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.

Spring Fling Volunteer Work Session: May 4th Starting At 9:00 AM

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Join us for our Spring Fling 2024!

Mid-Continent Railway Museum could not operate without our volunteers, but sometimes showing up to volunteer with an organization for the first time can be intimidating. This is why Mid-Continent has planned a special day of volunteer activities to make getting started easy!

This volunteering day is open to everyone and to all ages. Whether you have volunteered with us in the past or this will be your first time, you are welcome to attend our Spring Fling volunteer day on May 4th as we work to ready the museum to reopen for the 2024 season the following weekend.

Starting at 9:00 AM, we will meet at the museum depot. There will be department heads from the museum’s programs there to explain what their department does and the types of volunteer opportunities available.

Once each department has spoken, you can choose which department(s) you are interested in and join them in a day of volunteering. You’ll have the chance to experience multiple departments over the course of a single day. Come stay for an hour, or two, or for the whole day! Don’t forget to wear your work clothes and bring your work gloves if you have them. Please RSVP by email (inquiries@midcontinent.org) or phone (608-522-4261) as soon as possible so we can get an accurate headcount for lunch. Hope to see you there!

Volunteer Opportunities Currently Available:

Restoration Department:

Join the Restoration Department in working on several projects, including cleaning, de-rusting, and painting portions of a 1906 Rock Island coach/baggage car; painting ceiling panels in a 1902 sleeping car; installing windows and trim on a 1910 coach car; moving stored items; and other assorted tasks.

Buildings & Grounds Department:

Join the Buildings & Grounds Department for a variety of tasks to make the property ready for visitors to keep the museum looking good. Projects include a spring cleaning of the museum’s public buildings: including sweeping, window washing, and painting our picnic pavilion building. Volunteers will also be clearing brush & trees from museum lands to help facilitate future expansion.

Engineering Department:

Engineering Department leaders may have work available sorting the museum’s inventory of tie plates and other on-track material.

Operating Department:

The Operating Department superintendent will briefly introduce the volunteer opportunities available to work as car attendants, trainman, conductor, fireman, and engineer and outline the training involved to attain those positions.

Other Departments may be represented as well as the date gets closer.

Sign Up Here