Two of these engines are known to exist, one (No. 471) at Annandale, MN, the other (No. 457) at Mason City, IA. A third (No. 452)was used into the late-1950s at the American Crystal Sugar factory at Chaska, MN, but no one knows what happened to it. The factory was still in operation last I knew. As it was one of the last steam engines in operation in the area, it would seem that someone in the Twin Cities area should know what happened to No. 452, but I've never gotten an answer. Anyone know?

What is the status of Don Lind's proposed RR at Annandale? Last I knew, the stuff had been sitting there for years, and his plans to lay track had been long stymied by county opposition. His 2-8-0 also came from Chaska, but was used by a brick company and is a different one from the sugar factory engine.

Does anyone have photos of the Mason City engine they could share with us?

I pass by Don Lind's place on a somewhat daily basis. I have not seen any progress for 3-4 years now. Its not that people don't want to help him with his musuem, its that he can't get along with anyone that wants to help him. Most of the folks thathave helped Mr. Lind in the past have since moved on because he is difficult (if not impossible) to work with. Now for the big surprise of the year! Mr. Lind's "Minnesota & Western Railway Musuem" is listed this year in Kalmbach's Guide to Tourist Railroads and Museums. I'm planning to visit this year...I'll be sure to let you know what I found.

Jeff Terry



Heber Valley Railroad
jterry618@msn.com

Don Lind has single-handedly amassed quite a collection of railroad equipment. His plan was for an operating steam railroad! I have talked to him and helped him a couple of times years ago. The equipment is “saved” in the sense that as long as he’s alive it won’t be scrapped, however its all outside and needs lots of TLC. He has had a couple of accidental grass fires that got out of control and lost an old wooden depot full of artifacts to one of them. Restoring and preserving what he has would be a major task for a well organized club let alone one man.
Even though he had nothing operating the County wouldnÂ’t let him have visitors because he wouldnÂ’t or couldnÂ’t show them proof that he had liability insurance in case someone got hurt.
One of the other problems is heÂ’s close to Minneapolis and the MTM, Friends of the 261, and other rail clubs and who would you rather help, a private party or a club?
M. Nix

http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bhsm/toh/eckley/eckley.asp?secid=14
2rivers@upstel.net

A question that arises out of genuine curiosity...is this the same Don Lind who was an astronaut in the '70s and '80s? He was somewhat of a local celebrity here in Utah being the only Mormon astronaut at the time.

> Don Lind has single-handedly amassed quite a
> collection of railroad equipment. His plan
> was for an operating steam railroad! I have
> talked to him and helped him a couple of
> times years ago. The equipment is “saved” in
> the sense that as long as heÂ’s alive it
> wonÂ’t be scrapped, however its all outside
> and needs lots of TLC. He has had a couple
> of accidental grass fires that got out of
> control and lost an old wooden depot full of
> artifacts to one of them. Restoring and
> preserving what he has would be a major task
> for a well organized club let alone one man.
> Even though he had nothing operating the
> County wouldnÂ’t let him have visitors
> because he wouldnÂ’t or couldnÂ’t show them
> proof that he had liability insurance in
> case someone got hurt.
> One of the other problems is heÂ’s close to
> Minneapolis and the MTM, Friends of the 261,
> and other rail clubs and who would you
> rather help, a private party or a club?
> M. Nix


davew833@yahoo.com

Don't think so. Believe the Lind in question was trained as a lawyer, though don't know if he ever practiced. I think he is native to MN.

A question that arises out of genuine
> curiosity...is this the same Don Lind who
> was an astronaut in the '70s and '80s? He
> was somewhat of a local celebrity here in
> Utah being the only Mormon astronaut at the
> time.


bobyar2001@yahoo.com

Is this Mr. Lind another potential Paulsen Spence?
Should we act now rather than see it scrapped later?

TJG

> Don't think so. Believe the Lind in question
> was trained as a lawyer, though don't know
> if he ever practiced. I think he is native
> to MN.

> A question that arises out of genuine


Port Huron Museum

tjgaffney@phmuseum.org