Mid-Continent Railway MuseumPosted on by Jeffrey Lentz
Whistle on the Wind Wall Calendar
Order your Mid-Continent Railway Museum Whistle on the Wind 2023 wall calendar! This 12-month calendar features 1 color cover and 12 black and white interior images of railroading past, each with an informative caption. Images are a mix of historical Midwestern railroad imagery as well as more contemporary scenes at Mid‑Continent Railway Museum.
Many dates include “this day in history” factoids about railroads of the Upper Midwest and Mid‑Continent’s own history. The calendar features quality o-ring binding to ensure it stays flat against the wall.
How to Order
Calendars are $11.80 plus shipping and handling. They, along with many other items, can be purchased via our online gift shop.
Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society members receive one calendar automatically as a perk of membership. Look for it to arrive in mailboxes in mid-December. Members may order additional calendars for themselves, family members, or friends at a special members-only price of only $8.30 plus shipping and handling. Members can pre-order additional calendars online using the Order Calendar Now (Member Pricing) button.
The membership status of the purchaser will be verified prior to shipping.
Mid-Continent Railway MuseumPosted on by Jeffrey Lentz
There was a volunteer work session during the weekend of September 17 and 18, 2022 that focused on the CNW 1385 tender. Work concentrated on closing up the cistern ports. The ports allow water either in or out of the cistern or water tank.
One of the next steps is to fill the tender with water. This will allow project volunteers to see how much the tender settles down on its springs with the added weight of the water as well as to verify the function of the different seals.
Access panels on the sides of the tender allow volunteers to reach some of the harder-to-access cistern valves.
Right side valve access panel closed.Right side valve access panel open.Bottom view of the cistern valve well mounting flange.Inside view of the left side cistern valve well mounting flange.Inside view of the left side cistern valve well only installed.Inside view of the cistern valve seat installed.Bottom view of the right side cistern valve well and valve seat mounted.Inside view of the right side cistern valve with the operating rod installed.Top side view of the right side operating handle assembly.Bottom view of the left side cistern valve well and valve seat mounted.
Thank you to volunteers Lloyd H, Steve P. Sr, Jay S, Ross S, and Larry S for helping out during the work session.
C&NW #1385’s tender has a capacity of 7,500 gallons of water – about the same as an 18 foot diameter swimming pool! When filled, the water will add over 31 tons to the tender’s weight.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this update, coming soon…
Mid-Continent Railway MuseumPosted on by Jeffrey Lentz
About Goodman Lumber Co. #9
Mid-Continent’s Goodman Lumber Company locomotive #9 is the only surviving Shay locomotive that ever operated in the state of Wisconsin. This rare one-owner Shay roamed the woods of northern Wisconsin where there used to be some 200 Shay locomotives that once operated. Today, after several years and thanks to many volunteer hours the #9 Shay is coming back together and taking shape.
Restoration Progress To Date
MCRM volunteers have already performed a lot of work on the Shay, including the following tasks:
Installed new oak front and rear new end beams
Installed front and rear coupler pockets and couplers
Designed, built and installed a new wood pilot
Designed, built and installed a new historically accurate wood cab
Installed new wood decking under the cab and the water tank
Installed new wood running boards
Restored the front and rear electric headlights
Installed the wood foot boards on the back of the locomotive
Installed the number board and builders plate
Sandblasted, primed, painted and lettered the water tank
Designed, built and installed the rear wood tool box
Goal: Complete Goodman Lumber Co. #9’s Restoration by Sept. 2023
To complete the historically accurate cosmetic restoration of the #9 Shay locomotive funds are needed for new boiler jacketing, painting the locomotive and a few other smaller tasks. This scope is not anything that our volunteers can easily perform and is best done by specialty contractors. Estimates from contractors to perform this work presently totals $30,000.
To help with this effort one of Mid-Continent’s board members has generously issued a $15,000 challenge grant towards completing the Shay’s cosmetic restoration. Your gift can now be matched with the grant and with a successful fund drive the remaining work is planned to be completed by September 1, 2023.
If funds are raised beyond the immediate needs, any additional funds will be set aside for future maintenance work on the Shay and/or display improvements. Please donate today and help complete the cosmetic restoration of the only surviving Shay from Wisconsin!!!
Mid-Continent is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law.
How to Donate
Donating to the Goodman Lumber Co. #9 restoration and having your donation matched is easy and can be done in just a few minutes.
Donate Online
Donate quickly and securely online with a credit card, debit card, or PayPal account.
Send a check payable to Mid-Continent Railway Museum to:
PO Box 358 North Freedom, WI 53951
Please write “Goodman Lumber Co. #9” on the check memo line.
Donate by Phone
Donate with a credit or debit card by phone with a call to the Mid-Continent Railway Museum administrative office (Monday-Friday) at 608-522-4261 or toll-free 800-930-1385.
Fundraising Progress
This fundraiser began on October 24, 2022.
Fundraising thermometer data last updated: February 23, 2023.
Historical Information
For additional historical information, visit the equipment roster page: Goodman Lumber Co. #9
Photos
At Goodman, WI, 1955At Historyland, date unknownAt MCRM, 2000Repainted, 2007Tearing off the deteriorated cab, 2015Removing the tank, 2015Old decking removed, 2015New decking installed, 2015New cab built, backhead items added, 2017New pilot built, 2019Tank sandblasted, repainted, 2020Lubricator reinstalled, 2021
Mid-Continent Railway MuseumPosted on by Jeffrey Lentz
Come join Fletch and his crew this weekend at North Freedom for a volunteer session on the Dardanelle & Russellville #9. We will be doing some small house cleaning items, and then wrapping her up for winter hibernation. The current start time is 10 am, and as usual, we will meet at the south end of Mid-Continent’s Car Shop.
This weekend is also Fletcher’s 11th birthday. So if you see him around the museum, please wish him a happy birthday.
Mid-Continent Railway MuseumPosted on by Jeffrey Lentz
What are those 3 most important things about a boiler? Water! Right Again! How can you tell where it is at? Peer through the looking glass although it is more commonly known as the water glass, sight glass or gauge glass.
The 3-dimensional chess continues with placing the water glasses on the backhead of the boiler. The board clamped in place served not only as a way to locate both FRA-required water glasses correctly but to facilitate checking for enough clearance around and under the other appurtenances already in place.
Water glass mockup.
The metal plate clamped to the backhead serves as a nice flat baseplate for the magnetic based drill used to drill the holes for the appurtenances and studs.
Baseplate mounted to assist drilling water glass hole.
The plate is lined up for drilling of the hole for the first glass. The result is seen here. And like the bottom try-cock the lowest indication of the water glass is 4” above the highest point of the crownsheet per C&NW practice.
First water glass installed.
The plate was then moved to the fireman’s side where the single glass had been mounted on the original boiler and X marks the spot.
Water glass hole location marking.
After drilling and tapping in the threads the second glass is seen here.
Second water glass installed.
With both glasses mounted the backhead is looking more like a locomotive all the time.
Both water glasses installed on backhead.
A volunteer session is being held on September 17 and 18 to work on the the C&NW #1385 locomotive tender. Tasks planned include filling the tender with water to check the truck spring compression and making any necessary adjustments. Additional work planned includes brake pipe fabrication. Persons with experience heating/bending pipe are highly encouraged to participate in this session. If there is sufficient help, other tasks in the Engine House will be tackled. Sign up by contacting project lead Ed Ripp or using the form on our Volunteering page.
