For some reason, I want to say that Clear Lake and the former Iowa Trolley Park is home to the effort to build a replica of the Virginia & Truckee's first locomotive, the 2-6-0 known as the Lyon?

The web site for the Lyon project seems to be out of date. Can anyone update us on the project?

Bernie Perch

Having stopped by the museum in the last year, here's what I remember.

The engine's frame was mostly assembled at a former mechanical building in western Mason City. Numerous parts were also in the building. The frame was being prepared to be moved to the Iowa Trolley Park's main facility later that year. I have yet to see any photos confirming its move. Here was the frame as of August 2010: http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/35877_406728593044_701338044_4613285_1102296_n.jpg

The tender has been assembled with its trucks. Final details, most obviously paint, have yet to be completed.
The boiler was in Chicago being evaluated by Mr. Kloke (better known for the Leviathan). I do not know if it is still there.

That was about it. The people involved do hope for a 2012 completion, which is probable as most of the work left is assembly. Progress is tricky to follow as the museum members do not update very often. Interesting enough, their Facebook page is often the first thing to be updated.

If one is interested in the Iowa Trolley Park itself, they provide speeder and handcar rides. They also have a small Plymouth that can operated around the loop of track for a $10 charge. I would post a video of this, but it would seem like self-promotion.

That's all I know until next month

- Jonathan