I will be spending Friday afternoon April 8th and Saturday the 9th in Madison. Can anyone tell me what there is to see and do? Museums, train watching etc....

Thanks in advance,

-Alan

There is Mid-Continent Railway musuem in North Freedom. That is about an hour drive northwest of Madison. Unfortunately they are not running trips until May 11. There is equipment outside that you can look at. They are currently rebuilding the Western Coal and Coke #1 to operating status. I know that there will be a work session that weekend in the enginehouse. That means that there will be volunteers around to answer any questions that you may have. If you want to see what is happening in the enginehouse, you can go to http://www.1385.org Click on enter, then click on shop updates.


I really can't say much about train watching in the Madtown area. Somebody else will have to take that one on.

I just recieved an update regarding the scheduled work weekend at Mid Continent. It has been moved from April 9-10 to April 23-24. There may be somebody around on April 9th, but I can't say for sure.

Ed

Alan, Mid-Continent is the only museum close, and although they won't be open for the season yet, there are usually at least a few members around on any weekend who could show you around. As far as train watching goes, the Wisconsin and Southern is the only show in town. While their weekend activity is limited, you never know what will show up. While the F-unit hasn't seen service for a while, the 2 E-units do show up on private passenger specials around Madison occcasionally. WSOR does a little switching around town on weekends, and there are (a least last I knew) wayfreights that head out of town both north and west over the weekend. I don't think the UP "rock trains" that run through to the former C&NW ballast quarry are running yet, but they should be starting to run soon.
Hope this info helps you out a little.

I almost forgot, the CP does come into Madison also. I've never actually seen a train though.