Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District (Sioux City, IA)

Santa's Whistle Stop Tour Ends a Record Year!

2011-12-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all our wonderful guests, visitors, volunteers, members and donors as we are ready to close out a record setting year! Our inaugural Santa's Whistle Stop Tour was a wonderful event and provided us with some very valuable information to build on for next years event.

The first Saturday of the event proved to be very educational. As you all may remember Dec. 3rd brought us rain, sleet and snow. With some of the heaviest snowfall occurring just in time for Santa's arrival. Our train crews had their hands full operating during winter conditions for the first time, but Santa arrived (almost on time) to the cheers of many children eagerly awaiting his arrival. The next two Saturdays proved nicer with warming temperatures and plenty of sunshine. Estimated attendance figures are as follows. Dec 3rd = 100, Dec 10th = 1,100 and Dec 17th = 2,700! Santa got to talk to lots and lots of smiling children and hear their happy wishes for the holidays. The Polar Express Conductor also was on hand and when he wasn't reading stories he was helping out with the motor car rides loading and unloading passengers.

With this Christmas event drawing an estimated 3900 people (as calculated by visitor sign ins) that puts a very happy ending to a record setting year. Last year (our previous best)saw an annual attendance of 12,300. This year we completed construction on the Civil Engineering Building, began an intensive restoration of the Nebraska Central HO scale model railroad, restored the Machine Shop Building, won the Iowa State Preservation at it Best, Community Award for the Machine Shop Restoration and we have a current annual attendance of 31,800 with less than two weeks to go until the end of the year. That's a 38.7% increase in visitors over last year.

Keep your eye's and ears tuned to the local news for more exciting news about changes coming to the business side of the museum that will catapult the railroad museum into a bright new era. Sound the whistle! All lights are green! Full steam ahead!

Santa's Whistle Stop Tour at the Roundhouse

2011-11-23T08:46:00.000-08:00

Santa will be making his 2011 Whistle Stop Tour at the Roundhouse on Saturdays, December 3rd, 10th, and 17th. Children and adults can drop-in, visit Santa and take part in arts and crafts between 1:00 and 3:30 pm during the 2011 Whistle Stop Tour.

Admission to the railroad museum will be free during Santa’s Whistle Stop Tour. If weather and temperature permits, motor car rides may be purchased for $1 per person during Santa’s Whistle Stop Tour. Visitors are encouraged to dress warmly for colder weather and to wear appropriate shoes for walking.

Santa will arrive at 1:15 p.m. and will be in his special decorated roundhouse stall from 1:30 to 3:30 to greet visitors. Santa will depart at 3:45 p.m. Visitors are welcomed to take photos of Santa and his young believers as they sit with him in the special room in Bay 1 of the Roundhouse Building. Students participating in the Kristin Polley Memorial Scholarship program will take pictures for $5 each for those who do not have a camera and wish to have a photo print before they leave the railroad museum complex. Children will have the opportunity to design and personalize their own photo frame.

The Conductor is accompanying Santa this year and he will read stories from Polar Express to the young-at-heart in the specially decorated train caboose. Following the storytelling, The Conductor will pose for pictures with the children. The Kristin Polley Memorial Scholarship program will provide visitors with refreshments.

There are many other arts and crafts activities including making ornaments. Games will include Reindeer toss, Santa’s grand prize ball game, fish ring toss game, snowman bean bag toss game and some others. Children are asked to bring a donation of a nonperishable food item or paper product such as paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste etc. All items donated will be distributed to Western Iowa Tech students in need with any extras going to the Food Bank.

While visiting the railroad museum, grownups and children will have the opportunity to enjoy Small Trains, an HO-scale model railroad exhibition featuring the Nebraska Central Railway. This exhibit was previously on display at the Durham Museum in Omaha, Nebraska, and features several operating scale model trains. While the exhibit is currently under restoration, visitors can check out the progress of work.

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District gift shop will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on these Saturdays. The railroad museum complex is located at 3400 Sioux River Road, along State Highway 12 – Loess Hills National Scenic Byway – in Sioux City.

To get a sneak peak at some of the decorations the volunteers have been making for this special visit check out a video "Deck the Stalls" by clicking on the link to our You Tube site which can be found just to the right side of this article.

SAVE THE DATES! SANTA IS COMING TO THE ROUNDHOUSE.

2011-11-11T09:48:00.000-08:00

Jolly old St. Nichoals, better know as Santa Claus to many, has announced he will be making three stops at the Milwaukee Railroad Historic Shops and Museum this December. The dates scheduled for his visit's are all Saturdays on December 3rd, 10th and 17th. He will arrive at noon and depart at 4 pm each day.

We are so excited that he has added us to his busy schedule. The volunteers will be busy in the coming weeks preparing the Bay 1 display room located next to the gift shop into Santa's home away from home.

So, save the dates and make your plans to come see and talk to Santa before Christmas Eve arrives.

Stay tuned to this blog site for more details about this great event coming in the very near future.

May you all have the happiest of holiday seasons.

Over 5,100 People Have Halloween Fun at the 3rd Annual Halloween at the Roundhouse Event

2011-10-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

That's right! 5,139 people attended the 3rd annual Halloween at the Roundhouse event this past Saturday, October 29th, 2011. And there were plenty of new attractions this year to please everyone that attended. Trick or Treat bags were handed out to the youngsters as they entered the the gate. Ten candy stations were located throughout the complex for the kids to get their treats. The 1913 Northern Pacific wood caboose was transformed into a haunted caboose complete with animatronic ghouls, black light cob webs, strobe lights, fog, spiders, rats and an old pirates coffin. At times through out the event the line for this attraction snaked all the way out the back door of the roundhouse and was viewed by many people numerous times. Other new attractions to this years Halloween event were the Petting Zoo and Pony rides which both saw non-stop lines all day long also.

A first time special fund raising event "Tea at the Track Side" offered guests some private time with Special Guests Sir Topham Hatt and his wife Mrs. Jane "Lady" Hatt over tea (fruit punch) cupcakes and pretzels. According to eye witnesses at the event, all was going fine until a group of unruly witches crashed the party and poisoned every ones tea. As Sir Topham Hatt and Mr. Conductor were trying to reason with the witches Dorthy and Toto burst in with super soaker squirt guns and began melting the witches until they flew away. Glenda, the Good Witch of the North, had put special powers into Dorothy's ruby slippers that allowed her to reverse the poisonous spell on the tea and allowed the event to continue.

Three hay rack rides moved people throughout the complex. One shuttled people in the parking lot to and from their cars and the main gate while the other two moved people throughout the complex.

A great time was held by all. Not only the guests but the volunteers as well. I would like to take this time to publicly thank the more than 60 volunteers that gave up their time, came together and worked this event to make it the huge success that it was. Without them, none of this would ever be possible.

Another, milestone was also completed at this event. This event pushed us over the 20,000 visitor mark for this year. That's a 58.8% increase over the total visitor count for last year and we still have two more months to go! A hardy well done and a very warm thank you, once again, goes out to everyone in our fantastic 100% volunteer organization. You are all amazing and a complete pleasure to work with. Thank You!

Now that this event is over, what can we possibly do next? Well, I will give you a hint. It will probably cover the first three weekends in December and Ho, HO, HO will be a popular theme.

Stayed tuned to this site for further updates!

HALLOWEEN AT THE ROUNDOUSE, Saturday, October 29th, Noon to 4 PM

2011-10-25T06:28:00.000-07:00

Ironhorse Day's: More than 1,100 people say Happy Birthday to Old Ironhorse

2011-10-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

On Saturday and Sunday October 15 & 16 the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District & Museum in Sioux City, Iowa and over 1,100 quests celebrated the 102nd birthday of Sioux City’s landmark steam locomotive, Great Northern Railways # 1355 or better known to locals as Old Ironhorse.

The two day event featured seminars about the history of GN1355 and steam power. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad had a representative showing videos and discussing railway safety and how trains and automobiles can co-exist safely through its Operation Lifesaver program.

A special drawing was held for a free GN1355 t-shirt and that was won by Mr. Jim Residorff of David City, NE. Congratulations!

Guests were also treated to roundhouse turntable rides and motor car rides/tours. A good time was had by all in attendance. Thank you all for your support.

Ironhorse Days Oct 15 & 16

2011-09-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

Save the Date: Ag/Rail Festival Aug 20 & 21

2011-08-09T12:26:00.000-07:00

Make your plans now to attend our 9th Annual Ag/Rail festival coming up on Saturday and Sunday August 20th and 21st. This is our only two day event of the year and we are pulling out all the stops for your family enjoyment. A family and community celebration of the close working ties between agricultural and the railroads this event will help bridge the gap between the generations.

All sorts of extras and goodies are added to please everyone of any age. We will have live music, kids activities, motor car rides ($1.00 each), other railroad displays and of course agricultural displays of all kinds. See antique tractors not only on display, but competing in a tractor pull both days, and see, smell and hear them as they participate in the tractor parade each day around the complex. See the old belt driven threshers hard at work in fields behind the rail yard. See some of the old steam driven machines that used to be commonplace in the family farm homes to make things go and help make life a little bit easier.

Check out the amazing progress our volunteers have made restoring the 75 x 15 foot HO scale Nebraska Central Railroad. Currently running up to 4 trains at a time with more to come. Located in our brand new Civil Engineering Exhibit Hall this is one stop you won't want to miss. Also, new this year an operating Lionel train set located in the Milwaukee Road orange Ronald Rungee Memorial Caboose located between the Car Shops building and the Civil Engineering Exhibit Hall.

