The Midwest Central Railroad, Steam Locomotives Galore!

The Midwest Central Railroad dates back to 1959 when a group of railfans called the Midwest Old Threshers wanted to start a tourist railroad operated with steam locomotives. As the story goes according to the railroad, in 1959 the group purchased a 1925, 0-4-0 #2056 saddle tanker made by the Davenport Locomotive Works for $400. Later, The MCRR's founder, Stan Matthews, heard about an engine that was being auctioned off in Hardeeville, South Carolina in February of 1960. The sale was being held by the Argent Lumber Company which had gone out of business several years earlier.

A small group of dedicated rail fans put together a fund raiser in the form of a letter that offered those persons contributing $10 a life time pass to ride the new planned ralroad. The Midwest Old Threshers Board was certain this new idea was more than they wanted to handle. They asked the railroad group to form a separate organization from Midwest Old Threshers. The Midwest Central Railroad, or MCRR for short, came to be.

Over the years the railroad continued to add steam locomotives to their roster. Amazingly, for such a small operation, they currently have a fleet that rivals any other tourist railroad in the country! Below is a current roster of steam locomotives the MCRR operates:

· Shay #9 - A former West Side Lumber Company is a three-truck Shay built by Lima Locomotive Works.

· Baldwin #6 - A former Surry Sussex & Southampton Railway 2-6-0 Mogul built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

· Baldwin #2 - A former New Berlin & Winfield Railroad 2-6-0 Mogul built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

· Henschel #16 - This foreign locomotive, an 0-4-0 type, was built by Henschel & Sons of Kassel, West Germany.

Along with these operating steam locomotives the Midwest Central Railroad also runs two former industrial swichers, a 1923 Ford Model T, and 1930 Ford Model A that can operate on rails. All four have been restored and currently operate alongside the steam locomotives.

While the Midwest Central Railroad only operates over one mile of homebuilt track around McMillan Park in Mount Pleasant the short jaunt does not seem to matter to visitors who return annually (between 35,000 to 40,000, a remarkable number for such a small operation) to see the steam locomotives in action and ride behind them.

Aside from riding the train this small group of railfans can always use help so if you are interested a donation of money or your time volunteering (they are currently working to restore a number of different projects) is very much welcomed. In any event, if you are ever in southeastern Iowa consider stopping by to see this very unique tourist railroad; I know they’ll appreciate the visit!

For more information on tourist railroads like the Midwest Central Railroad you might want to consider the book Empire State Railway Museum's Tourist Trains 2006 from the Empire State Railway Museum. Given excellent reviews this guidebook covers nearly all of the tourist railroads and museums operating in the country in fine detail. So, if you’re interested in locating a tourist train or railroad near you, or simply want to know more about a particular one, you will certainly not be disappointed in Empire State Railway Museum’s guidebook to tourist railroads and museums. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".