“DULUTH” SLEEPING CAR: $10,000 Matching Fund Drive

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A recent view of the DULUTH sleeper car showing the car after the lower siding was removed.

Mid-Continent Railway Museum’s Duluth South Shore & Atlantic sleeping car “DULUTH” is the oldest and most complete standard gauge sleeping car in the country. This wooden sleeping car was built in 1902 and for over thirty years it provided overnight sleeping accommodations for passengers riding the rails across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The DULUTH only survived as it was repurposed into a camp along the shores of Lake Superior prior to being acquired and moved by Mid-Continent in 2016. Today, after several years of restoration work and thanks to many volunteers and donors the DULUTH sleeping car is coming back together.

The DULUTH is a rare time capsule demonstrating what long-distance rail travel was like over a century ago. The DULUTH sleeping car includes a private stateroom, the men’s smoking room, women’s toilet and a 10-section sleeping compartment, that featured upper and lower berths. Once restored visitors will be able to see and experience the DULUTH sleeper and take in the fine mahogany woodwork, marquetry, stained glass and plush upholstery. 

Recent restoration progress in the sleeping compartment of the DULUTH.

To help with the restoring this national treasure Mid-Continent is challenging its members, donors and supporters to raise $10,000 to go towards the ongoing restoration work on the DULUTH sleeping car. With this challenge, every dollar donated to this fund drive will be matched dollar-for-dollar, by an anonymous donor, up to $10,000. Together this will raise $20,000 for the DULUTH restoration fund.

Funds from this fund drive will be used for several key areas of the car’s restoration, including:

  • Repairing and restoring the water damaged ceiling panels.
  • Installing and painting the ceiling canvas. 
  • Replicating the (4) interior doors that are presently missing inside the car.
  • Sourcing wood for making and installing new exterior car siding and trim.

Your donation to the DULUTH 2024 Matching Fund Drive the will help complete the above projects and restore the DULUTH sleeping car.

Make Your Donation Today

Making your donation to the DULUTH project and getting it matched is easy and takes only a few minutes.

Donate by Check

Donations by check can be made out to Mid-Continent Railway Museum and mailed to:

Mid-Continent Railway Museum

P.O. Box 358

North Freedom, WI 53951

Be sure to write “DULUTH 2024 Matching Fund Drive” on the check memo line so we can properly process your donation.

Donate by Phone

To donate by phone, please call Mid-Continent’s office at 608-522-4261.

Donate by Credit Card or PayPal

You can donate instantly using any major credit or debit card or by PayPal via the button below.

Donate Here!

Fundraising Update

Thanks to our amazing donors, the matching fund goal has been met! However, this project is not finished, and continued donations are appreciated and needed to bring the overall DULUTH restoration project to completion. Use the “Donate Here” button above to make a donation today.

The matching grant fundraiser began on 5/1/2024 and was fully matched by donors on 7/30/2024.

Individual Donations ($10,000) & Matching Grant ($10,000)

Work in progress with a crew of volunteers in the sleeping compartment of the DULUTH.
Read About Progress Here!

Rail Relay Phase 2: Preparing for Installation

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Mid-Continent Railway Museum’s trains have traveled the rails at North Freedom for 60 years… rails which are themselves often over 100 years old. Mid-Continent’s railroad track is a critical piece of infrastructure that makes possible our museum’s signature experience – the train rides! Now we are asking for your help to make sure Mid-Continent’s rail line remains safe to operate for another 60 years and beyond.  

MCRY Rail Relay Phase 2 is the next crucial step in addressing old, worn, and fatigued rail along Mid-Continent’s rail line on which its demonstration passenger trains are operated. Phase 2 involves replacing 11,431 track feet (2.16 miles) of rails, joint bars, tie plates, rail anchors, track bolts, and spikes, known as On-Track-Material, or OTM. That is enough rail to replace over half of Mid-Continent’s entire railroad!

Rail Relay Progress Made So Far

Thanks in large part to the generosity of donors who have given so far, Mid-Continent was able to place a winning bid on 502 tons of rail and 138 tons of OTM at a total cost of $203,000. The rail was recently removed from the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad’s Prairie Subdivision as they upgraded that line. This has provided enough rail to allow Mid-Continent to complete all of Phase 2. Although the rail being purchased comes used, it is newer and heavier-duty rail than what exists on Mid-Continent’s current line and will be good for many decades in service for the museum. The purchased rail was transported to the museum in November and early December 2023.