Speaking of the Car Shops building, stop on in for hot food and cold drinks supplied by the WITCC Trio Group. A non-profit group that donates it's proceeds to scholarship funds and other worthy charities.

There's much, much more happening than can be listed here so make your plans now and bring your family and friends.

Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for kids 12-18 years old, Free for kids 0-11 with the paid admission of an accompanying adult.

Attention All Currently Serving Military Personnel and your Families: We are a proud member of the Blue Star Museums group and thank you all from the bottoms our hearts for your selfless dedication to our wonderful country. By presenting your Geneva Convention Common Access Card (CAC), A DD Form 1173 ID Card, or a DD Form 1173-1 ID Card, which includes active duty military Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserve and their immediate family members your admission is FREE.

Special Event Planned for July 2nd

2011-06-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

(Sioux City, IA) On Saturday, July 2nd, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic
District will host its first annual “Trains, Tripods & Snapshots” –
bring your own camera and tripod photo day. The daylong event will feature the
outdoor public display of Sioux City’s landmark steam locomotive Great
Northern No. 1355 and other train displays for photo opportunities by
visitors.

Families and amateur photographers are welcomed to bring their own cameras and
tripods to pose and photograph family members near the train displays. This
unique opportunity will allow parents and grandparents to dress children in
railroad attire and pose them next to Sioux City’s landmark steam locomotive
in an outdoor setting; utilizing the sun and the backdrop of the Loess Hills
to help frame the photos.

The 101 year old steam locomotive will be on outdoor public display on
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The locomotive will be pulled out of the
roundhouse building by a diesel locomotive at 9:45 a.m. and pushed back into
the roundhouse at 3:10 p.m. The push-pull operation provides great
opportunities for capturing video images of the train movement.

In addition to the steam locomotive, the historic buildings and vintage
rolling stock provide hundreds of photo opportunities to allow amateur and
family photographers to capture images of older children and other family
members using the structures for textures and backgrounds.

Due to the flooding of the Big Sioux River, the high water table, and the
rails at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District complex, the public is
encouraged to wear shoes appropriate to weather and ground conditions. Various
areas around the historic district may be closed to the public due to low land
flooding.

Normal admission fees will be charged for the event. For more information
please visit the railroad museum’s website at
www.MilwaukeeRailroadShops.org.

ABOUT THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE AND MILWAUKEE RAILROAD SHOPS

The steam locomotive is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and
is nationally significant for its scientific and technological attributes. The
steam locomotive was built in 1909 and enjoyed a long career pulling the named
trains of the Great Northern Railway, including the Oriental Limited and
Pacific Fast Mail.

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is located adjacent to the Big
Sioux River and Loess Hills National Scenic Byway in Sioux City’s Riverside
area. Built in 1917, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is one of
the largest remaining steam locomotive-servicing facilities in the Midwest.
The 31.5-acre site consists of a roundhouse with turntable, machine/blacksmith
shop building, car/carpenter shop building, sand drying house with wood sand
tower, engineer’s tool shed and a water closet building. This historic site
also contains eighteen other historical remnants, including foundations of the
water tower, boiler house and coaling tower.

Because of its national significance, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic
District was designated an “official project” of the Save America’s
Treasures Program and has been determined eligible for listing in the National
Register of Historic Places.

ATTENTION ALL CURRENTLY SERVING US MILITARY PERSONNEL AND DEPENDENTS

2011-06-14T14:44:00.000-07:00

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is proud to be a participant and supporter of the Blue Star Museums program. This initiative is a partnership among Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts, and more than 1,400 museums across America. Blue Star Museums runs from Memorial Day, May 31, 2010 through to Labor Day, September 6, 2010. This free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention Common Access Card (CAC), A DD Form 1173 ID Card, or a DD Form 1173-1 ID Card, which includes active duty military and up to 5 of their immediate family members, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserve.

We know how difficult and stressful the military lifestyle can be. Many of our volunteers have previously served and or retired from the US military and know that when it comes to pleasing the kids and reducing the stress any bit of outdoor activity can be a godsend to maintaining the family peace. The Blue Star Museum program offers us a chance to help with those stresses by giving your families a chance to hang out together, have fun, and take the worry out of trying to figure out how to afford a nice day out with the entire family.

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops in Sioux City, Iowa offers the perfect combination of entertainment for the family. Kids and trains, what more could you ask for. See an operating turntable in front of our 6 stall roundhouse, get up close and personal with steam and diesel locomotives, boxcars and cabooses, and see our 75’ x 15’ HO scale Nebraska Central Model Railroad in our brand new Civil Engineering Exhibit Hall. Oh, did I mention...this is no small museum we have 6 buildings spread across 30 acres of land! Let the kids run themselves tired so you can enjoy a nice peaceful drive home. For more details visit our web site at www.milwaukeerailroadshops.org.

To find out which other museums are participating, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. The site includes a list of participating museums and a map to help with visit planning. Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact the museum directly.

Thank you for your service to each of us and this great country of ours. It’s the selfless dedication and patriotic pride of not only the service member, but their families also that make this country great. We are all extremely proud to call you our friends. Thank you.

Sioux City History Preservation Week/National Train Day Event is a Success

2011-05-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

The Sioux City History Preservation Week/National Train Day event, hosted on Saturday May 7, has started out the 2011 tourist season at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District on a very positive footing. This year’s event was by far the most successful spring event we have ever hosted. The weather was beautiful and the newly refurbished Machine/Blacksmith Shop and the operating HO scale Nebraska Central Railroad were instant favorites among new and repeat visitors to the railroad museum complex.

According to Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (SHRA) President, Larry Obermeyer Jr. the preliminary attendance figures for this one day event are currently somewhere between 750 and 1000 people. A review of visitor registrations found that 19.2 percent of all the visitors were from a 30 mile radius of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Based on the minimum attendance figure of 750 this percentage equates to about 144 visitors from the Sioux Falls market area. This is a 15 percentage point increase versus normal attendance.

In addition to the uptick from the Sioux Falls market we also drew approximately 5.5%from the Omaha, Nebraska market area or nearly 50 visitors. This is extremely good considering the competion of the well established Omaha market areas National Train Day events that were hosted by the Union Pacific Museum, the Durham Museum, and the Fremont, Nebraska, Elk Horn Valley Railroad. This market area was up about 2 percentage points over normal attendance. The remainders of the visitors were from the greater Sioux City area.

Many positive comments were heard from our repeat visitors about the progress that has been made over the past year. Comments referring to the additional buildings being brought on-line allowing us to display more artifacts and the many improvements in the grounds presentation and upkeep have helped to provide a very fun and positive experience to all our visitors.

SHRA Vice President, Matt Merk stated, “It’s very rewarding to hear these encouraging comments from our guests. It proves that the vision of this private non-profit organization and its 100% volunteer work force believe in its potential as a very important educational and entertainment destination. It also shows that the efforts of our 57 volunteers that logged in over 14,000 hours of sweat equity into this complex last year have not gone unnoticed and the people of Sioux City do appreciate what we are trying to accomplish.”

Sioux City History Week & National Train Day - Saturday, May 7th

2011-04-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

Our first big event of the year is schedule for Saturday, May 7th running from 10am till 4 pm. This year we are combining two events into one fun filled day. This year, along with anchoring the week long Sioux City History Week celebrations we are also celebrating Amtrak’s 40th birthday with National Train Day festivities.

Over the fall and winter, progress has not stopped at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District located in the Riverside neighborhood of Sioux City, Iowa. As a matter of fact, improvements are coming in leaps and bounds. The dedicated group of volunteers has been busy and so have the construction crews. The newly saved Machine/Blacksmith shop will be open for public viewing. This is the future home of the St Louis Corliss steam engine that we saved from the bottom of KD Station before it was torn down. You can talk with the people involved with its rescue and find out the latest updates on the restoration and plans to bring it back to life. Also on display will be some old belt driven lathes, drill presses and other machines that would have actually been used in the machine shop.

Our newest building, the civil engineering exhibit hall will be open and our feature exhibit the Nebraska Central Railroad will actually have trains running on it for public display for the first time in over 15 years. This 75 foot x 15 foot HO scale layout has been getting worked very hard since it was reassembled from storage last fall. If you saw it last fall at AG/Rail you’ll be amazed at the progress that has been made. The buildings are lighted once again, track has been removed, replaced and re-wired. Buildings that we originally thought were destroyed beyond repair have been masterfully put back together and returned to their rightful spots on the layout. While there is still a considerable amount of work yet to be done, you'll be pleased and excited over the progress that has occured. Please give our dedicated model railroad volunteers a firm handshake and a resounding WELL DONE for the amount of work that has been accomplished in such a short period of time.

Other things you’ll note are the many new interpretive display boards that have been added to increase your enjoyment and learning while looking at the various exhibits. A new feature being added for this event is the Hayrack Ride Tours. Jump on the hayrack ride and learn about the complex as you travel around the complex from one location to another. Jump off at a building and go inside and learn more then get back on the hayrack and travel to the next stop. You are sure to learn something new, fun and fascinating while visiting the complex on this ride. If you still would like to learn more about Sioux City and its relationships with the railroads you defiantly won’t want to miss the one and only Dr. Rudy Daniels giving another one of his great talks in the Machine/Blacksmith Shop at 1:30 pm. Also, if you get hungry, you can feed your family and help others in need the same time. The Trio Group from WITTC will be on hand with hot eats. All the proceeds from the food sales go toward scholarship funds and other worthwhile charities that this wonderful group provides for.

