I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE GROUP.THERE USED TO BE A TRAIN RIDE OLD STEAM LOCOMOTIVE INTO WISC FROM SCHILLER PARK IL TO BARBOO WISC IS IT STILL RUNNING.ANY INFO WOULD BE GREAT THANKS
BOB
There is the Rail Museum in North Freedom, WI, as well as the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay. One of those may be what you are thinking of. Probably the train in North Freedom, as that is less than 30 miles from Baraboo, Wisc.
The train ride you refer to has not been done in at least a decade. See midcontinentrailwaymuseum.org
THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION THE TRAIN TRIP STARTED ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOUSE AND WAS GOING TO TAKE MY GRAND KIDS ON A TRIP IF IT WAS STILL RUNNING
BOB
Sounds like you’re talking about the Great Circus Train. It still runs, but without regular Steam power. Certain years, steam engines such as C&NW #1385 would pull the Train.
www.midcontinent.org is the website for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, WI, about 10 miles from Baraboo. The #1385 is part of their collection, but is out of service and being rebuilt slowly, as are all of their steam engines. All the rides at Mid Continent are diesel powered.
When did 1385 stop running the Circus Train to Chicago?
Mid 80’s I think.
CC
The Great Circus Train was the Circus World Museum’s way to get a trainload’s worth of old Circus wagons from Baraboo to Milwaukee for the Great Circus Parade. It was an attraction in istelf. Alas, the museum has run into hard times and has cancelled the train and the parade. Last year the museum ran a smaller circus parade in Baraboo, but I’m not certain whether it will happen again this year.
The Friends of the 261 are going to be running several steam powered trips in Wisconsin this June. Check their website. http://www.261.com/
It may be possible to take your grandchildren on a steam powered trip this summer after all
Dave Nelson
Since it sounds like you are in Northern Illinois, I’d recommend a trip out to the Illinois RR Museum at Union Illinois. I believe that most weekends they have steam, diesel and electric rides available. Its a nice place to spend an afternoon.
No, yes and yes.
The IRM has 25 steam locomotive on the property, but the only recent operating steam was the decapod, Frisco 1630, which is on the shelf this season being renovated.
Electric and diesel run most weekends. Click on the link dblstack provided and you will find the schedule.
If you must have steam, try Hesston Steam Museum in LaPorte, Indiana at
or the Silver Creek & Stephenson Railroad in Freeport, Illinois at
http://www.thefreeportshow.com/train%20schedule.htm
I believe they are both still operating, but you need to check the schedules.
THANKS TO ALL WHO RESPONDED TO THE QUESTION
MRBUDSON