The Royce Files

  The story of the 353 goes back to 1971 according to the Rollag 50th year show book. It was purchased and then a little over 10 years later it was ready to move on Rollag's Steamer Hill. A lot of volunteer hours went into restoring the engine and laying out the track and grade on the show ground. The 353 is a former Soo Line and then ran in private service for a few years until it wound up at the Minnesota Transportation Museum. It is at that point some Rollag fellows found out about it and convinced the Rollag show that a full-size engine around the grounds would be a great attraction. They were right. This train to no-where circles the grounds and carries hundreds, maybe even thousands of guests, each year during Labor Day weekend.  On the grounds, the train passes 3 depots- the former Hickson, ND depot, the former Hitterdal, MN depot, and the Baker MN depot. There might also be the remains of the Buttzville, ND depot but I am not sure. The building that is used as a restro...

Last year's family fall tour included part of Minnesota's Iron Range. There are 4 distinct ranges in the state-Cuyuna, Mesabi, Vermillion, and Gunflint. They extend from Crosby, just east of Brainerd, to the tip of the Arrowhead of NE Minnesota. The Gunflint actually continues into Canada. I have been to all four. There a handful of museums dotted throughout the region. Only the Mesabi range has any active mines. In Mountain Iron, there is a small park near a former pit mine. According to the interwebs , iron ore was first discovered near the park. In the park there is a display of some old mining equipment. Under a canopy sits an old switch engine that is marked for the Oliver Iron Mining Company. You can actually climb up on it and go into the cab. Some local youths were occupying the cab so we just climbed around the boiler.  It is a Baldwin 0-8-0 built in 1910 that originally served the Duluth, Missabe, and Northern Railroad. Oliver Iron Mining Company acquired the engine i...