In the October 12th Brief with the good news about Steven Butler going to the Cumbres & Toltec as its new CMO it was pointed out that Mr. Butler has most recently been the CMO and GM of the Kettle Moraine Railway in North Lake, Wisconsin. Now comes a notice on the WWWrailfan website with the bad news that the Kettle Moraine will cease running at the end of this month. KM has been operating Nezperce Railroad Baldwin-built 2-6-2 #9 on the line (which no longer has a rail connection) for many years. The little Prairie was originally built for the McCloud River Railroad in 1901 and later served the Yreka Western and Amador Central railroads. KM also rosted a 2 truck Heisler and a rod type steam locomotive purchased fairly recently from the Thompson collection which Mr. Butler hoped to eventually restore. Word is the equipment at North Lake will be auctioned off.

There was also a privately owned Warren & Ouchita Valley Railway Ten-Wheeler at the North Lake site which presumably will now have to find a new home (I know of one in Indiana!)

It is a shame that we will soon be losing another steam operated tourist line.

Les Beckman

midlandblb@cs.com

> In the October 12th Brief with the good news
> about Steven Butler going to the Cumbres
> & Toltec as its new CMO it was pointed
> out that Mr. Butler has most recently been
> the CMO and GM of the Kettle Moraine Railway
> in North Lake, Wisconsin. Now comes a notice
> on the WWWrailfan website with the bad news
> that the Kettle Moraine will cease running
> at the end of this month. KM has been
> operating Nezperce Railroad Baldwin-built
> 2-6-2 #9 on the line (which no longer has a
> rail connection) for many years. The little
> Prairie was originally built for the McCloud
> River Railroad in 1901 and later served the
> Yreka Western and Amador Central railroads.
> KM also rosted a 2 truck Heisler and a rod
> type steam locomotive purchased fairly
> recently from the Thompson collection which
> Mr. Butler hoped to eventually restore. Word
> is the equipment at North Lake will be
> auctioned off.

> There was also a privately owned Warren
> & Ouchita Valley Railway Ten-Wheeler at
> the North Lake site which presumably will
> now have to find a new home (I know of one
> in Indiana!)

> It is a shame that we will soon be losing
> another steam operated tourist line.

> Les Beckman

Les,

Just to add a little to your post: The Heisler has been on the property for about 20 years and has run as recently as July 2000 (posibly even later, but I personnally was up that month and helped Steven change an eccentric strap before he did some "test runs"). So, there you have 2 operable engines that someone could easily buy, perform 15 year inspections on them, do whatever repairs are revealed there and there you have two nice, smallish but powerful engines for a tourist line or museum somewhere.

It is truly a shame to see the KM die after almost 30 years in business, but and its death makes me reflect on something a friend of mine taught me years ago: Don't wait. If you see something that sparks your interest, get out there and ride it, photograph it, volunteer for it, donate to it--whatever-- TODAY. You just never know what the future will bring.

I don't know if Steven reads this page or not, but he's been a gracious host to me twice now and his line put on a super show. I wish him the best and hope he'll adjust to the northern N.M. climate soon! Jim



http://visitsalisburync.com
Wrinnbo@aol.com

Steve, I still think the Heisler would look pretty sharp double-headed with IRM's J. Neils Lumber Shay 5!

Kevinmccabe@avenew.com

> Steve, I still think the Heisler would look
> pretty sharp double-headed with IRM's J.
> Neils Lumber Shay 5!

I think it would look better double headed with the Klickitat Log & Lumber Shay #7 out at Tacoma's Camp 6


crisolite@aol.com

I spoke with Steven last night and I can relay that there are no plans for an auction to dispose of the equipment. It sounds like the the locomotive and coachs will continue to enjoy a bright future.

Paul

pfdx@aol.com