How NPRS Supports Railroad History at Lake Superior Railroad Museum
By Lake Superior Railroad Museum Executive Director Ken Buehler
Northern Plains Railroad has been one of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum’s longest and most consistent supporters. Our association with NPR’s Chairman Gregg Haug and President Jesse Chalich has benefited the preservation of railroad history. This partnership allows us to share the stories of the men and women who built the railroads that built our great nation and keep it moving strong today. Jesse represents NPR on our board of directors.
Here are two recent examples of collaboration between our two organizations. As a member of NPR’s Executive Management Team, Shawn Smith has been at our museum on several occasions. He was a featured presenter at a Safety Day for our volunteers and staff. In May, Shawn was a speaker at one of our HOT STOVE NIGHTS, a free winter lecture series sponsored by NPR.
He introduced us to the Alberta Prairie Railway, a tourist railway, where Shawn spends volunteer time at the associated Canadian Northern Society—and an advisory board member. The similarities between the museum’s North Shore Scenic Railroad here in Duluth and our north of the border neighbor made for a very interesting and informative evening.
The museum in Duluth has a full restoration shop, staffed mostly by volunteers. Much of the time, shop projects are backed up due to parts availability and the amount of work it takes to keep these pieces of working railroad history in compliance with modern FRA regulations. That’s why the support of railroads like NPR has been so helpful.
NPR Fordville are working on a rare Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range bay window caboose. Instead of a cupula for conductors, there are bay windows on either side of the car. C-205 was built in 1952 with a cupula, but was modified in 1975. The story is when EVTAC built a new load out for raw taconite at their mine in Eveleth on Minnesota’s Iron Range, the height was wrong. There wasn’t enough clearance for a cupula, so the caboose was converted to fit.
NPR crews are doing some body work on the car and then giving it a cosmetic (paint) restoration. The historic interior repair of the caboose was completed last year in our Duluth shop. When the car goes back in service, it will truly be an LSRM/NPR partnership.
Thanks to all our partners at NPR and the other railroads that support the museum. When you’re in Duluth, please come and see what you have helped accomplish in the Lake Superior Railroad Museum and North Shore Scenic Railroad. I know where you can get free tickets.
