I used to take my (then) little boy on the train when he was 2 years of age right up until he was 10 years old. Now he's 17 and he was sad when he heard the train was being discontinued. Many happy memories of his childhood.
To be clear - the train itself is not being discontinued. It will continue to operate, but the steam locomotives such as No. 1924 will be transferred to the Riverside & Great Northern in Wisconsin Dells.
If they were so concerned about sustainability then why didn’t they try to convert the steam locomotives to oil, or even better, bio diesel? The Omaha Zoo Railroad fuels their steam locomotives with bio diesel and it burns great!
@ghost307 Meanwhile the Grand Canyon Railroad runs their steamer on filtered used cooking grease which burns much cleaner and Is much cheaper than coal lol
From what I’ve heard there’s more to the story. There are very few people that know how to operate let alone maintain and repair them. With the uncertainty of their future at the zoo or anywhere else, they are better off at the museum in general. The zoo says the new engines ( both being diesel ) are expected to run year round ( they are also still use 1958 & 1992 ), maintenance will be easier and less costly, and you don’t have to be steam qualified so it only makes sense. It sucks though but they are better off at the riverside and great northern museum in Wisconsin Dells. If you haven’t seen it, check it out! It’s cool!
Rode that train once as a young child in the early 60s, and I think once more maybe in my teenage years. And while I can now appreciate all that it takes to keep a live steam locomotive running, as a child, I was all about the diesels. Is sad to see the fine old steamers disappear though.
Those officials should watch George Carlin doing his routine about saving the planet. Its on the internet. No good reason to ditch the steam engine. Good video and greetings from Port Saint Lucie Florida!
I was at the zoo this day too! I got some really good catches of 1958 at the crossings and was super lucky to be able to ride the train pulled by 1924. Nice videos!
When I finished the design drawing of the 1924 in April, 1974, I never figured it would end up back at the Dells. I'm happy with the way it's performed at the Zoo. I only ran it one day at The Zoo, I was gone to the 'big railroad' before it was finished.
I visited the zoo a couple of times in the 1970's and early 1980's. I was fascinated by the miniature steam locomotives, and tried to engage one of the engineers in some technical talk about them. He wasn't interested, it seemed that to him it was just a job. He almost seemed embarrassed using the tiny shovel to shovel the tiny pieces of coal into the firebox. The Milwaukee Zoo booklet I bought back then did have some information on the engines, As you can tell by how many cars they pull, they were pretty powerful, 125 AND 150 hp as I remember.
I remember going on these rides with 1924 and 1916 a lot when I was younger and now I’m 18 and haven’t been at the zoo in about 7-8 years I’m so sad the locomotives are going elsewhere. Been a huge fan of 1924 and 1916
We’re now witnessing the end of another era steam on the Milwaukee zoo train is coming to an end due to certain things I am truly going to miss steam at least 1910 resides on the Riverside and great Northern Railroad
@@BadgerlandRailVideos truly something amazing the 1924 will now be alongside the other steam locomotives that previously operated on the Milwaukee Zoo Train from 4-4-0 American class locomotives to 4-4-2 Atlantic Class engines including the 1910 which now resides there currently
Seeing and riding the Zoo train as a little boy had a lot to do with my interest in trains now as an adult. You can hear the impression it makes on the kid at 0:21 "Woahhhhhh...." I don't think they'll ever be able to recreate that wonder and intrigue created by seeing a stream train in this setting compared to that sad and tired sounding MILW diesel. Its good to know it will still run at the Wis Dells but that's a place where you specifically go to see trains. At the zoo, people expecting the animals to the be the highlight of the day all of a sudden are intrigued by the loud whistle of a steam train flying by. Kids growing up in and around the city, farm kids on field trips, families on a day trip... everyone got to see it. They could learn about biology and the animal kingdom while witnessing a time capsule of industry and transportation history too. Future kids are going to miss out on a rich experience that will become more rare to see. I admit I'm sentimental but this video has me remembering how badass it is to have a steamer chugging along though the trees like this. Wish they could have found a way to keep it.
"In 2024, the Zoo decided that continuing to operate the steam locomotives was contrary to its mission of "conservation and sustainability" What a joke. Many such cases!
