Back when I was working the West Side pools to Glenwood, I passed the M&W on an almost daily basis. On occasion, with a short train, I'd have to hold outside of Annandale, and if Don was around I'd chat with him and maybe take a few photos. We used to throw bottled water off the train if we saw him; he never looked like he'd had enough to eat or drink.

Coronet Phosphate 2-6-2T No. 5 was stored at the Thompson's Iron Horse Farm near Chisago City, MN for a while before it was moved to Annandale.

These three slides are from my collection, and were taken in 1975.

Three more. One from my collection, and two taken in 1998.

Three more from my visit on Feb 24, 1998. The equipment has deteriorated badly since 1975.

Three from November 10, 2008 (my most recent visit).

Three more from November 2008. Don was working on a live steamer at this time, trying to get it running again.

Between 2006 and 2008 we watched with amazement as Don put down 50+ feet of standard gauge track by himself, right up the side of a hill. When he ran out of heavy rail, he used the rail from the live steam operation he had running around the grounds at one time.

Jeff,

Thanks for posting those photos. I have not seen Don for quite a long time. That third to the last post looks like quite a compromise joint on the rail.

Someplace I have seen a photo of Soo Line 371, the world's shortest RS-2. I believe that may have been one of the first pieces on the property, and consisted of the cab, short hood, and as much of the long hood as would fit on a caboose frame. Gack!

It's really a shame, and just goes to show that private collections are not immune from the problems some 501-C-3 operations have..."eyes-bigger-than stomach" syndrome.

IFthe gentleman would have put all that money and energy into one or two pieces, perhaps he would have had something to leave as a legacy. But no, some people have to have it all.

I think there is a lesson to be learned here, both for private collectors, and organized groups.

Jeff -

Thanks for the photos. Seeing the deterioration in 30+ years is interesting. What may be even more amazing is that a few of the items appear to still be restorable (at great expense) after what appears to be virtually no maintenance over this time.

There are a couple of pieces that beg further identification, but I will just ask about the Soo Line center cupola wood caboose #599. Looks to probably be a second-hand purchase by the Soo, or possibly DSS&A. Anyone provide further info?

Les

Ex DSS&A, three former D&LW cars purchased in 1953 from Iron and Steel Products Co. of Chicago. The DSS&A numbered them 597-599, and they kept the same numbers on the Soo after the CP owned companies consolidated as the Soo Line Railroad Co. in 1961. The plywood was added in the mid sixties as part of an effort to squeeze a few more years out of the wooden hacks.

Dennis -

Thanks. Do you know if either of the other two Lackawanna cabooses survived?

Les

I had to check with the keeper of the sacred records, retired Soo dispatcher Stu Nelson. He says Soo 597, ex DL&W 668 and another car were sold Feb. 25, 1963 to someone in Burlington, WI, and Soo 598, ex DL&W 721 was retired Sept. 1971 with no further information as to disposition.

Burlington, WI isn't terribly far from me, and I remember hearing about the two cabooses that were supposed to be fishing cabins somewhere around Burlington when I was a kid, but my buddy, who had relatives up there and I could never find them, but, who knows?

Thanks Dennis. Doesn't sound too promising that Soo 597 still exists.

One more question. Your friend Stu Nelson supplied the ex-DL&W number's for 597 and 598. Does he (or you) have the former Lackawanna number for Soo #599 that is sitting there on Don Lind's property? Thanks.

Les

Here you go, Les:

SOO 599 - DL&W 742 - 1953 sold Don Lind 1974.

Dennis, a good buddy of mine told me one of his family members owns or owned the Cabooses near Burlington, From what I was told one of them is a Soo Line Caboose, the other I believe he said was an ex CB&Q caboose, from my understanding they are not on trucks. I have not seen them personally so I do not know of their condition

Mike Slater
Sturtevant Rails Railroad Museum
Sturtevant, WI