Make your plans now! Invite your friends, neighbors, grandparents, grandkids, aunts and uncles this is the family outing you’ve been waiting for. Come celebrate Sioux City and the railroads. Come on out to the Milwaukee Railroad Historic Shops at 3400 Sioux River Road, “Where history, science and technology are coupled together”.
Admission: $5 for adults, $2.50 for kids. Motor car rides are $1.

Machine/Blacksmith Shop Restoration Nears Completion

2011-03-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

Late in the fall of 2010 contractor Audino Construction started the refurbishment of the Machine/Blacksmith Shop. Another historical industrial building has been saved with help of grants from Federal and State agencies the Iowa State Transportation Enhancement Act and Vision Iowa providing the majority of the funding for this project. This structure during it's heyday was home to hundreds of skilled machinists, blacksmiths, welders, and pipfitters. Operating the largest and most sophisticated machinery in the tri-state area from the 1920's and into the 1950's . This building will find new life as an industrial display hall featuring industrial steam machines and other tools and machines used during this time frame. The staring exhibit will the 1911 St. Louis Corliss steam engine that we saved from the basement of the former Swift Pork Packing plant (KD Station) in the Sioux City Stockyards just days prior to it's demolition. The work accomplished by Audino Construction during the fall and winter has included; re-tuck pointing all the brick work, replacing the roof, removing the old rotted window frames and replaced them with all new windows, re-opened doors that that have been long covered and closed by concrete, and installed new freight doors at both ends of the building.

Future fund raising will be needed to accomplish repair of the floor, building the Corliss foundation and installation of electrical and HVAC. We are gradually winning the reclamation battle of this industrial complex and converting it into what will become a nationally recognized science and technology museum that all of Siouxland will be proud of.

The wheels of progress turn slowly but just like the great steam trains of the past we just keep chugging along. Come on out and check us out, you'll be glad you did. The Milwaukee Railroad Historic District; Where railroad history, science and technology are coupled together.

Vote daily for UP Excursion to Sioux City

2010-11-14T18:07:00.000-08:00

Reminder, please be sure to vote for Sioux City as part of the Union Pacific Excursion program. The link is as follows:

http://x.up.com/6871

Vote for Sioux City and Live Steam

2010-11-12T09:53:00.000-08:00

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You can help bring a live steam locomotive to Sioux City! That's right. See one of the the few remaining living, breathing, giants from the past. Right here in your very own backyard. The Union Pacific Railroad is asking YOU to vote for the next scheduled stops for it's two world famous steam excursion trains. Click on the banner above, watch the short video and VOTE FOR SIOUX CITY!

Vote once --- vote often -- JUST VOTE! This is one opportunity you really don't want to pass us by.

Schedule Sneak Peek for Halloween at the Roundhouse

2010-09-27T06:45:00.000-07:00

Here's a special sneek peek at the schedule of events that we have planned. If you're looking for something fun to do as a family this is eactly what you're looking for. We hope to see you there!

You're Invited! Halloween at the Roundhouse

2010-09-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again. The leaves are changing, the temperatures are dropping, and the days are growing shorter. YEEAAA! That can only mean one thing. Halloween at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is just around the corner. Save the date! This is an all out total family fun fest that you definitely do not want to miss. It's only 4 hours long! So come early and stay for the whole event, it will be over before you know it. And there is one thing for sure.... you'll be glad you did. There is more parking this year so bring your friends & neighbors we don't want anyone to miss out.

AG/RAIL 2010 REVIEW

2010-08-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

Even with temperatures in the mid 90's and heat indexes reaching the low triple digits 2,400 visitors still came out and braved the heat and sun this year and had a wonderful time. Many of the people this year were new to the complex this year and were amased that a museum of this scale was being developed right here in Sioux City. Visitors were treated to home-made ice cream, a petting zoo, small engine displays, operating farm equipment, railroad displays, operating model railroads, live music that traveled about the complex, an antique tractor parade and tractor pull, kids activities, prizes and special visiotrs.

The newly completed Civil/Railroad Engineering Exhibit Hall was open to the public and a sneak peak of the HO scale Nebraska Central Railroad was an instant eye opener for everyone. "Stunning" and "remarkable" were the words heard most often by our volunteers. Also, history lessons and futrue plans for our 1911 St. Louis Corliss steam engine were provided in video displays and personel one-on-one conversations and tours.

Special guests were also on hand to entertain the crowds. Our Hobo actors did their best to "collect donations" and also held sing-alongs whether you wanted to participate or not (ha ha). Sir Topham Hat, Mr. Conductor, and Millie the Milwaukee Shops engine also made apperances and handed out Thomas the Tank Engine, Misty Island Rescue, activity books that were so generously donated by the Marcus Theaters Company.

44 volunteers lent their valuable time, talents and cheery dispositions to making this years AG?RAIL a success. Thank You to those that attended and those that helped out. Spread the news! Sioux City has a railroad museum in the making and will be a museum of national caliber and claim. A definite tourism draw and and economic boon to Sioux City, Riverside, North Sioux City and the Siouxland area in general.

AG/Rail 2010 - Make Your Plans to Attend

2010-08-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

AG/RAIL 2010 is just around the corner and you sure don't want to miss out this year. Being highlighted this year is our new Civil/Railraod Engineering Dispay Hall which construction was just finished on in past couple weeks. The volunteers have been VERY busy and you'll be amazed at what you find inside. The signture display, the HO scale Nebraska Central Railroad is in place. Although not operational at this time the volunteers have been working tirelessly on making this presentalble for AG/RAIL. Although there is much to be done, you will be able to see the awesome potentail of this exhibit. When complete, it will help us to tell the story of railroad enginners and the the sciences behind building a railroad from the Plains to the Mountains. Along with this exhibit, a newly expanded and relocated childerens activty center will be in place. Bigger people mover trailers are being used this year to help transport people around the parking lots to the Main Entrance and within the complex itself. This should help with getting you around the 31 acre site a little eaier and quicker. Live music, antique tractors, an antique tractor pull (both days), tractor parade (both days), turntable demonstrations, farm diplays, railroad displays, operating model railroads and many special characters will be running around meeting and greeting the visitors. As aspecial treat (weather pemitting) On Sunday morning around 11 am we pull our pride and joy, steam locomotive Great Northern #1355 out of the roundhouse and display it on the turntable for all to enjoy and take pictures outside basking in the sunlight. This only happens a couple times a year so you diffenetly won't want to miss out.

Footings poured for new civil engineerng exhibit center

2010-04-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

During the work week of April 5 to April 9, construction crews poured the footings for the new railroad-civil engineering exhibit center at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District.

The City Council approved two resolutions related to the building's construction. The first action approved a change order for the dirt work that was needed as a result of a unmarked sewer tile being broken and the subsequent need to put new fill that will support the 4,000-square-foot building. The second element of the resolution extend the project's completion date to May 31, 2010.

Sunsets on KD Station-Swift Plant Smoke Stack

2010-04-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

The photo displayed on the left was taken on Saturday evening, April 10, at 7.55 p.m. The photos shows the set sun in the back ground. This was the last night of the smoke stack standing. On Sunday morning, April 11, the smoke stack is now gone.

Big Sioux River begins to recede from low-lying area

2010-03-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, March 21, 2010, the Big Sioux River began to recede along the east bank, a low-lying tree-line area which forms the western boundary of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. The attached photo to the left show the river level dropped close to six feet. The ground area of the tree line is now partially visible. Yesterday, the low-lying, tree line area was under water.

SHRA breaths sigh of relief as Big Sioux River nears flood stage

2010-03-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

SHRA volunteers are breathing a sigh of relief with the cresting of the Big Sioux River this weekend. After a winter that dropped over 3 inches of rain on the complex during Thanksgiving weekend, and several snowstorms that left over 60 inches of snow and eight-foot snow drifts through out the property, volunteers were extremely worried about the effects of snow melt on the complex, and the snow melt north of Sioux City along the Big Sioux River.

On Saturday, the Big Sioux River spilled over its east bank into the lower-lying land areas of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. The depth of the spill over is about 3 feet and about 12 feet wide. To reach that point, the Big Sioux was running at around 99 ft through Sioux City. To reach the lower Ag-Rail Heritage Festival land area, the River would need to reach a stage of 103 feet and to reach the roundhouse and other buildings, the River level would need to be around 105 ft.

Over the past few weeks, several volunteers have diligently monitored the river levels and weather. With the Big Sioux River cresting Saturday, the volunteers were breathing a big sigh of relief as they gauaged the river level. A second wave of high river water levels is expected over the next two to three weeks as snow melt continues to feed the Big Sioux from the Dakotas and Minnesota.

The photo to the left shows the Big Sioux River running water through the area adjacent to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. A video is available at http://www.youtube.com/SHRA1355

Lt. Governor Judge will visit Sioux City on Monday to highlight Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District

2010-03-07T14:44:00.000-08:00

Lt. Governor Judge will highlight infrastructure investment and job creation when the “Moving Iowa Forward” tour comes to Sioux City. The Lt. Governor will be highlighting the efforts to restore the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, which received more than $266,000 in I-JOBS funds. The event is open to the public.

Lt. Governor Judge's presentation will be on Monday, March 8, 2010 at 11:15 a.m. at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.

Due to the heavy snow melt run off, high snow piles and the forecasted inclement weather causing low-level flooding and water pooling, we will be unable to host the event at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District.

