Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad facts for kids
The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad is a fun, historic train line in Wisconsin! It runs on 26 miles of track between Spooner, Wisconsin and Springbrook, Wisconsin, with its main hub in Trego, Wisconsin. This special railroad started on April 1, 1997. It offers exciting trips like dinner trains, overnight "bed and breakfast" trains, and beautiful scenic tours where you can see amazing views.
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Meet the Mighty Engines!
The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad has several cool engines that pull its trains:
- WGN #423: This engine used to be a Chicago & North Western EMD F7 train.
- WGN #862: This engine was once a Milwaukee Road EMD SW1 train.
- WGN #6006: This engine, a former WC SD40-2, is used for moving freight.
- CB&Q #9903 “Injun Joe”: This special engine joined the railroad in July 2020. It came with the rest of the Mark Twain Zephyr train cars.
Riding in Style: Passenger Cars
The railroad has many interesting passenger cars for different experiences:
- D&NM #28 "Arrowhead": This car was originally a large coach for the Duluth and Northern Minnesota Railway. Now, it's a cozy diner lounge car.
- D&NM #32 "Apostle Isle": Like the "Arrowhead," this car was also a coach for the Duluth and Northern Minnesota Railway. Today, it's a 64-seat diner car.
- WGN #34 "Presque Isle": This car used to be an 80-seat coach on the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway. Now, it's a 56-seat diner car.
- WGN #112 "Namekagon Club": This car is where you can find the gift shop and buy snacks! It was also once used on the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway.
- WGN #112 "Richard F. Gilberg": This car used to carry mail. Now, it's a bar car for passengers.
The Mark Twain Zephyr Cars
Some cars are part of a famous train set called the Mark Twain Zephyr:
- CB&Q #506 "Becky Thatcher": This is the baggage car for the Mark Twain Zephyr set.
- CB&Q #573 “Tom Sawyer”: This car is a special observation-lounge car, perfect for enjoying the views.
- CB&Q #551 “Huckleberry Finn”: This car is the dining car for the Mark Twain Zephyr train.
- CB&Q #500 “Effie Dean”: This car is a tavern-lounge car, great for relaxing.
Learning on the Go: Rail Rangers!
The Midwest Rail Rangers is a non-profit group that works with the Wisconsin Great Northern. On certain weekends, volunteers from the Rail Rangers offer free educational programs on board the railroad's special Sky Parlour Car.
About the Sky Parlour Car
The Sky Parlour Car has a cool history! It was once a Hi-Level lounge car on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway from 1956 to 1971. Then, it became a See-Level lounge car for Amtrak until 1995. Most recently, it was known as a Pacific Parlour Car on Amtrak's Coast Starlight train. The Rail Rangers share interesting facts and show historical items about this unique car to passengers.
