I finally had a few moments to develop some film, so here are a few from the SOO Line 1003 photo special that Bill Raia organized last April.The trips operated on Wisconsin Southern Railroad's ex-Milwaukee trackage. On Friday, April 22, 1003 ran tender-first from its home at the Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford to the WSOR facility in Horicon, where it was turned and serviced. The train then ran to Randolph, turning for the night at Fox Lake Junction.On Saturday the train ran from Randolph to Beaver Dam, then reversed and made a second pass along Beaver Dam Lake before tieing up in Horicon. The Zuehlke family was kind enough to allow us to tramp around in their yard, which is bisected by the railroad:
On Sunday, 1003 ran north to Brandon, then backed out a branch to Fairwater. After runbys in Fairwater and Brandon it returned to Horicon.A short distance north of Horicon:
Crossing the Rock River in Waupun:
Along the mill pond in Fairwater, with Trevor and Allison Geerdts:
Departing Brandon:
Now, about the next shot. 1003 stopped to take coal on Sunday morning in the town of Burnett. Bill and I had arranged for a local gentleman who owned an antique farm vehicle to meet us there, so we could make plans for a photo later in the day. While we were chatting, another man came up asked, "do you mind if I bring my Studebaker here to take a picture by your engine?" Being the generous person that I am when other people's posessions are involved, I agreed, and we all decided to rendezvous nearby in the afternoon.Apparently, they told most of the town, so there were quite a few spectators when the photographers arrived.
On Monday, 1003 and its caboose returned to the Auto museum.Burt Mall and Gary Ostrand, owners of 1003, were very kind to perform for us, and he's got a top-notch crew. Bill Gardener, WSOR President, was generous in allowing us to run on the railroad for four days. I hope we can make another visit one day soon.JAC