The IJOBS funding will finance the construction of a new exhibit center and the rehabilitation of the machine shop building at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. The new exhibit center will house displays on civil engineering and the large HO scale Nebraska Central Railroad model railroad exhibit. The machine shop building is the new home for the Corliss stationary steam engine salvaged from the KD Station – Swift Plant by volunteers of the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association. The Corliss engine will help educate visitors on the industrial applications of steam technology in the later 19th and early 20th Centuries.

New - Corliss Steam Engine Rescue Videos

2010-03-05T14:43:00.000-08:00

Two new videos have been posted on our You Tube, click on the link to the left and check them out. One video is actually more of a slide show and was used during our public forums to inform the public on our goals and plans for rescuing the 1913 Corliss steam engine from the former Swift & Co. pork packing plant before the wrecking ball went to work. The second video show the actual removal and transportation of the Corliss engine.

Given a 30 day in which to accomplish this task many obstacles had to be overcome. With an engine that had been left to rust for nearly 40 years nothing came easy in the removal process. Trying to make sure parts were lubricated, cleaned, tagged and documented for the reassembly process has made this quite the project.

Now that all the components are at the roundhouse complex the rehabilitation of this historic steam engine will begin. The new home of the Corliss will be the former Blacksmith/Machine shop building located just south of the roundhouse. Construction on this building will begin in late spring to restore the outer envelope of this building and pour the concrete foundation to support the Corliss.

Check out the videos, you'll find them very interesting.

Spring Melt Forces 2 Week Closure of the Historict District

2010-03-05T14:30:00.000-08:00

The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association will close the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District for the next two weeks (Friday, March 5th through Friday, March 19th) due to forecasted inclement weather and heavy snow melt runoff from the Loess Hills and Highway 12 right-of-way, as well as the snow piles within the complex.

The decision for closure was made based upon the deteriorating conditions of the dirt and gravel entrance drive, parking areas, and walk ways throughout the complex. The snow melts are creating hazardous conditions for motor vehicles and foot traffic.

With the snow melt and water run off beginning last week, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is experiencing water pooling and low-level flooding throughout the complex with the snow blocking the flow of water run-off to the Big Sioux River. In addition, the complex continues to have large piles of snow and snow drifts extending from the Highway 12 right-of-way, which sits about 12 feet above the complex, to the Big Sioux River.

Extended hours for Thanksgiving weekend

2009-11-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District and Railroad Museum will offer free admission and extended hours for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The railroad museum development project will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, November 27 and 28.

In addition, the Railroad Museum Store will be open be the same extended hours. The store features the vintage Ironhorse 1355 t-shirt, a variety of historic district logo items perfect for holiday presents and stocking stuffers; along with a selection of railroad books, including the Sioux City Railroads book authored by Dr. Rudy Daniels.

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is home to Sioux City’s landmark steam locomotive, Great Northern Railway No. 1355. The recently restored steam locomotive will be open to the public for cab tours and photo opportunities.

Visitors to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District are advised to dress appropriately for the weather and to be aware of vehicle traffic through the complex. The new Civil Engineering and Model Railroad Exhibition Center is under construction. When completed, this new 4,000-sq. ft. facility will feature exhibits on railroad engineering and will display the HO-scale “Nebraska Central Railway” model railroad diorama.

Volunteers with the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association will be available to provide tours and to answer questions about upcoming construction projects for the 2010 construction season.

About the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District

Nationally recognized by the White House and the National Trust for Historic Places, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is designated an “official project” of the Save America’s Treasures Program. The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is located at 3400 Sioux River Road in Sioux City’s north Riverside neighborhood along the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, Iowa Highway 12 – approximately 2 miles south of Stone State Park.

Built in 1917, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops are one of the largest remaining steam locomotive-servicing and rail car facilities left in existence within the Midwest. The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association purchased the 31.5-acre site in 1996 and opened the facility as a historic district in 1998. Over the past eight years, more than 35,000 people have visited the historic district. The renovation work is recognized as one of the region’s largest historic preservation projects involving an industrial railroad landscape. The Milwaukee Railroad Shops have been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and were instrumental in helping Sioux City gain certification as a Preserve America Community by the Bush Administration.

SHRA launches t-shirt fundraiser

2009-11-17T07:43:00.000-08:00

The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association announced its first annual t-shirt fundraising event to benefit the redevelopment of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District as an industrial heritage and science museum.

Special limited edition “Ironhorse 1355” t-shirts are now available at the historic district’s gift shop and feature a four-color screened “Sioux City’s landmark steam locomotive No. 1355” graphic on the front of a forest green t-shirt. T-shirts are available in adult and youth sizes, including extended sizes for adults.

The vintage t-shirts commemorate the 100th anniversary of the steam locomotives construction and placement into rail passenger service in 1909. The steam locomotive had a distinguished career spanning 46 years pulling many named “signature” passenger trains operated by the Great Northern Railway, including the Oriental Limited, Pacific Fast Mail, and Empire Builder.

All proceeds from the sale of the t-shirts will help fund building renovations and operations of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association has a goal of selling 1,355 t-shirts within the next 101 days to help finance the next round of building construction at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. Currently under construction is the new model railroad exhibit center. In early spring construction will focus on rehabilitating the machine shop building and summer construction activities will include the installation of a new permanent restroom facility.

To order the t-shirt through the mail, please remit $24.95 per shirt (includes USPS Priority Mail postage) to the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association, P O Box 1355, Sioux City, IA 51102-1355. Please state the size of the t-shirt needed. Please allow ten days for delivery.

Halloween at the Roundhouse event attracts 3600 visitors

2009-11-04T14:28:00.001-08:00

Unseasonably warmer weather led to larger crowds for the “Halloween at the Roundhouse” event at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District held on Saturday, October 31, 2009.

The railroad museum development project reports that attendance topped 3600 visitors over the four-hour special event, which was about 1200 more visitors than the event drew last year.

For the event, children donned costumes and enjoyed the Halloween-themes activities such as pumpkin bowling, pumpkin painting, a screaming contest, motor car train rides, and tours of the City’s landmark steam locomotive No. 1355.

As part of the festivities, hobos, witches, and goblins roomed throughout the 31.5-acre historic site, engaging in storytelling ranging from ghost stories to railroad lore. These story tellers helped bring the past to life with stories such as Kate Shelling.

According to Jon Wagoner, president of the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association, “this event continues to attract an audience that is more diverse than the railroad museum’s overall attendance. Typically, we see more low-income and minority families attend this event than they do our other public programs, particularly inter-generational families, continue to be an important part of the railroad museum’s audience, with 57.5 percent of visitors accompanied by children under 18. According to visitor registrations, over 95 percent of the families attending the Halloween at the Roundhouse event were accompanied by children under 18.

October Events at the Roundhouse Guarantee Loads of Family Fun

2009-10-08T10:02:00.000-07:00

Two major events this October are guaranteed to bring your family together for an enjoyable day out with lots of fun. We've been making plans for a long time for these two events so make sure you set aside some time to come visit because you're not going to want miss these.

The first event is a ONE TIME ONLY event so if you miss this you missed it all. Saturday Oct. 17th from 12 noon to 4 pm we will be celebrating the 100th Birthday of Great Northern Steam Locomotive #1355. As the soul survivor of the Great Northern Railways H-5 class steam locomotives and one of the oldest surviving steam locomotives on display in the U.S. this is truely a historic event that you'll want to be a part of. Events will include a silent auction from noon to 3:45, presentations from the Sioux City Mayor and Mayor Pro-tem unvailing the new National Register of Historic Places plaque solidifying Old Ironhorse as a true national treasure and cutting of the birthday cake for all to enjoy (while supply lasts) at 1:45. At 2pm (weather permitting) we'll pull GN1355 out of the roundhouse and put it on the turntable so everyone can really enjoy and appreciate it's new paint job outside under the sun light. This will provide some outstanding photo opportunities that you'll want to pass down to future generations. And hopefully we'll have some vintage early 1900's to 1930 automobiles to have on display also. If you have a vehicle in this time frame and would like to display it please call us 712-233-6996 on Saturdays between 10 am- 4pm. We will push 1355 back into the roundhouse at 3:30 pm and that may be your last opportunitiy to see it outside for quite some time. Motor car rides will also be available throughout the day, so pack up the family and come on down to share in this truly rare historic moment in time.

The second event will be our 2nd Annual Halloween at the Roundhouse. This event will also run from noon to 4 pm on Saturday Oct 31st. Last years inagural event was a hugh success with over 2000 people coming out to celebrate this special FREE family event. Bring the kids in their halloween costum's or not, it's a great way to get in the spirit for Halloween night's trick or treating. Here's a list of things you can expect to find; motor car rides, trick or treats, games, ghost stories, meet witches, hobos, and ghosts, free pumkins and pumkin painting (while supplies last), coloring contest, scavenger hunt and BBQ food will be sold on-site also. It's a great event that will bring the Sioux City and greater Siouxland communities together for family fun and fellowship.

So be sure to mark your calanders and save those dates; Saturday, Oct 17th - GN1355 100th Birthday Party and Saturday, Oct 31st - Halloween at the Roundhouse. We can't wait to meet you!

Milwaukee Railroad Shops to participate in Museum Day Event

2009-09-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

Milwaukee Railroad Shops to participate in Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day

5th Annual Museum Day to be held September 26

(Sioux City, IA) - On Saturday, September 26, 2009 the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, located in the north Riverside neighborhood of Sioux City, will participate in the fifth annual Museum Day presented by Smithsonian Magazine.

