I arose at 6:00 AM and after breakfast, finished the Wisconsin Great Northern story then had over an hour to relax, a rare event on any trip I take, and watched ESPN Sports Center and the Weather Channel before checking out of the Best Western Crandon Inn and driving the thirteen miles to the Camp Five Lumberjack Steam Train outside of Laona. As I drove into town, I saw the steam engine, my heart raced and I turned into their parking lot then met one of the employees, letting him know that I was here to write a story about their train and he smiled broadly. I then started my pre-trip photography.
Camp Five HistoryIn the late 1890's, Camp Five began operations as a logging camp in northern Wisconsin. All logging camps were numbered sequentially as railroad logging operations were opened in new areas. In 1914, Camp Five became the local lumber company's farm raising meat, produce and draught horses for the company town of Laona and the company area logging camps. In 1969, Camp Five Museum Foundation was founded by Gordon R. Connor and Mary Roddis Connor in anticipation and in honor of the United States Bicentennial in 1972.
The Mission is "the public education of Wisconsin forest history, multiple-use sustained yield forest management, and people and their environment". Camp 5 Museum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit operating the Wisconsin Forestry Museum and Laona and Northern Railroad.
The site is unique as the former logging camp has become the Wisconsin Forestry Museum and in 1996 was designated on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors arrive at the Wisconsin Forestry Museum on the Laona and Northern Railroad. Running on the same tracks for 99 years, the "4-Spot Lumberjack Special" is a Vulcan 2-6-2 steam engine hauling two historic coaches and three cabooses.
The engine used for the Camp Five Lumberjack Steam Train is Laona & Northern Railway 2-6-2 4, ex. Birmingham Rail and Locomotive COmpany 12 1925, exx. Central Wisconsin Railway 12 Fairchild, Wisconsin, nee Fairchild and Northeastern Railway 12, built by Vulcan Iron Works in 1916.
The steam engine is maintained and stored in this engine house.
Our steam engine preparing for the day's excursions. Now let us look at our train for our trip to Camp Five.
Laona and Northern open air "hobo" car, nee SOO Line outside-braced box car 38752 built by Haskell and Barker in 1920.
Laona and North coach 301 "Rat River", nee SOO Line coach 976 built by American Car and Foundry in 1912.
Laona and Northern coach 302 "Hamilton Roddis", nee SOO Line 994 "Otter Creek" built by Barney and Smith in 1911.
Laona and Northern caboose C403 "Camp 5", nee SOO Line 147 built by Michigan and Peninsular in 1892.
Laona and Northern caboose C401 "Camp "8", ex. Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range C160, nee Duluth and Iron Range 59, builder and year unknown.
The front of our train going out to Camp 5 with the steam engine pushing.
Trainorder signal out along the tracks.
Our steam engine from further away.
The Laona station built in 1893 and is a combination of the depot from Starks and Dunbar, Wisconsin.
The office.
The waiting room.
The steam engine was now coupled to the trainset.
The front of the steam engine.
Laona and Northern 2-6-2 4 builder's plate.
I returned to the ticket office and picked up my ticket for this morning's trip.
The cab of our steam engine.
The engine would soon need some coal.
This view from the highway as I needed to call Chris Parker and there was no signal from the train.
The sun shone through the clouds at the correct time.
Brad Lebouef with his two sons, three-year-old Owen and one-year-old Isaac, who were taking their first train ride today on the Camp Five Lumberjack Steam Train.
Just after 11:00 AM, we began the trip to Camp Five with our engine pushing.
Our train departed the station area on a large curve that took us west.
We made our way into the forest then passed this open area.
The engine steamed nicely as it pushed our train to Camp 5.
Scattered Rice Lake, a 428 acre lake whose maximum depth is ten feet.
Looking forward.
More views of Scattered Rice Lake.
The natural forest through which our train passed.
Rounding a slightly open curve.
Crossing the Rat River.
Passing the Hobo Camp.
A wide open curve as we neared Camp Five.
This is where the engine would receive coal on the first return trip of the morning.
Going by some of the buildings that encompass Camp Five.
Arriving at the Camp Five station.
