Railroad museum of Sioux City Iowa

gcav17 Jun 8, 2017

  1. gcav17

    gcav17 TrainBoard Member

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    On our way back from a college visit my daughter and I stopped by this museum just for some kicks. (She enjoys trains as much as I do) It's not a big attraction but there is a lot to see here. It is located at the site of Milwaukee Roads old roundhouse and service facility. We didn't have much time but we soaked up all we could. The staff was very friendly and quite knowledgeable about how the place used to look and run.
    The first thing we did was get a ride on the old u.s. army motor car. Not a big ride but was fun. They dropped us off at the old sandhouse where they have a video that runs on a loop. It gives the history of the place and it was professionally done by local tv station there. Then we went into the model railroad house. All HO scale but huge and awesome. There is a lot to say about the place that words can't describe. Heck I could still smell hints of fuel oil here and there......[​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

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  2. gcav17

    gcav17 TrainBoard Member

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    We next saw these steam pumps or donkeys just sitting there. They all came from meat packing plants in the area.[​IMG][​IMG]

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  3. gcav17

    gcav17 TrainBoard Member

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    Then we went into the roundhouse. That's my awesome daughter, and GN 1355. So you know. This engine is serviceable. Kinda. It would need tested again, but FRHA says it needs roller bearings, not the original brass. They want to keep it historic. And fuel oil is to expensive they say anyway. The caboose is just too cook not to include...[​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

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    fordy744, fitz, Mike VE2TRV and 4 others like this.
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    When this operation was getting started, we heard a lot about them. More recently, very little. They are doing well, it seems?
     
  5. gcav17

    gcav17 TrainBoard Member

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    My favorite part was seeing this....[​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

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  6. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Dang, that 1355 looks like it could be fired up and ran in no time!!(y)
     
  7. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Nice! I really love the backdrops on the MR layout. Those clouds are wonderful.
     
  8. gcav17

    gcav17 TrainBoard Member

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    I think so Ken. That cnw caboose was repainted last year. They try to paint one car a year. I forgot what they have in the paint shop now. They really want to try to get BNSF to give theme switch so they can get more stuff. (Bnsf has a rail right next to this place. ) But we all know how bnsf works...

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  9. gcav17

    gcav17 TrainBoard Member

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    Kurt Moose likes this.
  10. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    WOW! Now I definitely have to plan my next trip that way to include this place! And plan a day there! Heck, I could spend a day drooling on the 1355 alone, then the NP caboose and the passenger cars and , . . . . . .

    Am glad you stopped there and posted that stuff!
     
  11. Mike VE2TRV

    Mike VE2TRV TrainBoard Member

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    That's a great museum. Lots of exhibits and one honking big model train layout! A lot of folks had a lot of fun building that.:cool:

    I see your daughter has decided to hang out with a good-looking crowd.;)
     
  12. gcav17

    gcav17 TrainBoard Member

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    Actually, I guess they cheated with the layout. It was custom built by a group from New York. Guess it was quite pricey too.

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  13. MRLdave

    MRLdave TrainBoard Member

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    I need to get back there..........I grew up just a few blocks from there, but back then it was still a working Milw. facility. The Loco sat down at the civic auditorium as long as I can remember.....it's nice they decided to restore it.
     
  14. Mr. Train

    Mr. Train TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for sharing. I was out a few years ago to see the Big Boy on display now I have to go back

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  15. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Dave - Didn't know you were from the Sioux City area.

    Mr. Train - And don't forget the old Rock Island depot in Council Bluffs! There is a UP FEF there and a 4-6-0 and some other stuff. Fun!
     
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  16. gcav17

    gcav17 TrainBoard Member

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    Just bringing this thread back up. My son and I were back this weekend for Father's day. Not to much has changed but it's still there.
    However we could walk into the Milwaukee diner car. And it was pretty neat. Not all of it was original. But you could sense the nostalgia. Not sure it was a diner car. Just seems they would have been bigger? More tables? I don't know for sure.
    I didn't realize either that there was an O scale layout in the same building as the HO. Its in the very back room.
    My son asked me tons of questions about steam locomotives. He couldn't believe how big it was! Lol. He has seen steam before when he was younger but it didn't set in I guess. Lol.
    Anyway it was a good day![​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

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