Museum Day is a day when museums and cultural institutions across the country open their doors free of charge to the general public, Smithsonian Magazine readers, and Smithsonian.com visitors. Smithsonian Museum Day is a national celebration of culture, learning, and the dissemination of knowledge. Smithsonian’s Museum Day reflects the spirit of the magazine. Last year, upwards of 200,000 people attended Museum Day, with all 50 states plus Puerto Rico represented by over 900 participating museums. This year, Smithsonian Magazine expects over 1,000 museums to participate in the special day event. The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District was selected as one of the participating museums.

“We are honored to be part of Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day and to have the opportunity to celebrate this event on Saturday, September 26,” said Jon Wagoner, SHRA president. “Our railroad museum project has an ever growing collection of railroad artifacts that are being donated by area residents for future exhibits. Being part of the 2009 Museum Day event helps our organization to increase awareness about the industrial heritage, cultural and educational phases of preserving the Milwaukee Railroad Shops and how the nearly century-old buildings will be utilized to house exhibits and railroad equipment displays.”

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District features an excellent collection of historic steam locomotive-era buildings dating from 1917. This historic collection features a restored roundhouse with turntable, machine shop building, carpenter shop, sand drying house, and wood sand tower.

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is home to Sioux City’s Landmark Steam Locomotive, Ironhorse 1355, and a collection of railroad cars and artifacts that represent over 140 years of railroad history in the tri-state area. All most all of the artifacts have been donated by individuals, including former railroad workers and their family members. The Milwaukee Railroad Shops is being developed as an industrial science and history museum focusing on the North American railroad industry.

Visitors to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District must present the Smithsonian Magazine’s Admission Card or Coupon for free admission to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. The free admission coupon is downloadable at www.smithsonian.com/museumday. In addition, the free admission coupon is being published twice a week in the Sioux City Journal. Each downloadable card or coupon provides museum access for two people.

Regular Admission to the railroad museum is $4.00 for adults; $3.00 for senior citizens (age 50 and older); $2.00 for children and students (age 6 to 18); and free for children under age 5 accompanied by an adult. A portion of the admission fee that is collected is earmarked for historic preservation work on the buildings, locomotives, rolling stock and artifact that form the railroad museum’s collections and exhibits.

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is located along the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, State Highway 12, in the north Riverside neighborhood of Sioux City. For more information visit the railroad museums website at MilwaukeeRailroadShops.org or call 712-233-6996.

Ag-Rail Schedule of Events

2009-08-12T07:39:00.001-07:00

Click on right photo to expand.

Ag-Rail Festival Set for Saturday and Sunday, August 15th and 16h

2009-08-10T09:28:00.001-07:00

(Sioux City, IA) - Ag-Rail, the tri-state region’s annual celebration of its agricultural and railroad heritage, returns to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District in Sioux City this Saturday and Sunday, August 15th and 16th, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This festival, now in its seventh year, is one of the tri-state region’s family-oriented festivals that provides over 14 hours of programming focusing on our historical and musical roots in agriculture and railroading. The festival attracts over 65 exhibitors from three states and draws over 3,000 visitors from as far away as Colorado, Illinois and Canada.

The annual Ag-Rail Festival is a signature event produced by the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association in partnership with vintage tractor enthusiasts from the tri-state region interested in the restoration, preservation and safe operation of vintage tractors and historic farm machinery.

Festival-goers will enjoy a variety of country and bluegrass music. The tractor and farm machinery enthusiasts will demonstrate their vintage iron and threshing machinery. The SHRA will provide exhibits and displays of railroad equipment, along with motor car rides. Field demonstrations this year will include oat threshing, corn shelling and field plowing. A tractor pull and tractor parade will be held both days.

Special activates are planned for children, including a kids peddle tractor pull both days. Several model railroad displays, including a Thomas the Tank Engine layout and an O scale layout, will be on display and operational for the public. A petting zoo and inflatable play areas will be open to the public for an additional fee.

This year’s historic railroad exhibits will feature the restored steam locomotive “Ironhorse 1355.” On Saturday, the locomotive will be on display inside the roundhouse building for cab tours and photo opportunities of kids sitting in the engineer and fireman seats. On Sunday, weather permitting, the locomotive will be rolled out of the roundhouse at 9:00 a.m. for public photo opportunities of the locomotive next to the turntable. According to Matt Merk, festival director, “The roll-out of the engine will enable the public to capture photographs of the locomotive in daylight. We are only going to allow day-light photo opportunities on rare occasions. This year’s Ag-Rail Festival is one of those special events where we will bring the locomotive out of the roundhouse.”

Admission to the festival will be $2.00 for individuals age 13 and over – children under 12 will be admitted free with paid adult admissions. Proceeds from the Festival help support the ongoing restoration and maintenance of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, the surrounding farmland and habitat areas, and ongoing Festival expenses.

Built in 1917, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, an official project of the Save America’s Treasures Program and a Preserve America site, is located adjacent to the Big Sioux River and Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, on State Highway 12 in Sioux City’s north Riverside neighborhood – approximately two miles south of Stone State Park.

Due to the reconstruction of I-29 Iowa Exit 151 in Riverside, visitors are encouraged to use I-29 South Dakota Exit 2 and exit east on to River Drive, and turn right to head south on Military Road until reaching the junction of Highway 12 and Military Road. At this junction, turn left to head back north on State Highway 12 towards the historic district, which is approximately 2 miles south of Stone State Park.

All tractors, machinery are welcomed for display – running or not. If you are interested in displaying your vintage iron, tractors, or other historic farm machinery, the historic district will be open on Friday, August 14th, to allow you the opportunity to set up your display. For more information on how you may become an exhibitor, please call 712-276-6432 or e-mail shra@cableone.net.

Volunteers Needed for AG-RAIL 2009

2009-07-27T14:41:00.001-07:00

Have you had the desire in the past to be a volunteer, but were afraid that you might not know enough about the Roundhouse Complex to be able to answer questions or help out other visitors? Well, here's your chance to come out and lend a hand! Saturday & Sunday Aug. 15th and 16th is our 7th annual, signature festival - AG/RAIL 2009. This year we are expecting over 4000 people to visit the site over the two days and extra assistance is needed to help us pull this off. We have a varitiy of position openings ranging from ticket booth attendants for the main gate and motor car rides, parking lot attendants, phone receptionist, to Docents and Tour Guides just to name a few. You don't even have to work a full day! We split up our shifts into two hour intervals so you can work a varity of positions or just work one shift and play the rest of the day! If you would like to assist or want more information please drop us an e-mail at shra@cableone.net . There will also be orientation training on Saturday, Aug 8th at 1:30 pm to get you aquainted with the complex and other volunteers. You'll be given a personel tour by our staff to fill you in on the history behind all the buildings and rolling stock to make you more comfortable talking with our guests.

Drop us line and come on down to lend a hand! You won't beleive how many smiles you can put on peoples faces - you'll be glad you did!

Site clearing begins on new exhibit building area

2009-07-01T09:16:00.001-07:00

Volunteers have started to remove debris, junk, and tress from the area that will house the new exhibit building focusing on civil engineering and model railroading. The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association is in need of volunteers who can provide general labor and grounds clean up assistance. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the railroad museum on Fridays by calling 712-233-6996 for more details, or e-mail shra@cableone.net.

Volunteers are adviced to dress appropriately for working around shrubbs, plants, and trees; as well as metal and debris. Please wear appropriate shoes and gloves. All volunteers are asked to sign a hold-harmless waiver.

Holiday Hours - July 4, 2009

2009-07-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District's roundhouse museum and gift shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 3rd and 4th, 2009.

Cameron Steam Pump donated for STEAM Locomotion Exhibit

2009-06-22T06:47:00.000-07:00

Reporter: Odell Overgaard

A new addition to the STEAM Locomotion exhibit program was added on Friday June 19th. Mark Paulsen of Westway Terminals arranged for the donation of the Cameron Steam pump to the Siouxland Railroad Historical Association. This pump was last used to transfer Molasses from rail cars to storage tanks at the Westway terminal in Sioux City. The pump was in continuous use until three years ago when Westway discontinued handling Molasses. The 5100 lb pump has a steam cylinder is 16 inches in diameter with a 20 inch stroke. The pumping cylinder is 12 inches in diameter. The pump has a 10 inch intake and an 8 inch discharge pipe. In its previous uses, it was located at the barge terminal and used to transfer liquids from barges.

The Cameron Steam Pump likely started out being used in a large Naval ship, such as a battleship, before it was converted to transfer pumping at a local barge station and later at Westway Terminals. The steam pump’s build date is placed in the timeframe of 1900 to 1910.The pump will be joined by the KD Corliss steam engine and Ammonia compressor later this year. Its new home will be in the Former Milwaukee Railroad Machine shop. The Cameron Steam Pump will be restored to operating condition and be on display at the Milwaukee Shops Historic District for all to see. When all restoration is completed, the pump will be demonstrated at events to show how steam technology was adapted and used in the Sioux City industrial complexes.

General information on the pump:

16” cylinder

12” water cylinder

20” stroke

Weight: 5100 pounds

Floor space: 102 in. X 41 in.

Boiler Horsepower needed: 4000 psi

Railroad museum receives major gift from Union Pacific Railroad

2009-06-10T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (SHRA) announced a gift of $15,000 from the Union Pacific Foundation for the reconstruction of roundhouse bay 1 as part of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District preservation project in Sioux City. The gift from the Union Pacific Railroad is one of the largest corporate gifts to the SHRA. In recognition of the contribution, the newly constructed roundhouse bay 1 exhibit area will be named the Union Pacific Gallery.

