Hesston Steam Museum (photos)

[Matthew Malkiewicz]

http://www.losttracksoftime.com/p47324941

All,

Follow the above link to the photos from my Memorial Day visit to the Hesston Steam Museum in Indiana. Click on “Slideshow” at the top right of the screen or on an individual image for a full sized view.

Shay #7 is from the Oregon Lumber and New Mexico Lumber Companies, a 3-foot gauge Lima 3-truck wood burner.
Interesting tie this locomotive has with the Rio Grande Southern:
“It was owned (for a time) by the New Mexico Lumber Co, and served the McPhee branch off the RGS (at Dolores) during the time when NMLC owned and operated the mill and logging railroad at McPhee. This locomotive was used primarily to transfer cars between the RGS connection at Dolores and McPhee.”

The 1/4 scale locomotives are steam or gasoline powered and were mainly built for amusement parks from the 1920's to the 1950's; many from the former Kiddieland Amusement Park west of Chicago.

The 1/8 scale steam railroad feature coal burning locomotives owned and built by the people that run them – a two and a half mile journey through deep woods, past lakes and farm fields.

It struck me that day how little attention the Santa Fe diesels needed in the morning to get ready for the day, as opposed to the steam engines which, like their full size relatives, require much time to prepare for the day’s work. Evident in images #10 & 14, the Warbonnet F-unit waits patiently for an operator.

Enjoy,
Matthew

[Stephen Hussar]

Excellent as usual, Matthew! I've been nearby to the HSM several times, but somehow
never get there! Thanks for sharing.

Stephen

[Matthew Malkiewicz]

Thank you Stephen!

For years I've been going to the Indy 500, this time I stayed a few extra days to do some touring.
Hesston is an amazing place, so much going on - lots to see and do.

Next year I'll be back at Indy, with a return visit to the Steam Museum also.

Matthew

[Skip Breyfogle]

If you are traveling between Indianapolis and Hesston there is another place in the vicinity that might be worth a visit.  This is the Monon Connection Museum http://www.mononconnection.com/ on US Route 421 a couple of miles north of Monon IN on a direct line between Lafayette and Michigan City.  Some Hoosier farmers didn't know what to do with their money so they started buying railroad artifacts - some big and some small.  We stopped there several years ago and, as usual, were in a hurry to arrive at our destination so I didn't have time to walk through the indoor museum but I was very impressed with what I could see of the lantern collection. 
This place is in the middle of nowhere - the land is as flat as your kitchen table for as far as you can see.  When it was built the Monon track between Lafayette and Michigan City contained one of the longest stretches of dead straight track in the US.

Skip Breyfogle (ex-Hoosier)

[Keith Taylor]

Also in the general area is Eden Springs Park and Campground in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Recently some fellows have purchased the old amusement park that had been operated by the House of David in the early part of the Twentieth Century. They are rebuilding the extensive 15" gauge steam railroad and have returned a carousel to the grounds. They have found several original Eden Springs RR steamers and coaches, supplemented with period equipment including a beautifully restored 1904 Cagney.
Keith

[Matthew Gustafson]

Was any of the Chicago's Brookfield Zoo Railroad equipment running on the day you visited Matthew M?