Zoo Railroads

[Willy2]

This question would be for people from Nebraska. Does anyone know if the train tracks at the Henry Doorly Zoo were once part of some train yard? There is a yard just outside of the zoo limits and I am guessing that the tracks at the zoo may have been part of that yard at one time.

Does the zoo in the town you live in have a tourist train? I'm eager to know. Always looking for a new zoo to visit in the future.

Willy

[kschmidt]

Willy,

Milwaukee County Zoo in Milwaukee, WI boasts a very nice zoo train. I am not sure of the guage of the rail but throughout the year even live steam engines run on the line. The trains circle the zoo and it is definitely one of the highlights of a trip to the Milwaukee County Zoo. And the cost to ride the Zoo train is not that expensive. To give you an idea of the size I think 2-3 adults can fit in a passenger. Besides the train the Milwaukee Co Zoo is an excellent zoo with great dislays. Come visit Milwaukee and visit the "Home of Kalmbach Publishing"

Keith Schmidt

[mudchicken]

Willy:
Your zoo sits above BNSF's main line (Omaha to Oreapolis to KC) and was put there in 1869-1872 by CB&Q/ Burlington & Missouri River Railroad. Most of the yard is the 7th Street facility and then you stray into UP trackage.

[espeefoamer]

Santa Barbara Zoo(CA.)has a miniature train circling part of the zoo.
There is a miniature train within walking distance of the San Diego Zoo.[:)]

[dehusman]

You are guessing wrong.

The yard near the Doorly Zoo is the BNSF yard. The rails are secondhand rails donated by the UP. The tracks in the Zoo are narrow guage and were laid specifically for the Zoo.

Dave H.

[tree68]

The Detroit Zoo had (and may still have - haven't been there in a while) a train. While the locos look like steamers, they are actually powered by gas engines (Chryslers, I think, as Walter donated part of the setup).

[JoeKoh]

Toledo and Cincinnatis have trains.I like cincinnatis cause of the trestles they have.
stay safe
Joe

[kenneo]

Washington Park Zoo has a 30 inch railroad between the Zoo and the Washington Park Rose Test Gardens and the Washington Park Amphetheater. Has 1/2 size 4-4-0 and Aero-Train (GM's Train of Tomorrow). Mine rails from old mine tunnels in the West.
4% grades. Cliffhanging. High-speed straingt (really - 15 MPH). Meets and Passes at 2 sidings (Summer Season). ALL run on only a timetable!!!

And, all in Portland, OR, the City of Roses. (aka - the other Boston)

[Anonymous]

Stanley Park in Vancouver, BC has a great a train ride.

It too is a miniature they have 2 loco's for two trains and they are both gas powered, not sure if they are regular gas or diesel, though they do look like steam locos with the smoke stack and driving rods and whatnot....though even at a young age, they couldn't fool me!

[Willy2]

Thanks everybody! Have a long list of places I want to go to in the future!

Willy

[Anonymous]

I think that the zoo in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan has a train of some kind, though I've never seen it, just the tracks.

In Minot, ND, there is a very nice miniature train that is pulled by a model of GN 2-8-0 at the park there. The zoo is right near there, but I don't think that the train actually goes through the zoo. Also at the park are BN and Soo cabooses and an old Soo Line pacific.

[UPTRAIN]

I like the park trains but will always prefere the BIG locos...like the Challenger 3985, I think people will agree.