“The gift is a generous contribution from the Union Pacific Railroad,” SHRA president Jon Wagoner said. “The contribution demonstrates the Union Pacific’s commitment to commemorate and educated the public on North American railroad history and the science and technology associated with the industry.”

According to Wagoner, the Union Pacific contribution was made on behalf of past, present and future employees of the railroad and their families. During a recent ceremony held at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, Sioux City Mayor Mike Hobart accepted the contribution from Brenda Mainwaring, director of public affairs for the Union Pacific Railroad. Others participating in the gift acceptance ceremony were representatives from the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, City of Sioux City, Siouxland Historical Railroad Association, and the Union Pacific’s operating department. Approximately 15 individuals attended the awards ceremony that was held at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District.

Built in 1917, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops are being renovated for reuse as a railroad science and industrial heritage museum. This historic preservation project is a collaborative effort between the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association and the City of Sioux City. The City of Sioux City acts as public sponsor and project administrator for many of the federal statewide transportation enhancement funds the SHRA has secured through competitive grant cycles. The gift from the Union Pacific Foundation serves as matching funds for a federal statewide grant that is funding 70 percent of the total estimated cost of $426,000 to renovate and rebuild bay 1 of the roundhouse buildings.

The Union Pacific Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Union Pacific Corporation. The Foundation has distributed funds since 1959 to qualified organizations in communities served by Union Pacific. The Foundation is not endowed, but is funded each year from the operating profits of Union Pacific Corporation.

Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America’s leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country and serves the fastest-growing U.S. population centers. Union Pacific’s diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad offers competitive long-haul routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada’s rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico, making it North America’s premier rail franchise.

The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association is a nonprofit museum and historic preservation organization founded in 1984. Since its founding 25 years ago, volunteers have collectively contributed over 250,000 hours of labor to restore the City’s landmark steam locomotive No. 1355 and the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. Last year the Milwaukee Railroad Shops historic preservation project attracted nearly 10,000 visitors/visits to the historic district. The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District and Great Northern Railway Steam Locomotive No. 1355 are designated “official projects” of the federal Save America’s Treasures Program.

Gift shop gallery named for local philanthropist

2009-06-10T06:32:00.001-07:00

The Edna M. Groetken Gift Shop Gallery in the new bay 1 area of the roundhouse building was officially opened during the sixth annual Ag-Rail Heritage Festival held during Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17, 2008.

The new gift shop area, named for the longtime Sioux City resident, is an area where visitors can purchase gift and souvenir items, including railroad books, as a token of remembering their visit to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, or to continue their learning experience about the railroad industry through the books and educational toys available in the gift shop. The new gift shop area is furnished with glass display cases donated by the Sioux City Public Museum and display gondolas and racks purchased during the closing sale of Linen and Things in Sioux City.

Miss Groetken passed away Monday, May 7, 2007, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She bequeathed nearly $125,000 to the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association for construction work to preserve and rebuild the roundhouse building. The gift from Ms. Groetken was the largest bequeath in the SHRA’s history. “We are incredibly grateful,” stated Jon Wagoner, SHRA president, “for the untold benefits countless visitors and local residents will receive from the remarkable generosity of Miss Groetken, not to mention the ripple effect this contribution will make in preserving the Milwaukee Railroad Shops for current and future generations to enjoy as a railroad industrial science and heritage museum.”

Her bequest was used to help finance the construction of the bay 1, a two-level area of the roundhouse building that houses the gift shop gallery, atrium welcome center, exhibit gallery and administrative center. The costs associated with this project were approximately $450,000. Her bequest helped match the federal/statewide transportation grant of $266,762.

Miss Groetken served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following her military service, she worked as a secretary in several Sioux City medical offices. She was an active volunteer with the Sioux City Police Department, where she helped in the investigative department working with fingerprinting. She was one of the Police Department’s first civilian volunteers.

She was a life member of the American Legion Wasmer Post 241 of Le Mars and was the first female state commander of the American Legion of Iowa. She also was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Miss Groetken was often a visitor to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. She had fond memories of trains traveling through the Le Mars area and Sioux City.

Railroad museum offers extended summer hours

2009-06-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, a regional historic site and museum focusing on railroad history and science, is offering extended summer hours during the months of June, July, and August. For this three-month period, the railroad museum shop will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; and Noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Admission to the railroad museum is $4.00 for adults; $3.00 for senior citizens (age 50 and older); $2.00 for children and students (age 6 to 18); and free for children under age 5 accompanied by an adult. A portion of the admission fee that is collected is earmarked for historic preservation work on the buildings, locomotives, rolling stock and artifact that form the railroad museum’s collections and exhibits.

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District features an excellent collection of historic steam locomotive-era buildings dating from 1917. This historic collection features a restored roundhouse with turntable, machine shop building, carpenter shop, sand drying house, and wood sand tower. The historic district is home to the National Register-listed steam locomotive Great Northern Railway No. 1355, a Pacific-style 4-6-2 wheel arrangement passenger train locomotive.

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is located along the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, State Highway 12, in the north Riverside neighborhood of Sioux City. For more information visit the railroad museums website at MilwaukeeRailroadShops.org or call 712-233-6996.

SHRA will implement admission fee at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District

2009-05-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, a railroad museum development project of the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (SHRA), will implement an admission fee to assist with operating costs and financing the reconstruction of the historic buildings.

Jon Wagoner, SHRA president, said the $4.00 admission for adults will start Saturday, May 30, and that reduced admission will be given to seniors, students, and children. The admission fee will be collected through an honor vault system where visitors deposit their admission in a locked, secure collection vault. “We are adopting one of the methods used by the National Park Service to collect admissions,” said Wagoner. “The payment of the admission will be totally on the honor of the visitor; we will not have a volunteer gatekeeper for collecting the admission.”

The American Association of Museums reported in its most recent museum financial information report that, nationally, the average adult admission fee is $6 for museums and $5 for historic sites. Wagoner stated that last year, the SHRA surveyed visitors and the vast majority of visitors supported the enacting of an admission fee to help support the Milwaukee Railroad Shops redevelopment as a railroad museum.

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops, which is home to the recently restored Great Northern Railway steam locomotive and other railroad artifacts, is undergoing a decade-long historic preservation effort. This summer’s historic preservation work will include the construction of a new exhibit building for a model railroad display to interpret civil engineering; the installation of a “green” pre-manufactured bathroom facility; and the reconstruction of the machine shop building for the display of the large Corliss Stationary Steam Engine that will be salvaged from the KD Station.

“We’re looking at over $1-million in site improvements within the next two years,” Wagoner said. “While the vast majority of the funding is through competitive federal and state grants, we still have a need to raise local matching funds in order for us to secure the grant funds.”

Wagoner states that the admission fee enables the SHRA to meet the requirements of the grants. “When we submit our funding requests, sustainability is a major issue we address, in addition to how we will pay ongoing operating costs,” said Wagoner. “Many of the funding agencies have requested we initiate an admission fee because we receive no ongoing public funds (city or state) for operational costs. They have also suggested that we bank a portion of the admission fee in an endowment fund targeted for future building renovation work.”

Wagoner doesn’t feel the admission fee will hurt attendance, which grew to nearly 10,000 people last year. “Most of our visitors have been amazed that we’re not collecting an admission,” said Wagoner. “Many visitors felt the admission fee was a way they can contribute to the preservation of this unique historical treasure.”

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is open to the public for tours on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. The historic district is located at 3400 Sioux River Road, State Highway 12, adjacent to the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway and the Big Sioux River.
Built in 1917, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops originally served as a steam locomotive servicing terminal and rail car repair facility. At its peak of operations, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops employed over 500 railroad craft workers in the trades of boiler maker, steamfitter, machinists, and several other occupations. The facility, on average, repaired and serviced 850 steam locomotives a month for the Sioux City and Dakota division of the Milwaukee Road. The shops were abandoned in 1980 and sold to a salvage yard operation. The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association purchased the complex in 1996 and began the railroad museum development project. The Milwaukee Railroad Shops are determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and are designated an official project of the federal Save America’s Treasures Program. The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is home to Sioux City’s recently-restored landmark steam locomotive, Great Northern Railway No. 1355 – Ironhorse.

GN1355 displayed to the public to kick off historic preservation week

2009-05-10T19:49:00.000-07:00

After twenty-five years of restoration work, Great Northern Railway Steam Locomotive No. 1355 was displayed outdoors on Saturday, May 2, 2009, to kick off historic preservation week in Sioux City. This public display was significant as it marked the "near completion" of this historic preservation project. The locomotive's cosmetic and basic mechanical restoration is 99 percent complete with some minor details to be completed by October 16, 2009. In making its public appearance, the locomotive sported its heritage "Glacier Green" paint scheme and graphics. Over 500 visitors took advantage of the sunny Saturday to stop by the Milwaukee Railroad Shops to see the locomotive. The attached photo is illustrative of the grounds that formed around the locomotive through out the day.

Historic steam locomotive debute kicks off city-wide historic preservation week celebration

2009-04-30T07:14:00.000-07:00

Sioux City, IA – After twenty-five years of pain-staking historic preservation work and a lot of passion and tenacity, Sioux City’s landmark steam locomotive No. 1355 will be the highlight of a public display at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District this Saturday, May 2, 2009. The outdoor public display, celebrating historic preservation work, is in conjunction with the city-wide Historic Preservation Week celebration and will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

“We are proud to finally have the opportunity to say the restoration of Sioux City’s landmark steam locomotive is nearly complete,” said Jon Wagoner, president of the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association. “With the restoration effort, 98 percent complete except for some minor details, we are excited to have this opportunity to formally return this locomotive back to its role as a historic landmark for our community.”

