Having already written about planes and automobiles this year, it was inevitable that I would write about trains. Yesterday we drove up to North Freedom to visit the Mid-Continent Railway Museum.
When I grew up there probably weren’t too many boys who didn’t pass through a train phase. I can remember having a small Lionel train set, the kind with three rails and about 4 or 5 cars on an oval track. Although I’m not a “train buff,” it’s still very interesting to walk around and get a close look at the old steam engines, passenger cars, freight cars, and other historic railroad equipment.
We didn’t go there just to look around. This time of year they offer “Autumn Color Weekend” train rides and we decided to take one. The train we rode was made up of cars from the early 1900s. The specific car we were in was the Delaware Lackawanna & Western #595. According to the MCRM website, this car “was constructed by the Pullman Co. in 1914 as part of a major order for steel passenger cars to be used in the Lackawanna’s steam powered suburban service out of Hoboken, New Jersey.” Since none of the steam engines were operating, the train was pulled by a diesel engine.
It was a warm, sunny day and, although Mother Nature was holding back somewhat on the colors, the ride, described as a “seven-mile, 55-minute round-trip ride on a former branch line of the Chicago & North Western Railway through the scenic Baraboo Hills” was still quite enjoyable. The experience was enhanced by the conductors who were dressed in period uniforms and cheerfully shared their knowledge of railroad lore.
Even if you have only a passing interest in trains, you’d probably enjoy the Mid-Continent Railway Museum. And, although the number of train rides are limited (and will be ending soon for the season), you just might like walking around looking at the old cars and engines.