mid-Continent begins on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 15, 2021, and ends on Sunday, September 5, 2021 – the last day of train rides prior to the program’s nationwide end date on Labor Day, September 6th.
Blue Star Museums is an initiative of the National Endowment for the arts in collaboration with Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and participating museums. Blue Star Museums includes children’s museums, art, science, and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses and more from all 50 states.
The free admission program is available to those currently-serving in the United States Military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members.
Discount Details at Mid-Continent and How to Claim Your Tickets
The Blue Star Museums program is limited to active military members and up to five family members. The serving military member need not be present.
The Blue Star Museums program ends at Mid-Continent on September 5, 2021.
Although the Blue Star program is for active military members only, Mid-Continent offers both active and retired military members a discount of $10 off their ticket every day we’re open all season long. Active and retired military members also can claim a free coach ticket during our Stars & Stripes Special weekend. These discounts outside of the Blue Star Museums program do not extend to family members.
Free or discounted tickets are valid toward coach car seating. Discounts not valid toward onboard dining tickets.
Free or discounted tickets must be claimed at the ticket window and are not available through the online reservation system. CAC card, DD Form 1173 ID card, or DD Form 1173-1 ID cards must be available to be presented to the ticket agent upon request.
About Mid-Continent Railway Museum
Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society–also known as Mid-Continent Railway Museum–is an outdoor, living museum and operating railroad recreating the small town/short line way of life during the “Golden Age of Railroading,” with operating trains, educational exhibits, and displays of restored rolling stock. Mid-Continent has operated at North Freedom, Wisconsin since 1963.
About the National Endowment for the Arts
Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. Visit arts.gov to learn more.
About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families is the nation’s largest grass-roots military family support organization, with a mission to support military families to improve military readiness. Its distinctive approach builds stronger communities around military families through knowledge and programs that address the unique needs of those who serve. Blue Star Families’ nationally recognized surveys and analysis give military families an important voice that informs policymakers and its military family programs. It uses the power of its collective resources and cross-sector collaborations to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of members of military families to strengthen the troops, their families, and our nation as a whole. For more information, visit bluestarfam.org.
These cancellations are being enacted by Mid-Continent Railway Museum to best comply with a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) directive aimed at reducing the transmission of the COVID-19 virus aboard railroad passenger trains and other forms of mass transit. The directive was originally set to expire in May 2021, but has now been extended by the TSA to September 2021.
After careful consideration, our Dining Services volunteers felt we would be unable to provide passengers aboard these trains the quality experience they expect and deserve while also remaining compliant with the TSA directive.
We apologize for any inconvenience these cancellations may cause. Customers already booked aboard the affected trains are being contacted and will be offered a full refund.
The cancellations do NOT affect Mid-Continent Railway Museum’s COACH TRAINS, which will continue to operate normally while observing social distancing and mask requirements. No food service is offered aboard COACH TRAINS.
Mid-Continent is currently evaluating options for our dining trains scheduled in October and will release additional information on those trains soon.
Related Links:
Transportation Security Administration News Release about the extension of mask rules
Mid-Continent Railway MuseumPosted on by Jeffrey Lentz
The following update has been provided by Steve Pahl.
On behalf of the Mid-Continent Railway Museums Restoration Department, I would like to thank each and everyone who so generously donated to the D&R 9 Fund for her cosmetic restoration. I am happy to report that the $9999.99 goal was reached and then some. Jason R. and his 9 year old son are leading the project and already have started preparing the 9 for her transformation.
The pilot (cow catcher) has been removed for further evaluation and restoration which is no easy task, this will take a skilled woodworker to restore. Most of the vertical members, which are white oak, have pretty much rotted away over the past 45 + years since it was installed. Measurements, drawing, and photos will be taken as it awaits restoration. In the meantime, the pilot will be placed in safe storage on the property.
Jason has scheduled three work sessions so far this season. The following are the dates: May 15-16, July 10-11, and July 24-25. Jason will not be available in June, but there will be one or two work sessions scheduled. Dates to be determined at a later date. There is a lot of excitement with the D&R 9’s cosmetic restoration. She’s been waiting for over 25 years. Rest assured, the D&R 9 will be dressed to the “9’s” in the very near future. Again, your donations are very welcome and your volunteer hours are also welcome. Stay tuned for future updates and photos of OUR beloved D&R 9. Thank you.
Boiler Tags on backhead indicating boiler pressure, “Highest point of Crown sheet”, the dates the jacketing and lagging on the backhead was removed along with tube replacement, and Hydro tested. July 27, 1950.
Some wood in the cab needs to be replaced.
Both seat boxes need restoration.
Foot boards on tender will be replaced.
The backhead. The jacket and lagging will be left undisturbed. All fixtures in the cab will be cosmetically restored and installed. This will include gauges, AB handles, lubricator, etc.
Cab curtains will be permanently removed
Running boards will be replaced.
Running boards will be replaced.
The Pilot (cow catcher) 45+ years of service.
From the tender looking forward.
Reminiscing about the summer of 1977 from the fireman’s seat.
Sand dome.
The current restoration work location in Mid-Continent’s storage yards.
Interested in joining the D&R #9 cosmetic restoration project as a volunteer? Let us know by sending an email to inquiries@midcontinent.org.
Mid-Continent Railway MuseumPosted on by Jeffrey Lentz
Face masks musts still be worn while on Mid-Continent Railway Museum property and aboard all Mid-Continent Railway Museum trains.
Background:
On March 31, 2021 the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the Wisconsin Governor’s executive order requiring the statewide use of masks to help reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
This ruling does NOT overturn the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) order which requires mask usage on airplanes, trains, buses and while at transportation hubs throughout the United States. Under the CDC order, Mid-Continent Railway Museum’s entire property is considered a transportation hub and Mid-Continent’s trains are classified as a public conveyance and are subject to the CDC order.
Refusal to wear a mask while visiting Mid-Continent will result in denied entry. Failure to comply with requests to wear a mask may result in civil fines in accordance with Transportation Security Administration Security Directive 1582/84-21-01. Help make your visit enjoyable for everyone by arriving prepared and with a face mask.
