McHenry Railroad Loop Auction

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1010

An August 3, 2015 article by WDAZ-TV's Adam Ladwig: WDAZ-TV: McHenry, ND auctions off beloved loop railroad
An excerpt:

Quote:

But time finally caught up to the loop. Much of the track is now flooded, and the town couldn't find enough people to care for the site. The train stopped running five years ago...... McHenry mayor Jeanne Hoyt says the decision to sell the train and depot has caused controversy in the town of about 50. She says it was for the best.

Christoferson adds, “It's hard to upkeep this stuff, find people to keep it up and keep an eye on it.” Locals will keep their fond memories of the tracks that helped start a town, and the people who tried to save them. But for them, today is bittersweet. Eleanor Messner says, “It's gonna be tough. It's gonna be hard on the people that have worked so hard over all these years.”

The only part of the depot that will remain is the tracks themselves. They were put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, so they won't be sold off.

Alex Huff · **Joined:** Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:51 pm **Posts:** 148

Called the mayor, Jeanne Hoyt, to find out what some items sold for.

Russell plow sold for $1,000, two axle locomotive sold for $900. Both are going to a Minnesota rail equipment dealer via highway. Caboose was sold to group in Harwood, ND (outside of Fargo) for display. Caboose has been moved.

Track remains in place, much of the loop is currently under water. Track belongs to BNSF, which retained the right to remove the track 30 days after excursion operations ended. Without BNSF's knowledge, the track was placed on the National Register by the now defunct historical group which operated an unusual variant of the out and back train ride in a caboose via the loop.

Down to 57 residents and the original folks who set the museum up having mostly died plus an estimated $200,000 to retie the track several years ago and the current flooding drove the decision to liquidate.

BNSF sold only the underlying right of way for $1.00. All adjacent parcels remain in BN ownership and any structures must be removed. The depot, which was trucked in, will now be moved a second time.

In 1928, the city entered into an agreement with the then Northern Pacific to dig a well on railroad property for fire protection. The railroad also used the well to water steam locomotives. Covered by a decaying well house, the hole is large enough to be a safety hazard. The city has been ordered to put a concrete cap over the well hole, which the mayor tells me they will do.

marshall5 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:30 am **Posts:** 55

There was a return loop at the end of the NP branch in Gardiner at the north entrance to Yellowstone NP.
Ray.

McHenry Railroad Loop Auction

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