@@JustATeenageRailfan I mean that's fine but you are still correct, If they just don't want to run the little steamer anymore just say it. You don't have to virtue signal to people on Twitter about how sustainable you are over a mini-railway in a zoo lmao
At least the engines aren't being scrapped. That said I don't get why they cant convert them to run on cooking grease. All they'd have to do is filter the used oil from any kitchens they may have. Burns pretty clean IIRC.
"the Zoo decided that continuing to operate the steam locomotives was contrary to its mission of "conservation and sustainability" and sold them to the Riverside & Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells" Welcome to Minnesota. Not surprised by this one bit.
I recall being at the Milwaukee Zoo in the early to mid 1980s and there was a "diesel" engine that had the title, "The Zoo Line" on the side of the locomotive.
That would be the 1958, the same one that's in this video (in somewhat modified form since then). I just actually came across a film from 1961 on RUclips, showing it and the 1916. Check out the channel "GooberDog."
People come for the Animals, this is a world class, ranked in the top ten for Zoos to visit. I love trains, I love riding this train, have been for the past 50 years, but I can tell you with all honesty a majority of the people on the Zoo train could not tell if you they were being pulled by a diesel or a steam engine. It's just not that important!
You people are lucky to still have a steam train operating on a zoo park Railroad. Most people have a fake steam engine, running on gasoline or some other fuel oil or a diesel that runs on gasoline or fuel oil. I noticed the Dollywood has an actual steam locomotive instead of a phony steam locomotive like Six Flags has. If it wasn’t for excursion railroads, steam would be gone altogether and many people wouldn’t even have an idea of what a steam engine was. It is so sad that even our national railroad Museum located in Scranton Pennsylvania doesn’t even have a steam locomotive of decent size to operate on their railroad..
Dollywood runs two narrow gauge, coal fired steam locomotives that were used by the US Army in Alaska. There is another narrow gauge steam locomotive on static display at the Dollywood information building on the main drag in Pigeon Forge.
@@gehoffrey426one of the Dollywood locomotives is actually a sister to white passes engine number 73. 73 and the other engine at Dollywood were two of I think four 70 class 2-8-2s built for the White Pass (there last new steamers before switching to diesel in 1955.) 192 was a us army built unit and two of its sisters survive, one runs at the tweetsie rr along side et&wnc 12, another number 195 is displayed in Skagway
they got a collection there though, but I think it comes down to money, big steam has an appatite for fuel, and if something smaller will do often it will be used, and with each year its getting harder and harder to get good coal, now mind you anything that can be fuel could be used but some have more power per volume then others, like coal will have more thermal value then wood for example, but like the railroads of old if a smaller loco can do it then it is used, and just like even our trains for the north indiana railroad experiance runnign 358 saves us money vs running nkp 765 for some of the trips, now mind you 765 gets more people and attention but so does her care, for smaller trips like 2 or three cars 358 which is the the class that was brought in as steam was going out and diesleization happened will do, 765 takes in full load of fuel and readying 8000 dollers before we even light up the coal to start her up, then we have to relubricated every 100 ish miles, and have to moniter her water chemistry, and takes additional voilenteers to fire and care for, then disposing of the ashes from the fire has to be dealed with and keeping up on keeping the care of de limescaling the boiler and running the rattler and turbine though the siphens and pipes, and cleaning out the inside of the firebox so the fire can breath often times me that does that or at least after the season, when its back home the last 2 years I cleaned the firebox and took the brick arch out, its a badge of honor even though dirty and heavy, there are dozens more people that take a more active and dedicated hours role then me when the season is going but steam takes care, diesle and smaller engines much easier, still its always sad to see steam go away, or get moved to a less active roll. and with steam every 15 years or 1475 hours on boiler it has to be compleatly inspected new flues and check staybolts and boiler shell itself and retubed, its a laborious and expensive process, we did it over the course of 2 winters with 765, and thats not to mention all the daily and monthly things that people dont often hear or see about.
And for some reason the Zoo lost favor with the local community the following season…officials say they’ll be bring in some special non-aggressive and exotic gorillas next year and are currently consulting the city permitting counsel about the construction of a large “animal petting area” with the hopes to increase park visitation in the coming years. Top level zoo managers are reasonably confident that the new additions will help to maintain zoo funding and additional fundraising should help to keep the facility open for the foreseeable future.
😢😢😢😭😿😢😭😿😿 This makes me sad seeing this and reading it. :((( I feel this is going to kill off the the zoo as young kids and people that have a passion for steam won't bother coming anymore to these kinds of places as steam engies makes a zoo well a zoo + the animals diesels can't do what steam locomotives can do...............