The locomotive sports the Great Northern Railway heritage paint scheme known as Glacier Green. The unique paint scheme incorporates graphic elements such as a green-painted boiler, black-painted cab trimmed with a red roof, and a graphite-color smoke box. The locomotive features a white lettering style with the railroad’s heritage logo. This historic paint scheme was applied to locomotives that were used in passenger service pulling trains to Glacier National Park.

In addition to the graphic designs, the steam locomotive also sports a restored headlight, bell, whistle, and classification lights. The interior of the cab is also restored with many of the old gauges and valves that were used to measure steam pressure and water levels in the boiler.

Steam Locomotive No. 1355, also known as “Ironhorse,” is returning to public display after a twenty-five year extensive overhaul of the locomotive’s mechanical parts and interior boiler. The overhaul began in 1984, when the locomotive was removed from public display next to the Municipal Auditorium. The locomotive was donated to the City of Sioux City in 1955 for display as a landmark acknowledging the community’s railroad heritage. The outdoor display lasted twenty-nine years, causing major deterioration to the iron and steel the locomotive is built out of. The weather also damaged the interior firebox, boiler tubes and steam cylinders due to water seeping into the internal chambers. The overhaul involved hundreds of thousands of volunteer labor, and included extensive overhauls of the firebox, steam appliances, and steam chest, as well as the replacement of stay rods, boiler tubes, outer boiler jacketing, and steam and electrical piping. The locomotive’s tender was completely rebuilt as well.

Originally a high-speed passenger locomotive, the steam locomotive was built for the Great Northern Railway in 1909 and rebuilt in 1924. The locomotive pulled such widely known trains as the Pacific Fast Mail, Oriental Limited, and Empire Builder. The locomotive was also used in the later years of steam to pull freight trains and ore trains in the Iron Range. The locomotive’s train service ended in 1955 when it was donated to the City of Sioux City.

The steam locomotive is listed nationally-significant on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an official project of the federal Save America’s Treasures program for its industrial heritage and technology. The steam locomotive will be permanently displayed in the roundhouse building at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. The public will be able to have access to the locomotive during the railroad museum’s normal operating hours. Special stairs have been built to allow the public access.

In addition to the steam locomotive’s public display, the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association will be offering guided and self-guided tours of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, motor cars rides, and displays of railroad artifacts. Volunteers will be on hand to discuss the upcoming historic preservation projects scheduled to begin mid-summer, including the rebuilding of the machine shop building. Dr. Daniels’ new book on Sioux City railroad history will be available for purchase in the historic district’s gift shop.

The locomotive display will also commemorate the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association’s 25th anniversary. The organization was founded in 1984 by the late railroad conductor, Larry Obermeyer, and group of volunteer community members who saw a need to preserve and promote the preservation of railroad history. On Saturday, the public will have the opportunity to meet and greet volunteers who have labored tirelessly over the years to reclaim the Milwaukee Railroad Shops from being a dilapidated junk yard to the park-like historic district it is today. Wagoner points out that there are several volunteers who have been with the organization for the full 25 years. He estimates over the 25 years that a hundred volunteers have collectively contributed over 250,000 hours of labor. “It’s not uncommon for many of our volunteers to devote more than 10 hours a week to our projects,” adds Wagoner.

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is located along the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, State Highway 12, in the north Riverside neighborhood of Sioux City. The historic district is located between the Big Sioux River and the Loess Hills Bluffs, approximately 2 miles south of Stone State Park.

RML Architects selected for design and engineering work

2009-04-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

The City Council for the City of Sioux City last week approved awarding a contract to RML Architects for design and engineering work for the new model railroad/civil engineering exhibit building and the rehabilitation of the machine shop building. The scope of work involves the design of the new building that will be constructed for the displaying of the Nebraska Centeral Railway exhibit and related civil engineering artifacts. RML Architects will sketch out the construction documents and blueprints that will govern the historic preservation work on the machine shop building. This building will undergo a complete rehabilitation to the building envelope that includes the reconstruction of the roof, windows, and doors. Other historic preservation work will center on tuckpointing the brick masonry. A ground breaking for this next phase of historic preservation work is scheduled for Friday, May 1, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.

RML Architects has previously performed design and engineering work on the roundhouse building and wood sand tower. The firm has also helped with the development of the overall site redevelopment plan. The City of Sioux City serves as the project's public sponsor and fiscal agent.

Major funding for the historic preservation work and new building construction is provided by competitive grants awarded through the Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation; Vision Iowa Community Attractions and Tourism Program administered by the Iowa Department of Economic Development; State Historic Sites Preservation Grant Program administered by the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Economic Development Grant Program administered by the Loess Hills Alliance. Other funding is provided by individual and corporate contributions, as well as special grants awarded by the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors and the City of Sioux City.

Volunteers enroll in SHRA training program

2009-04-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

Two volunteers have enrolled in the locomotive and train service training program provided by the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association. Odell Overgaard and Shawn Sypersma began their training on Saturday, 11 April 2009, with an introduction to safety rules, hand signals and locomotive operations, including coupling to and pulling freight cars and cabooses. The two students were able to operate the SHRA's GE 45-ton diesel locomotive. The training was conducted under the supervision of Matt Merk and Ken Brown, SHRA training instructors. As part of their training program, both Odell and Shawn will receive training on motor car operations. The students also receive training in book of rules and general operating rules.

Once Odell and Shawn complete their training they will be able to serve as engineers and trainmen within the railyard of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. Train service personnel are responsible for the movement of locomotives and rolling stock within the historic district. Most often they are engaged with moving locomotive and rolling stock in and out of the roundhouse building for either exhibition or exhibit work. Train service personnel are also responsible for the operation of the motor car excursion ride.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering in train service, please contact the SHRA via e-mail: shra@cableone.net with the subject line: interested in train service.

Virtual Construction Hard Hat Tour - Roundhouse Bay 1

2009-03-30T06:52:00.000-07:00

During summer and fall 2008, Holtze Construction Company and its subcontractors undertook the reconstruction of the two-level bay 1 area in the roundhouse building. Before Holtze Construction began the rebuilding process, volunteers demolished the two floors that once comprised the roundhouse locker rooms (upstairs) and office and workshops (lower level). The demolish took approximately two months to complete. Wood rot and termites had taken their tole on the structural integrity of bay 1, which made it necessary to rebuild the area.

At present, Holtze Construction is completing the punch list of minor items that need to be completed. The total cost of reconstruction was nearly $500,000. The scope of work included the rebuild of the structural components that form the two level area, installation of HVAC systems, and the installation of electrical and lighting systems. The construction engineering and design was performed by RML Architects. The City of Sioux City was the public project manager for the federal statewide transportation enhancement grant.

As a result of the reconstruction, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District now has a visitor welcoming atrium, gift shop gallery, exhibit gallery, volunteer training area and conference room, library and archival storage area, and an administrative center. This new construction now allows the Association to consolidate all its records and archives that have been in storage.

This is our first attempt at producing a virtual video/slide show tour for you. We would welcome any suggestions on how to improve our videos. Please send any suggestions to shra@cableone.net

Rare Union Pacific terracotta shield donated for exhibit

2009-03-19T13:55:00.001-07:00

The Union Pacific Railroad, based in Omaha, NE, has gifted to the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (SHRA) a rare terracotta tile with its 1914 to 1932 era corporate logo. The terracotta shield is on display with the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District collection of railroad artifacts.

Measuring approximately four foot by four foot, the terra cotta tile weights nearly 1200 pounds and was transported to Sioux City via a car trailer. The terra cotta shield is undergoing restoration and can be seen on display in the Union Pacific Gallery at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District.

“The Union Pacific System terracotta shield is an object of high historical and architectural significance” said Jon Wagoner, SHRA president. “The addition of this artifact to our museum collection will help us to explain the architectural heritage of the railroad industry.”

According to Wagoner, the Union Pacific terracotta shield is one of four such tiles that were incorporated in the design and architecture of a passenger station in California. The exact location of the station is unknown. Wagoner states SHRA volunteers are researching the heritage of the terracotta tile to incorporate the information in an interpretive exhibit that will accompany the shield.

SHRA receives major gift from Union Pacific Railroad

2009-03-19T12:58:00.001-07:00

The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (SHRA) announced today a gift of $15,000 from the Union Pacific Foundation for the reconstruction of roundhouse bay 1 as part of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District preservation project in Sioux City. The gift from the Union Pacific Railroad is the largest corporate gift to the SHRA. In recognition of the contribution, the newly constructed roundhouse bay 1 exhibit area will be named the Union Pacific Gallery.

“The gift is a generous contribution from the Union Pacific Railroad,” SHRA president Jon Wagoner said. “The contribution demonstrates the Union Pacific’s commitment to commemorate and educated the public on North American railroad history and the science and technology associated with the industry.”

According to Wagoner, the Union Pacific contribution was made on behalf of past, present and future employees of the railroad and their families. During a recent ceremony held at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, Sioux City Mayor Mike Hobart accepted the contribution from Brenda Mainwaring, director of public affairs for the Union Pacific Railroad. Others participating in the gift acceptance ceremony were representatives from the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, City of Sioux City, Siouxland Historical Railroad Association, and the Union Pacific’s operating department. Approximately 15 individuals attended the awards ceremony that was held at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District.