Rail arrayed for sorting
Sticks of newly acquired rail, arrayed for sorting in Mid-Continent’s parking lot. April 2024.
Inspection markings on the newly acquired rail. April 2024.

Next Steps

In April 2024, crews began sorting the rail in preparation for placing (but not yet installing) the rails along Mid-Continent’s line. In summer 2024, Mid-Continent will prepare a bid package, requesting bids from railroad construction contractors for swapping out the old rail with the new rail.

Your Help is Needed for the Rail Relay Phase 2 Project! 

Now that Mid-Continent has acquired the rail, it is time to install it. Although Mid-Continent’s volunteers accomplish a great deal, the scale of the work to be performed can only be achieved with the help of a railroad construction contractor. This means donations are needed to bring the project to completion. Depending on contractor availability, the target is for this to happen during fall/winter 2024.

Your donation to the Rail Relay Phase 2 project directly supports Mid-Continent’s core mission of providing an immersive museum experience of riding aboard historic railcars on an authentic, rural branchline route. Join Mid-Continent today in preserving America’s railroading legacy for tomorrow.

How to Make Your Donation

Mid-Continent Railway Museum is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, educational entity. All donations are tax-deductible. 

You can make your donation in one of several ways: 

  1. Click the Donate Now button to be taken to the project’s PayPal donation page. This method accepts credit and debit cards, as well as PayPal payments. 
Donate Now
  1. Send a check to with “Rail Relay Project” written in the memo line to
    Mid-Continent Railway Museum
    PO Box 358
    North Freedom, WI 53951-0358 
  1. Speak to one of our office staff by phone at 608-522-4261 or 800-930-1385 to make a payment by phone or if you have any questions. 

Tips for Maximizing Your Impact 

Consider asking your employer if they match donations to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. If you’re retired, ask your financial advisor if donating a portion of your retirement account’s required minimum distribution (RMD) is right for you.

Mechanical Department Volunteer Work Session (May 4th-5th)

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The Mechanical Department will be holding a work session the weekend of May 4 and 5 in conjunction with the Spring Fling event.

The goal for this work session is to disassemble, inspect, clean and install the brake cylinder of the DLW 557, perform the single car test on DLW 425, DLW 557 and DM&IR C-74.

If you are available to help with this work session, please contact the office via inquiries@midcontinent.org or 608-522-4261.

Mechanical Department Update (April 13-14, 2024)

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We had a great work session this past weekend!   

On Saturday, the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western cars #425 and #557 as well as the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range caboose C-74 were jacked up to place lubricating discs in the bolster bowls – this is where the car body meets the trucks. TJ, Al J, Grant H, Ross S, Fred V, Nick V, Pete D and Colton T helped out with this task.  

A new 3 phase electric panel has been installed in Mid-Continent’s Machine Shop. Tom H and Bob D mounted the new 3 phase panel to accept the new feed from the Engine House panel. After the contractor ran the new feed, Tom and Bob made the connections to the circuits in the machine shop. As part of this work, a single-phase panel was installed. 

Dave W was working on throughout the weekend to create fixtures to assist with the eventual installation of tires on the Western Coal & Coke #1 steam locomotive’s front truck wheels.   

On Sunday, Greg W, Fred V, Adam C and Ed R performed an undercarriage inspection on MCRY #1256, Mid-Continent’s ex-Army locomotive that serves as the museum’s primary locomotive for operating demonstration train rides. The work included checking the traction motor support bearing sumps and wicks, traction motor brushes and checking for any other defects under the locomotive while it was over the pit.   

A crew led by Pete D of Grant H, Colton T, and Fred V disassembled the brake cylinder on DL&W #425 to clean and inspect the cylinder bore and piston packing cup.   

Tom H and Bob D took advantage of the #425 being in the shop. They worked on removing old wiring and damaged electrical conduit that ran from the electrical cabinet on the A-end of the car to the baggage end platform on the B-end of the car. They will be installing new pieces of conduit where needed in preparation for installation of new wire. 

The DL&W #557 coach car still needs to have its cylinder disassembled and inspected and a single car air brake test still needs to be performed on the #425, #557 and C-74 before the season begins.   

The DL&W #595 and #563 still need to be jacked up to have lubricating discs placed in the bolster bowls, have the brake cylinders disassembled/cleaned/inspected and a single car air brake test performed before the operating season begins.   