GOODBYE, ENGINE NO. 1916 AND ENGINE NO. 1924., AND REMEMBER, YOU TWO WILL ALWAYS BE INSIDE OUR "RAILROAD-HEARTS", EVEN "IF" YOU TWO ARE "NOT" AROUND WITH US ANYMORE. 🙁🙁🙁
I'm all for independence from Big Oil. Innovation and experimentation are how we progress. I will never bash anybody for trying. But this seems contrary to that goal.
Going electric? How boring. Coal is bad? Electric , I should say battery operated cars run on on electricity provided by burning coal and trust me, no one wants an electric car.
I have to wonder if all the people whining in these comments have even the slightest idea of the amount of work needed to keep a steam locomotive in operation.
I used to take my (then) little boy on the train when he was 2 years of age right up until he was 10 years old. Now he's 17 and he was sad when he heard the train was being discontinued. Many happy memories of his childhood.
To be clear - the train itself is not being discontinued. It will continue to operate, but the steam locomotives such as No. 1924 will be transferred to the Riverside & Great Northern in Wisconsin Dells.
@@BadgerlandRailVideos whew. Thank you!
If they were so concerned about sustainability then why didn’t they try to convert the steam locomotives to oil, or even better, bio diesel? The Omaha Zoo Railroad fuels their steam locomotives with bio diesel and it burns great!
@@TheTrainGuy1355 or better yet, biogas. A renewable fuel that can be made from animal droppings
They successfully fired them on CSR "torrefied biomass" pellets a few years ago. Why didn't they just continue to do that?
Removing the steamers fits better with their policy of virtue signaling.
@ghost307 Meanwhile the Grand Canyon Railroad runs their steamer on filtered used cooking grease which burns much cleaner and Is much cheaper than coal lol
From what I’ve heard there’s more to the story. There are very few people that know how to operate let alone maintain and repair them. With the uncertainty of their future at the zoo or anywhere else, they are better off at the museum in general.
The zoo says the new engines ( both being diesel ) are expected to run year round ( they are also still use 1958 & 1992 ), maintenance will be easier and less costly, and you don’t have to be steam qualified so it only makes sense. It sucks though but they are better off at the riverside and great northern museum in Wisconsin Dells. If you haven’t seen it, check it out! It’s cool!
Rode that train once as a young child in the early 60s, and I think once more maybe in my teenage years. And while I can now appreciate all that it takes to keep a live steam locomotive running, as a child, I was all about the diesels. Is sad to see the fine old steamers disappear though.
Those officials should watch George Carlin doing his routine about saving the planet. Its on the internet. No good reason to ditch the steam engine. Good video and greetings from Port Saint Lucie Florida!
I was at the zoo this day too! I got some really good catches of 1958 at the crossings and was super lucky to be able to ride the train pulled by 1924. Nice videos!
Thanks!
When I finished the design drawing of the 1924 in April, 1974, I never figured it would end up back at the Dells. I'm happy with the way it's performed at the Zoo. I only ran it one day at The Zoo, I was gone to the 'big railroad' before it was finished.
I visited the zoo a couple of times in the 1970's and early 1980's. I was fascinated by the miniature steam locomotives, and tried to engage one of the engineers in some technical talk about them. He wasn't interested, it seemed that to him it was just a job. He almost seemed embarrassed using the tiny shovel to shovel the tiny pieces of coal into the firebox. The Milwaukee Zoo booklet I bought back then did have some information on the engines, As you can tell by how many cars they pull, they were pretty powerful, 125 AND 150 hp as I remember.
It’s all cost. Not running the steam trains saves a “ton” of money.
I am going to miss 1924! 😢
happy I got to ride it while it was around
I'll miss both 1924 and 1916 cause i been seeing them since the doubleheader in 2005😢
That locomotive has Been there for 48 years
I remember going on these rides with 1924 and 1916 a lot when I was younger and now I’m 18 and haven’t been at the zoo in about 7-8 years I’m so sad the locomotives are going elsewhere. Been a huge fan of 1924 and 1916
We’re now witnessing the end of another era steam on the Milwaukee zoo train is coming to an end due to certain things I am truly going to miss steam at least 1910 resides on the Riverside and great Northern Railroad
Yup. 1924 will join it there as well.
