I detrain from a two-hour late Empire Builder and found a luggage cart on the platform then made my way into the station and found the Hertz rental car counter and five minutes later, had a KIA Spectra. I drove east on Interstate 94 to Interstate 695 North, taking that to Minnesota 36 and Minnesota 95 into Stillwater.
The former Minnesota Zephyr dinner train, with FP7 787, ex. Coe Rail 716, exx. Cadillac and Lake City 716, exxxx. Burlington Northern 9756, exxxx. Burlington Northern 716, nee Spokane, Portland and Seattle 804 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1953. The owner walked up and we talked for about ten minutes about the train, trail and other things. From here I continued north on Minnesota 95 and crossed the St. Croix River into Wisconsin to Osceola.
Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railroad GP7 559, ex. Chicago and North Western 4159, exx. Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific 4505, nee Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific 1223 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1951. I next drove north to Dresser.
The Dresser SOO Line station built in 1887. I continued north on Wisconsin 35 to US Highway 8 and east to Turtle Lake, where I turned left onto US Highway 63, taking that to Spooner where I found the railroad with twelve minutes to spare.
Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad "Route of the Namekagon"The family-owned and operated Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad operates a historic train line centered in Trego, Wisconsin on 26 miles of track, between Spooner and Springbrook. It was founded on April 1, 1997 and features dinner trains, bed and breakfast trains and scenic sight seeing tours.
The train sats ready to go north to Springbrook and consisted of SW1 862, club car 112 "Richard F. Gilberg" and buffet 32 "Apostle Isle".
Wisconsin Great Northern SW1 862, ex. Milwaukee Road 862, exx. Milwaukee Road 850, nee Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific 1616 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1940.
The former Milwaukee Road and Chicago and North Western station in Spooner built in 1902. I picked up my ticket and after everyone else had boarded, I climbed aboard and sat at a table in the "Apostle Isle" then acquired a Coca-Cola from the club car and waited for departure over the former Chicago and North Western tracks.
These two children were about to have their first train ride.
Right after noon, we departed Spooner for Springbrook.
Passing the line of Wisconsin Great Northern equipment.
Looking back at Spooner.
Tank cars are stored all over this railroad, which is owned by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. A trail, which used to be the second track, parallels our route as far as Trego.
Fields to the east.
Looking back.
The interior of "Apostle Isle", nee Duluth and Iron Range coach 32 built by Pullman in 1918.
Poor Richard's Antiques across US Highway 53/63.
Firewood for sale east of the tracks.
The trail adjacent.
Two views along US Highway 53/63.
Our engineer running our train.
Looking ahead.
This is what uses the trail.
Clouds to the west.
Looking ahead.
Another field.
Looking back.
We arrived at Trego.
Passing more stored tank cars. Trego was the junction where the Chicago and North Western lines split for either Superior or Ashland.
Tank cars are stored on the wye.
Section foreman's house.
More stored tank cars.
The east wye switch.
We started our return journey through the forest.
The Namekagon River.
The train crossed the fill that blocks the river from flowing to the other side of the tracks.
Passing a huge junk yard in the trees south of the tracks.
The old siding at Earl.
A view looking back.
Crossing Bean Creek on this trestle.
Upon our arrival at Springbrook we were greeted by an M60A3 tank which is on display at the VFW 105698 Post.
The railroad's F7A 423 had been switching more tank cars for storage on this railroad. After a few minutes, we continued on our way back to Spooner.
Green Lake.
A corn field south of the tracks before Earl.
The Namekagon River with some kayakers in one view.
Potato Creek.
The remains of a former Chicago and North Western hot box detector activator point.
The train returned us all to Spooner, ending an excellent trip on the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad. I detrained and started to explore the grounds.
