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of the Lumberjack Steam Train
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Make Plans for An Old Fashioned Steam Train Trip Take
the whole family on a trip back in time this vacation with a ride on a
vintage steam train. Head for Laona and climb
aboard the famed Lumberjack Steam Train for a journey into the late 1800's.
Sit in a rare cupola caboose as the vintage steam engine takes you to an
actual site of a Northwoods logging camp. |
Activities About Us §News
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About the Train (See Video of the train ) The
“4-spot” Steam Locomotive was built in 1916 by the Vulcan Iron Works in
Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. It was purchased
September 22, 1926 and was brought to Laona for use
in the logging industry. The steam engine pulls two all-steel passenger coach
cars, an open air observation car and three cabooses. The
"4-spot" is the only "PRAIRIE" style steam locomotive
operating in the state of Wisconisn. The
"PRAIRIE" style steam
locomotive is a classification based on wheel arrangement. The PRAIRIE
style is a 2-6-2, which means there are 2
leading wheels, 6 coupled driving wheels, and 2 trailing wheels. The
first American Prairie type were built in 1900 by Brook for the Chicago
Burlington & Quincy Railroad for use in the Mid-West prairies (hence the
name). Baldwin also made a number of these engines which were
used by the Aitchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe
Railroad and also by the Burlington Railroad. A majority of American 2-6-2 Prairie type were tender
locomotives. The
American Car and Foundry Company built the coach named the “Hamilton Roddis”, in 1923 for the Soo Line.Barney and Smith built the coach named the “Otter
Creek” in 1911 also for the Soo Line. It was
rebuilt in 1941. The cabooses have unique cupolas and offer “up in the trees”
views of the passing forest. The Camp 7 caboose is an 18 passenger cupola
style caboose. It was originally the Duluth, Mesabi, & Iron Range caboose
#589. The Camp 5 caboose was Soo Line’s
Caboose No. 147. In
2008 the Lumberjack Steam Train added a new feature; an old box car
originally built by Haskel and Barker in July 1920
and part of the Laona & Northern Railway, has
been carefully converted into an open air observation car. Laona Soo Line Depot Visitors board the Lumberjack Steam train at the 1880’s Soo Line Depot, located 1/4 mile West of the junction of
Highways 8 & 32 on Highway 8. Inside the depot, tickets can be purchased
for the train ride, just as people did at the turn of the century. The
depot has an old fashioned railway clock, roll top desk, early typewriter,
and barrel stove. It also has an unusual elm bow, used by passing train
conductors to catch dispatches from a depot agent. Today,
a ticket on the Lumberjack Steam Train takes you out to the site of an Old
Logging Camp. Lumberjacks numbered their Camps, and this site was the site of
Camp 5. Later it became the site of the Lumber Company Farm.
Today when you arrive, you find some of the old
buildings which were a part of the Lumber Company Farm.
There is the old Hog Barn which is now the Petting Corral, the Blacksmith
Shop which is now a part of the
Museum, and the Old Slaughter House. In the distance is the old
Boarding House and several original barns, as well as the "Woods Boss's
House". Your ticket is all inclusive and includes the
Round-trip Ride on the Lumberjack Steam Train and admission into the Logging
Camp Complex of historic and natural attractions, including the Logging
Museum and Blacksmith Shop, Green Treasure Forest Tour, Animal Barn and
Corral, the Nature Center, Cracker Barrel Store and Choo
Choo Hut Restaurant. Lumberjack Steam Train Arriving at the 1880's Soo Line Depot:
Lumberjack Steam Train
Crossing the Rat River: Lumberjack
Steam Train Leaving the Logging Camp 5 Complex: |