@@BadgerlandRailVideos she will probably become the largest locomotive on their roster I hope she can fit on the turntables
@@BadgerlandRailVideos truly something amazing the 1924 will now be alongside the other steam locomotives that previously operated on the Milwaukee Zoo Train from 4-4-0 American class locomotives to 4-4-2 Atlantic Class engines including the 1910 which now resides there currently
Seeing and riding the Zoo train as a little boy had a lot to do with my interest in trains now as an adult. You can hear the impression it makes on the kid at 0:21 "Woahhhhhh...."
I don't think they'll ever be able to recreate that wonder and intrigue created by seeing a stream train in this setting compared to that sad and tired sounding MILW diesel. Its good to know it will still run at the Wis Dells but that's a place where you specifically go to see trains. At the zoo, people expecting the animals to the be the highlight of the day all of a sudden are intrigued by the loud whistle of a steam train flying by. Kids growing up in and around the city, farm kids on field trips, families on a day trip... everyone got to see it. They could learn about biology and the animal kingdom while witnessing a time capsule of industry and transportation history too. Future kids are going to miss out on a rich experience that will become more rare to see. I admit I'm sentimental but this video has me remembering how badass it is to have a steamer chugging along though the trees like this. Wish they could have found a way to keep it.
Very nice work with the video. It’s great that they’ll be going home to where they were built, but still sad that they’re leaving the zoo. Very sad.
"In 2024, the Zoo decided that continuing to operate the steam locomotives was contrary to its mission of "conservation and sustainability" What a joke. Many such cases!
It’s so that the ash doesn’t end up in the pens but the ATVs they drive are much worse and UP runs right by with the 250+ coal trains
Convert them to oil then, or some other liquid fuel, no ash...@@JustATeenageRailfan
@@wilfstor3078 that would be very expensive but better at least they are going to a good home
@@JustATeenageRailfan I mean that's fine but you are still correct, If they just don't want to run the little steamer anymore just say it. You don't have to virtue signal to people on Twitter about how sustainable you are over a mini-railway in a zoo lmao
At least the engines aren't being scrapped. That said I don't get why they cant convert them to run on cooking grease. All they'd have to do is filter the used oil from any kitchens they may have. Burns pretty clean IIRC.
Farewell #1924. Hope you enjoy Riverside and Great Northern. The other 2 do enjoy operating there. Sadly all things must come to an end.
I just saw this at the zoo today. There's something about a steam whistle that a diesel horn doesn't have.
I remember riding that train in the late 80s as a kid. I wanted to ride it over looking at the animals.
"the Zoo decided that continuing to operate the steam locomotives was contrary to its mission of "conservation and sustainability" and sold them to the Riverside & Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells"
Welcome to Minnesota. Not surprised by this one bit.
I imagine those lovely heavyweight coaches will look right at home being pulled with an F-unit...
I recall being at the Milwaukee Zoo in the early to mid 1980s and there was a "diesel" engine that had the title, "The Zoo Line" on the side of the locomotive.
That would be the 1958, the same one that's in this video (in somewhat modified form since then). I just actually came across a film from 1961 on RUclips, showing it and the 1916. Check out the channel "GooberDog."
@@BadgerlandRailVideos Thanks for the information!
It will hurt attendance and video coverage, steam is the soul of the park. Sad!
People come for the Animals, this is a world class, ranked in the top ten for Zoos to visit. I love trains, I love riding this train, have been for the past 50 years, but I can tell you with all honesty a majority of the people on the Zoo train could not tell if you they were being pulled by a diesel or a steam engine. It's just not that important!
I was lucky to be riding the train that day
You people are lucky to still have a steam train operating on a zoo park Railroad. Most people have a fake steam engine, running on gasoline or some other fuel oil or a diesel that runs on gasoline or fuel oil. I noticed the Dollywood has an actual steam locomotive instead of a phony steam locomotive like Six Flags has. If it wasn’t for excursion railroads, steam would be gone altogether and many people wouldn’t even have an idea of what a steam engine was. It is so sad that even our national railroad Museum located in Scranton Pennsylvania doesn’t even have a steam locomotive of decent size to operate on their railroad..
Dollywood runs two narrow gauge, coal fired steam locomotives that were used by the US Army in Alaska. There is another narrow gauge steam locomotive on static display at the Dollywood information building on the main drag in Pigeon Forge.
