Beginning of Story Content
The Wakefield Steam Train is up for sale at a price of $550,000 as listed on the website ozarkmountainrailcar.com.
In June, the owners of the 104-year-old train shut down the service to Wakefield because of rain damage to the rail bed.
They said the shutdown would be temporary until the rail bed could be repaired.
But the for-sale listing went up on the web earlier this week.
The Outaouais Tourism Board has said the train brings 50,000 to 60,000 tourists into Wakefield each year, generating close to $10 million in revenue.
In the website listing, the owners say the train is equipped with European couplers and air-brake systems.
“Although it can operate on a tourist or short-line railroad it can not be shipped via interchange, and will need to be loaded on flat cars or shipped by truck from its current location,” the listing reads.
“[A] 500-seat, steam-passenger train, imported from Sweden in the early 1990s, this train set is completely operational, and is capable of being utilized in tourist or dinner-train service in North America.”
According to the listing, the train set includes:
- An oil-fired, standard-gauge steam locomotive in full operating condition
- A1962 EMD Nohab diesel-electric, standard-gauge locomotive in full operating condition.
- Seven coaches with restrooms, air conditioning, heat and open windows, all in operating condition.
- An elegant lounge/dining car with kitchen, in operating condition.
- A gift shop/kitchen car with full kitchen and upscale gift shop area, in operating condition.
There is also a brief history of the train on the website.
“Locomotive #909 was built in 1907 for the Swedish National Railways, and was used in regular service in until 1945, and stored serviceable until 1964 when it was returned to service for excursions service in Sweden.
“With the threat of a the cold war, the government of Sweden decided to keep their steam locomotives in storage in case invaders destroyed Sweden’s capacity to make electricity. “These steam locomotives were hidden in shelters to provide transportation for soldiers and equipment.
“When the cold war ended in 1990, the Swedish government felt that keeping all these steam locomotives were useless. The government then decided to sell off the 200 steam engines in storage.
“The locomotive sailed from Sweden to Canada on the cargo ship Federal Man. During the Atlantic crossover, the crew braved four storms before it finally arrived in Canada in June of 1992.”
End of Story Content
Back to accessibility links