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Article #6 From the: Jordan Independent

Museum group keeps
chugging toward goal

March 2003

Museum group keeps chugging toward goal
By Charlene Koepp, Editor

Wednesday, March 05, 2003

"I think I canI think I can" chugged the little red train as it climbed a hill in the popular children's story. And, the story has been much the same for members of the Gopher State Railway Museum, located on State Highway 21 between Jordan and New Prague. It's been an uphill struggle, but they continue their journey with enthusiasm. And at the end of that journey is a real working train museum with an oval track and train rides.

The members of the Gopher State Railway Museum (GSRM), now 62 strong, came together in 1990 to form an organization with the goal of preserving bits of Minnesota's railroad heritage. They come from many walks of life, but have a common passion--trains and railroads.

"We are a lot of people with a dream or a memory. Some of us lived near a railroad station or a train track growing up, others had model trains," said Mike Lehne, president of GSRM. "We all have something that triggered us to want to help get this museum up and going and preserve history."

The goal of the organization is to create a working museum park. Five years ago the group purchased 20 acres along Hwy. 21. Since that time they have enclosed the acreage with chainlink fencing. In that enclosure sit four locomotives that the organization has either purchased or had donated to their cause.

"We have an old NSP locomotive that was used at the NSP coal plant in St. Paul, a Northern Pacific locomotive that came from a sugar beet plant out West, a locomotive that was used as a road switcher from the Green Bay and Western Railroad, and a Conrail locomotive that came from out East," said Lehne. He admitted many of the cars needed hours of restoration work.

"We've been working hard to publicize the museum and try to get funding, both from private corporations and individuals and from the government. Even with budget cuts, sometimes you can get government funding if you can prove your case," he said.

As with many projects, funding is holding up progress at the GSRM site. The GSRM's operating expenses have been paid primarily by the O'Neal Foundation and several other foundations, but more than $500,000 and help from dozens of volunteers is needed for completion of the two-phase project.

"The first phase of our project will include three tracks--the switch track that will come off the Union Pacific's main track that goes past the property, one track through a maintenance building, and another track alongside a display building," said Lehne. "Our maintenance building, water and septic and a parking lot are also included in Phase I. Phase II will include a train depot, an oval track and bathrooms."

Lehne said he is talking with the National Guard about helping with earthmoving and construction of a depot.

"But, I guess I'd rather find some volunteers from the community to do the excavating work and put up the maintenance building, because we could probably get the job done quicker," said Lehne.

Lehne, who lives in Chaska, would like to see at least part of the museum completed in time for the National Railroad Historical Society convention in St. Paul in 2004.

"This is the first time the NRHS convention will be held in Minnesota and there will be a lot of people there with an interest in railroading," said Lehne. "There will be steam trains to look at and all sorts of festivities for railroad buffs in St. Paul. If we could be partially open by that time we could bring many visitors to our property and to the community."

The organization's focus is to complete an oval track that they can run their cabooses on, a display building to showcase railroad artifacts, and possibly an interactive railroad display for children. Recently, the Scott County Board of Commissioners approved a conditional use permit to construct a maintenance building on the site.

"The maintenance building is important so we can work on refurbishing these old locomotives," said Lehne. "They have some work done on them, but the majority of the work still remains. We would like to see construction be completed in 2005."

Meanwhile, as they work on promoting their project, the GSRM attends local parades, pulling a half-size Union Pacific locomotive as their parade float. The float was made in Canada by retired railroad workers. Each parade appearance nets the group $275.

"The Union Pacific is working well with us, possibly because they're enjoying the exposure the parade train gives them," said Lehne.

"This is really for kids," Orville Richter, GSRM vice-president told a Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter last month. "It's getting so they don't know anything about trains anymore."

Lehne encourages anyone with an interest in railroading to get involved. The group meets every Wednesday night at the American Legion in Chaska. Call 952-758-8729 (TRAX) for directions and information on times.

"We need people with ideas, people who want to contribute time and resources, people who want to get in on the ground level and be part of the history of getting the Gopher State Railway Museum up and running," said Lehne. "We have people that are good at woodworking, reupholstery, diesel motors. It's a good time to come and help and learn while you do it."

Lehne, who hails originally from Rhinelander, Wisconsin, grew up right near the rails.

"When I was a kid, my father was able to get me a ride on the steam switch engine and from that time on I was hooked!" said Lehne. "Every person I have ever met has always had some kind of connection to the railroad. It's kind of a romance. History isn't quite so romantic, but the sound of that train whistle going through townmaybe it's the excitement of the train ride, maybe it's the entertainment. But, whatever it is, people are drawn to trains.

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