The Coronet Phosphate 2-6-2T will be going to the Colfax Railroad museum


Herb Sakalaucks
Colfax Railroad Museum

The question has been asked on this forum a number of times the status on Don Lind's collection in Annandale MN. Mr. Lind passed away in mid December and the Colfax Railroad Museum was contacted to see if we were interested in any of the equipment. We were out there today surveying the equipment and getting photos. I will post photos over the next few days, as time allows. In brief, here's the situation. The M&StL 2-8-0 is being purchased by a private party. The Coronet Phosphate 2-6-2T will be going to the Colfax Railroad museum, along with the Milw. Rd. URTX reefer, and, hopefully, the Iowa Central wood boxcar (if it's transportable). We will also be acquiring enough early 4 and 6 wheel trucks to restore other cars. Some of these will be available for sale for other restoration projects and to help cover the cost of moving the 2-6-2T. We also plan to get the small park trains and the two speeders. The former Soo/DSS&A passenger cars are all too far gone to even attempt to move (mostly broken backs and/or collapsed). There is a metal bodied flatcar available, the wooden flatcar is headed for scrap, after salvage of arch bar trucks. The Mn trolley is also headed for scrap. There is a Soo Line work train steam engine tender available, a GN heavyweight baggage with Timken roller bearing 6 wheel trucks, two other BN work train metal baggage cars and a GN coach/diner? work train car. There are three Soo line cabooses available, but they need A LOT of HELP! Roof ribs appear intact but roofing on two is partial at best. There is a wooden baggage that might be salvagable, but there is one 4' stretch of open roof. There is a frame and end walls to an earlier Soo Line caboose also available.

If anyone collects heavy construction or over the road trucks and trailers,. there are a number of cabs & trailers, an old dozer, crane and maybe a drag line hiding in the weeds.

If you have any interest in the above items, please contact me off list and I'll provide dimensions for moving, and prices. We're trying to salvage what's still usable, but due to site limitations, the two steamers are going to take some effort to get off site.

Herb Sakalaucks
Colfax Railroad Museum

Herb,

Nice work on what sounds like years of diplomacy and patience. Yes - stuff was aging in place in the meantime but it seems you gained the trust and confidence of the family and were able to make things happen when the call came.

This is a good lesson for all of us.

Wesley