Does anybody know any railway museums or heritage railways that can accommodate narrow gauge (3ft) trains?

Question

I'm looking for narrow gauge train museums or heritage railways that have a 3ft gauge. My company has recently come into the possession of an old narrow gauge baldwin steam locomotive built around 1912. I was thinking of selling or donating it to a museum. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

The Sumpter Valley Railroad in northeast Oregon is a non-profit organization with two large operable steam locomotives, a sizeable fleet of equipment, and over six miles of mainline. We'd love to at least see some photos, or a more detailed description of this locomotive.

Thanks, Taylor

www.svry.com

Answer 2

Absolutely.  3-foot narrow gage railroads are all over the country - California, the Pacific northwest, the south, New England, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, even Michigan's Huckleberry Railroad.

Cost of movement (I presume you will want the museum to move it?) can be a significant factor, so the part of the country you're in is quite important.  

Specific identification of the exact locomotive is important too, because each museum has a collection policy of which pieces interest them the most (and least).  The right museum would have the right piece hauled clear across the country!

Identifying it should be easy - get what information you can see on it, plus some photos, and put them on railfan or preservation sites like http://www.rypn.org ... they'll identify it for you.  I wouldn't count on Yahoo! Answers for that, there aren't enough rail experts on it.

Answer 3

The White Pass and Yukon Route is narrow gauge. Runs excursions all summer from Skagway Alaska to Dawson, Yukon Territory in Canada through the White Pass. Beautiful route and a great ride. I think they have a museum at Skagway. Their engines are diesel as they were a regular freight and passenger line until the late 60's. But If I remember right they had some old puffers in the museum.

Answer 4

I know of somone in the southeast area of the U.S. What is the engine number that you are offering?

Answer 5

The best suggestions have to do with the relevance of the specific locomotive, if any, to a particular museum, rail line, locality, or other operation.  The only parties likely to purchase such a locomotive will be ones concerned with operational practicality, or simple personal collecting/vanity.  Donating a locomotive to someplace where the artifact is neither relevant nor likely to be well-maintained is also likely to be a waste of effort.  I would STRONGLY recommend entailing the assistance of serious rail history consultants who would be willing to guide your efforts, in all probability for no fee (pro bono).  Many of them can be found via the Railway Preservation News website and their Interchange forum (www.rypn.org).  As with, say, an antique automobile, a sale price would depend on condition and viability of restoration for display or operation--value could range from scrap-metal weight to well into five figures, depending on way too many variables.

Answer 6

Isle or man steam railway 3ft Gauge

http://www.isle-of-man.com/heritage/tran...

Answer 7

The SLO Railroad Museum is associated with the 3' gauge Pacific Coast Railroad in Santa Margarita, California. We might be interested.  How many lead and drive wheels is it and what is the overall condition?

Phil Reader - CMO

Answer 8

I believe the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum would like to have a chat with you!

http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/

They have a very impressive collection (they're about 5 minutes away from where I live) and according to their web site, "The Railroad Museum is always seeking to acquire more historic material and welcomes donations."

Cheers!

Answer 9

There are many collections with some 3' gauge equipment, some of who also run their equipment.

The better museums are looking for locomotives with some connection to their area or mission.

Additionally, size is an issue.  A larger narrow gauge locomotive may not be suitable for light track.

If you tell us what region you are in and tell us where the locomotive came from many of us can make better suggestions.

Randy Hees

Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resouces www.spcrr.org

Moderator, Railway Preservation News www.rypn.org

Answer 10

Can you please contact me regarding this locomotive?

John Suscheck/CEO

Ozark Mountain Railcar

www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com

417-336-2401

Answer 11

There are a couple of dozen places in the US which have enough 3' gage track to actually operate a train.  I might suggest you go to your local train hobby shop and buy a copy of the annual "Empire state" tourist railroad guide and look at the listings for your area.  

Transporting a full size locomotive is not a trivial job.  I have done it several times, and it requires a substantial budget, preparation, specialized equipment , and some knowledgeable people.  At a minumum a "Heavy Hauler" lowboy tractor-trailer.

Many museums try to focus their collections on Items which were used or have historical connections to their area.  So, it might help if you could say a bit more about the history of your locomotive.  That being said, the Museums which I personally know of that have significant collections of 3' gage equipment include:

Durango & Silverton Narrow gage (Durango, CO)

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic (Alamosa, CO)

Georgetown Loop Railroad (Silver Plume, CO)

Colorado RR Museum (Golden, CO)

California State RR Museum (Sacramento, CA)

East Broad Top RR  (Orbisonia, PA)

Huckleberry RR (Flint, MI)

Knotts Berry Farm (Anaheim, CA)

White Pass & Yukon  (Skagway, AL)

New Jersey Museum of Transportation (Farmingdale, NJ)

Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, TN)

Answer 12

http://www.mcrr.org

Midwest Central Railroad

P.O. Box 102

Mount Pleasant, IA 52641

[phone]

Ask for Matt Crull he is the President of the railroad.

Answer 13

If your looking for a cash buyer, contact me.  Our 3' gauge operation needs another locomotive, one to restore or display is fine also.

Answer 14

The Colfax Railroad Museum, Colfax WI has some 3' displays and is looking for one steam engine for display.  Where is the engine located and what are the parameters for loading and shipping?  Also, what is the status on asbestos lagging and overall condition of the engine and tender?

Herb Sakalaucks

Chairman

Colfax RR Museum

715-225-0688

Answer 15

There is a camp in eastern Tennessee with 1.3 miles of restored track that is looking for a 3' gauge steam loco.  Scenery is incredible, possible future expansion, already have a small Plymouth and two open passenger cars.  We would be happy to work on transportation if you are interested.  I would be happy to provide more details backchannel.

Answer 16

Here is another Narrow Gage railroad still operating.  Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad.  www.ymsprr.com.  Its a great scenic little line just outside the parks south entrance.

Answer 17

While not necessarily "tourist railroads" per se (i.e. riding a train is the main attraction), you may want to consider several amusement parks that operate live narrow gauge steam.  I do not have a comprehensive list of all the parks, but two that readily come to mind is Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fl.  I actually visited WDW last summer and was treated to a behind the scenes tour of the railroad and locomotive shops as a birthday gift and believe me, they are serious about steam.  Interestingly enough, the WDW locos were also built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (they even have the boiler plates!).