Railroad museums, like all good institutions of preservation, need a signature piece: A T-Rex, a space shuttle, a Model T, world’s largest ball of twine (don’t laugh too hard; it’s in fabulous Cawker City, Kansas), or something. The Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth, Minn., one of my favorite historic railroad places in America (and somewhat overlooked by many enthusiasts), has two such signature pieces: A Milwaukee Road boxcab electric from 1915, No. 10200, and Missabe Road No. 227, a 1941 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone type.
They’re displayed side by side in the heart of the museum with cab access to both and the added benefit of drivers and running gear that move periodically on the steam locomotive. Both locomotives have that “wow factor” that every museum marketing manger craves. They’re both big, they’re both impressive, and they’re both different from anything else you’d see in this museum and at few others. The boxcab is a bit out of field — this was a creature of the Rocky Mountain West — but the Yellowstone is truly at home in the northwoods iron ore country where it worked.
I was at the museum at closing time last Sunday afternoon, and as I walked out, I glanced over my shoulder to take in one last look at this pair. I imagine they have good conversations about tonnage, snow, engineers good and bad, and their times on the main line. Like two old friends who belly up to the bar for a drink and to catch up, there are lots of stories to share.
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