Built in 1917, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops are being renovated for reuse as a railroad science and industrial heritage museum. This historic preservation project is a collaborative effort between the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association and the City of Sioux City. The City of Sioux City acts as public sponsor and project administrator for many of the federal statewide transportation enhancement funds the SHRA has secured through competitive grant cycles. The gift from the Union Pacific Foundation serves as matching funds for a federal statewide grant that is funding 70 percent of the total estimated cost of $426,000 to renovate and rebuild bay 1 of the roundhouse buildings.

The Union Pacific Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Union Pacific Corporation. The Foundation has distributed funds since 1959 to qualified organizations in communities served by Union Pacific. The Foundation is not endowed, but is funded each year from the operating profits of Union Pacific Corporation.

Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America’s leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country and serves the fastest-growing U.S. population centers. Union Pacific’s diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad offers competitive long-haul routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada’s rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico, making it North America’s premier rail franchise.

Photo Caption: Union Pacific Grant Award Ceremony.

Left to right: Teresa Rosenboom, Director of Government Relations, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce; Barbara Sloniker, Vice President of Government Relations & Transportation, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce; Larry Obermeyer, Siouxland Historical Railroad Association; Mike Hobart, Mayor, City of Sioux City; Brenda Mainwaring, Director - Public Affairs IA NE, Union Pacific Railroad; Representative, Sioux City Railroad Operating Department, Union Pacific Railroad; Jill Wanderscheid, Transportation Planner, City of Sioux City; and Paul Barnes, Planner, City of Sioux City.

Machine Shop Clean-up Begins

2009-03-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

One of winter's last blasts of cold temparatures, snow and ice did not slow volunteers on Saturday, March 7, 2009. SHRA volunteers are beginning the process of cleaning out the debris and wood rot from the machine shop building in preparation of the major reconstruction that will take place in Fall 2009 and Spring 2010. The cleanup is necessary to allow the architectural and structural engineering firms access to the building for measuring the building for design plans and testing the structural integrity of the building to determine the amount of restoration work that will need to take place.

As a result of the historic preservation work and reconstruction effort, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District will redevelop the machine shop as the MRHD Industrial Heritage Museum. The building will house an exhibit featuring a circa 1890s Corliss Stationary Steam Engine, a Frick refrigeration compressor, and a Worthington refrigeration compressor. The steam engine and compressors will be the largest surviving artifacts from the KD Station, former Swift packing plant, which is scheduled for demolition this summer. Efforts are underway to salvage the steam engine and compressors for transport to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops. The additional space in the machine shop building will be used for the display of large railroad equipment used by the different divisions of the railroad. For example, track building equipment may be displayed.

Major funding for the reconstruction of the machine shop building is being provided through grants from the Federal Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation, Vision Iowa Community Attractions and Tourism Program administered by the Iowa Department of Economic Development, Historic Sites Preservation Program administered by the State Historical Society of Iowa, and an Economic Development Grant administered by the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors. Additional fundings is coming from individual donations. The SHRA needs to raise an additional $50,000. The total reconstruction project is estimated at $750,000.

Architect selection process nearing completion

2009-02-17T07:09:00.000-08:00

The selection process for the architectural firm that will be responsible for drafting the construction plans and documents for the machine shop and new model railroad exhibit building is nearing completion. Staff with the City of Sioux City, fiscal and administrative agent for the project, will make a selection recommendation to the Iowa Department of Transportation and the City Council. The formal selection will be announced once both entities approve the bid.

This next round of construction and historic preservation work will take place this summer and fall, with an anticipated project ending date of January 15, 2010. The project is being funded through numerous grant programs and private donations. We are continuing our effort s to raise money for this next phase, which is estimated at $1-million for renovation costs and new building construction. Donations to the project can be sent to the SHRA, P O Box 1355, Sioux City, IA 51102.

We will be releasing preliminary drawings of the new model railroad/civil engineering exhibit center within the next 30 days.

SHRA to host public information meeting on Corliss project

2009-02-15T13:50:00.000-08:00

The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (SHRA) will host a public information meeting on Tuesday evening, February 17, 2009 to discuss the preservation of the Corliss stationary steam engine located in the KD Station. The meeting will run from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and will be held at Western Iowa Tech Community College, Room B-138. The public is asked to use Parking Lot 3 and Building Entrance number 10.

Volunteer project managers will be on hand to discuss the salvage processes involved with removing the circa 1890-1910 Corliss Engine and two ammonia compressors (Worthington and Frick). The informational meeting will also cover the processes for transporting the engine and compressors to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops and the displaying of all components as part of the STEAM Locomotion exhibit. Project managers will utilize a Powerpoint presentation to illustrate the current condition and size of the Corliss stationary steam engine.

Railroad museum starts silver anniversary fund-raising drive

2009-02-15T13:47:00.001-08:00

The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (SHRA) is starting its silver anniversary fund-raising campaign with the goal of generating $25,000 for two new improvement projects at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District in Sioux City. The new fund-raising campaign “Give ‘em a High Five for 25 years” is being launched on Saturday, Valentine’s Day. The SHRA’s founding volunteers held their first organizational meeting on February 14, 1984.

The “Gvie ‘em a High Five for 25 years” fund-raising campaign was announced Thursday afternoon by SHRA president Jon Wagoner through a press release. Wagoner reports the campaign is built around the theme of honoring volunteers who have contributed nearly a quarter of a million volunteer hours since the SHRA’s founding in 1984. Over that twenty-five years the volunteers have worked passionately to restore Sioux City’s landmark steam locomotive states Wagoner. In addition, the volunteers have contributed nearly 170,000 hours of labor in rescuing the former Milwaukee Railroad Shops from demolish to the creation of a park-like historic site.

Wagoner states the “Give ‘em a High Five for 25 years” theme is based on the long-standing tradition of sending a birthday gift in the amount of $5 and the gesture of High Fiving an individual when recognizing them for a good deed. According to Wagoner, “we found great enthusiasm for the Send a Lincoln $5 campaign that we have redesigned the concepts into this new High Five effort.”

Money raised through its “Give ‘em a High Five for 25 years” is earmarked for the construction of a new volunteer workshop area and the construction and installation of new public restrooms. The funds raised through the “Give ‘em a High Five for 25 years” will be used to match a federal grant award from the National Scenic Byways Program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The campaign earmarks $10,000 for construction of a new volunteer workshop area in bays 5 and 6 of the historic district’s roundhouse building. According to Wagoner’s printed statement, the volunteers lost their workshop area during last year’s reconstruction of bay 1 in the roundhouse building. Because the new construction is earmarked for exhibit galleries, the volunteers have been displaced and are in need of a workshop area that is heated so they can work year round on locomotives, rolling stock and artifacts. Design plans for the new workshop area call for a machining area and a wood working shop.

The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association owns and operates the 31.5-acre Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District in Sioux City’s north Riverside neighborhood. The historic district is located adjacent to the Big Sioux River and the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway – State Highway 12, approximately two miles south of Stone State Park. The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is open to the public on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Last year the historic district had an attendance of nearly 10,000 visitors/visits.

SHRA announces 2009 ASAP projects

2009-01-29T06:53:00.000-08:00

As part of its Roundhouse 101 Centennial Challenge development campaign, the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association is initiating a new program “Adopt-a-Special-Action Project” or better known as ASAPs. The Special Action Projects are short-term projects requiring capital resources of $50,000 or less for materials and supplies, can be accomplished with volunteer labor or small contractors, and are incremental projects that can be standalone projects making significant progress towards the overall eight-year redevelopment plan for the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. The projects may have a timeframe of one day, a week, month, or several months.

The Adopt-a-Special-Action Project program allows for individuals to become stewards of the project by making a contribution to help fund the expenses associated with the project, as a volunteer involved with the project’s implementation, or a combination of both.

The ASAP projects for historic preservation season 2009 include the installation of gutters on the roundhouse building, the electrification of the turntable, and the construction of a new restoration workshop area in the roundhouse. Additional projects will be added throughout the year.

If you would like to help underwrite the costs of a project, or wish to volunteer in the heritage stewardship program, please e-mail shra@cableone.net for more details on the project. We will provide more information on each project as the project coordinators develop their budgets and work plans over the next month.

MilwaukeeRailroadShops.org under construction

2009-01-25T18:36:00.000-08:00

The SHRA board of directors has appointed Ken Brown, a longtime volunteer, as webmaster for the organization's website portal: milwaukeerailroadshops.org. In addition, the board has contracted with Jacomic Technologies, a Sioux City-based design firm, to build the new website domain. The release date for the new website is scheduled for March 1st. Further updates on the website will be announced on this news blog.

Grant Awarded for New Exhibit Building

2009-01-22T14:44:00.000-08:00

The Loess Hills Alliance Economic Development Committee is awarding $4,000 to the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association to assist in the construction of a new 5,000 sq. ft. exhibit building to display a model railroad exhibit.

The new exhibit building will allow the musuem to interpret the science and technology associated with engineering a railroad through the use of the model railroad and scale models. In addition to the model railroad exhibit, a signature display will be installed to explain how the railroads traversed the Loess Hills Bluffs to extend their lines westward and northwestward into Nebraska and the Dakotas.

Plans call for the new exhibit building to be a wood-frame structure representative of the original construction of previous buildings that did not survive the Milwaukee Railroad Shops transition from a steam locomotive-servicing facility to diesel locomotive servicing. Construction is expected to begin in late Spring 2009.