There will be work happening during the museum’s Spring Fling weekend, May 4 and 5. There may also be a work session before then. If you are interested in joining the ranks of Mechanical Department volunteers, please contact our office at inquiries@midcontinent.org or RSVP for the Spring Fling here: https://form.jotform.com/240655916920157  

Photos courtesy of Colton T.

Pete D and Grant H disassembling the brake rigging in preparation of disassembling the brake cylinder.
The #425 is being lifted with the jacks.  Al J is watching a level placed on the platform and is directing people at each jack to keep the car level as it is raised.
DL&W #425 The car has been lowered back onto the trucks.
Brackets for mounting the conduit to the car are being removed.  This will assist with the removal of the old wiring.
Light shines through the windows of the Engine House, highlighting C&NW #1385’s tender in the distance.
MCRY #1256 under the spotlight of sun rays in the Engine House.

Restoration Department Update

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The MCRM Restoration Department recently completed a three-day volunteer work session that was held on April 10th-12th. We had a good size crew given that it was held during the week. The volunteers that helped out for this session were Jack, Jerry F, Jerry M., Dean, Karl, Bob R., Richard P., Pete, Larry S., Owen, Tom B., Steve and Bill B. Thanks to this crew we got a lot of work performed and completed.

Following is a brief summary of the progress made during the session:

LS&I #64:

Work continued on cutting and fitting new wood for the exterior of the car. Karl trimmed up the new center window stops and installed them on the car. Bob R. primed all of the new battens for the windows. Jack and Jerry were working on cutting, fitting and installing new windowsills. Two windowsills remain to be cut and fit. They also installed one set of the new battens for the arched windows and sash. During the next session, work will continue on the windowsills and installing more of the window battens.

Bob priming the new battens.
Karl installing the center window stops.
Jack sanding the battens.
Jerry F. fitting one of the curved battens.
One window with all of the trim installed.

C&IM #90:

Jerry and Dean continued to install trim pieces and mahogany plywood in the north stateroom. The woodwork in the clerestory area is complete as well as the north and south walls in the north stateroom. Once additional mahogany plywood is purchased the east and west wall will be worked on. In the south stateroom, Steve roughed in the new wiring for the lighting and outlets for the room.

Jerry M and Dean installing trim pieces in the C&IM 90 south state room.

EJ&S #2:

Work continued in the passenger section of the car. Larry S. sanded the recently varnished woodwork while Owen worked on painting pieces of the clerestory trim (two colors). Owen and Bob teamed up to apply two coats of varnish on pieces of walnut trim during the session. Pete and Larry worked on cutting and planning pieces of poplar that will be used for making the seat back frames for the car. Plans call for moving the EJ&S #2 to the north end of the car shop so the car can be accessed easier for painting the exterior of the car. This move is scheduled to take place on April 20th.

Owen painting the trim pieces.
Bob varnishing the walnut trim pieces.

DULUTH:

Karl and Bill B worked in the DULUTH smoking room. They cut new headliner panels for the east and west sides as the old pieces were water damaged. Karl also started to remove the remnants of the partition that was embedded in the west wall where the swinging door was mounted.

Karl working in the DULUTH smoking room.

C&NW #1099:

Richard continued working on restoring and rebuilding the underframe of the narrow gauge combine. His work this year includes installing two new side sills, two new end body beams, two new body bolsters, one new intermediate sill and an all-new subfloor. During the session Richard and Larry S. worked on squaring up the frame in preparation to securing the flooring and side walls to the frame.

The latest progress on the #1099.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Bob installed the new springs on the National vestibule traps on the north end of the Badger #2 Fish car. The springs are part of a system that help lift the traps up, when opening, as well as prevents the traps from free falling when closing.

Larry T. is continuing to strip the old finish off the woodwork inside the GN A-22 “Hill” car. Larry is presently working in the state room and has also been working in the garage end of the car. He has been making good progress and he has been uncovering some beautiful mahogany along the way.

Newly installed spring on the Fish car trap.
Work progressing inside the garage end of the A-22 “Hill” car.

Upcoming work sessions include one on April 26, 27 and May 3, 4 and 5. The May 3-5 session is in conjunction with the “Spring Fling” event on May 4th. We’d really like to have a good turnout for the Spring Fling weekend as we have a number of projects that we need help with. You can register for the Spring Fling here: https://form.jotform.com/240655916920157

If you would like to help out in our restoration department, please reach out to the Mid-Continent office at 608-522-4261 or email inquiries@midcontinent.org.