By Aaron Isaacs
Any trip back to Minneapolis from Chicago offers the chance to stop at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum to see what’s new. However, I hadn’t ridden their 4-mile excursion train since I was a kid, so last year it was time. The old Chicago & North Western quartzite mine spur passes through the museum grounds, then into the woods and through farm fields to a runaround at the old mine site. Mid-Continent’s chosen mission is to preserve the experience of early 20th century branch line railroading and their train ride does just that. For now it’s diesel powered, but the restorations of Saginaw Timber #2 and C&NW #1385 are progressing and it’s only a matter of time before steam is back.
At the North Freedom depot. Today’s consist is a pair of steel open platform commuter coaches from the Chicago & North Western and the Lackawanna, trailed by a caboose.
The first third of a mile passes through the yard. The building at right houses a beautiful collection of mostly wood cars.
On the left is the engine house.
Saginaw Timber 2-8-2 #2 sits outside the car shop. This was over a year ago, so it has since been steamed.
Beyond the yard limits we pass through woods.
Then it’s a mix of farm fields and woods.
All that remains of the quartzite mine is a runaround track and overgrown excavations.
The engine runs around the train.
And we head back.
Back at North Freedom, getting ready for the next trip.