Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad facts for kids
The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad operates a historic train line centered in Trego, Wisconsin on 26 miles of track, between Spooner, Wisconsin and Springbrook, Wisconsin. It was founded on April 1, 1997. The line runs dinner trains, bed and breakfast trains, and scenic sight seeing tours.
Locomotives
- WGN #423 - Former Chicago & North Western EMD F7
- WGN #862 - Former Milwaukee Road EMD SW1
- WGN #6006- Former WC SD40-2, used for freight
- CB&Q #9903 “Injun Joe” - Acquired along with the rest of the Mark Twain Zephyr consist in July 2020.
Passenger
- D&NM #28 "Arrowhead" - Originally an 80-seat coach for the Duluth and Northern Minnesota Railway, now a diner lounge
- D&NM #32 "Apostle Isle" - Originally an 80-seat coach for the Duluth and Northern Minnesota Railway, now a 64-seat diner
- WGN #34 "Presque Isle" - Originally an 80-seat coach that was formerly used on Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway on Maintenance-of-way trains, now a 56-seat diner
- WGN # 112 "Namekagon Club" is currently used as the WGN's gift shop and concession car. It was formerly used on Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway on Maintenance-of-way trains.
- WGN #112 "Richard F. Gilberg" - Originally a mail car, now bar car.
- CB&Q #506 "Becky Thatcher" - Baggage Car in the Mark Twain Zephyr consist.
- CB&Q #573 “Tom Sawyer” - Observation-Lounge Car in the Mark Twain Zephyr consist.
- CB&Q #551 “Huckleberry Finn” - Dining Car in the Mark Twain Zephyr consist.
- CB&Q #500 “Effie Dean” - Tavern-Lounge in the Mark Twain Zephyr consist.
- Multiple unrestored coaches of various types that are either being used for storage purposes or are presently awaiting restoration.
- Former Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway crane X-7 & Boom Car #W6331.
Midwest Rail Rangers Partnership
The Midwest Rail Rangers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has a partnership agreement with the Wisconsin Great Northern. On select weekends, volunteers with the Midwest Rail Rangers present on-board educational programs aboard the railroad's Sky Parlour Car. What is now called the Wisconsin Great Northern's Sky Parlour Car once served as a Hi-Level lounge car on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (1956-1971), See-Level lounge car on Amtrak (1971-1995), and most recently as a Pacific Parlour Car on Amtrak's Coast Starlight train. The Rail Rangers present a free program for passengers that includes showing off various historical displays and artifacts about the historic railroad car.