@@gehoffrey426one of the Dollywood locomotives is actually a sister to white passes engine number 73. 73 and the other engine at Dollywood were two of I think four 70 class 2-8-2s built for the White Pass (there last new steamers before switching to diesel in 1955.) 192 was a us army built unit and two of its sisters survive, one runs at the tweetsie rr along side et&wnc 12, another number 195 is displayed in Skagway
they got a collection there though, but I think it comes down to money, big steam has an appatite for fuel, and if something smaller will do often it will be used, and with each year its getting harder and harder to get good coal, now mind you anything that can be fuel could be used but some have more power per volume then others, like coal will have more thermal value then wood for example, but like the railroads of old if a smaller loco can do it then it is used, and just like even our trains for the north indiana railroad experiance runnign 358 saves us money vs running nkp 765 for some of the trips, now mind you 765 gets more people and attention but so does her care, for smaller trips like 2 or three cars 358 which is the the class that was brought in as steam was going out and diesleization happened will do, 765 takes in full load of fuel and readying 8000 dollers before we even light up the coal to start her up, then we have to relubricated every 100 ish miles, and have to moniter her water chemistry, and takes additional voilenteers to fire and care for, then disposing of the ashes from the fire has to be dealed with and keeping up on keeping the care of de limescaling the boiler and running the rattler and turbine though the siphens and pipes, and cleaning out the inside of the firebox so the fire can breath often times me that does that or at least after the season, when its back home the last 2 years I cleaned the firebox and took the brick arch out, its a badge of honor even though dirty and heavy, there are dozens more people that take a more active and dedicated hours role then me when the season is going but steam takes care, diesle and smaller engines much easier, still its always sad to see steam go away, or get moved to a less active roll.
and with steam every 15 years or 1475 hours on boiler it has to be compleatly inspected new flues and check staybolts and boiler shell itself and retubed, its a laborious and expensive process, we did it over the course of 2 winters with 765, and thats not to mention all the daily and monthly things that people dont often hear or see about.
In my hometown of STL, at our Zoo, only one of the trains is electric. The rest sound like they have lawn mower motors in them
Yup, I've been to the St. Louis Zoo. They're all gas-powered Chance Rides "C.P. Huntingtons."
At least we’ve still got our “steam” trains
Awesome video!
@@BorisLu Thank you!
REST IN RAILROAD HEAVEN AND/OR REST IN RAILWAY HEAVEN, ENGINE NO. 1916 AND ENGINE NO. 1924 ! WE LOVE YOU BOTH. 😢😢😢😢😢😢
WE LOVE YOU BOTH ENGINE NO. 1916 AND ENGINE NO. 1924, THIS IS "FAREWELL", AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU BOTH. ☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹
Good Job. 👍🏼
😇GOODBYE, ENGINE NO. 1916 AND ENGINE NO. 1924 ! WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU BOTH ! 😇
I Am So "SAD" That It Is "OVER" Now, But I Know That Deep Down Inside, We will Always Have Our "RAILROAD-MEMORIES". ☹☹☹
HAVE A NICE AFTERLIFE UP IN THE GREAT TRAIN STATION IN THE SKY, ENGINE NO. 1916 AND ENGINE NO. 1924. AND BTW, WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU BOTH. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
They are both at or going to the Riverside and Great Northern in Wisconsin Dells. They were built there and will operate there.
Nice video!
Thanks!
You’re welcome @@BadgerlandRailVideos!
Running a steam engine does more damage then diesel??? Really how?
@frankj7064 If it's using coal it's more harmful but the steamers could've been converted to run on oil. At least both engines will be preserved.
@bracdude181 climate change is bs. Yall believe in fairy tales
Uses more fuel, steam locomotives are less efficient that diesel locomotives.
And for some reason the Zoo lost favor with the local community the following season…officials say they’ll be bring in some special non-aggressive and exotic gorillas next year and are currently consulting the city permitting counsel about the construction of a large “animal petting area” with the hopes to increase park visitation in the coming years. Top level zoo managers are reasonably confident that the new additions will help to maintain zoo funding and additional fundraising should help to keep the facility open for the foreseeable future.
😢😢😢😭😿😢😭😿😿 This makes me sad seeing this and reading it. :((( I feel this is going to kill off the the zoo as young kids and people that have a passion for steam won't bother coming anymore to these kinds of places as steam engies makes a zoo well a zoo + the animals diesels can't do what steam locomotives can do...............
Great video! So correct me if I'm wrong, will the 1924 go to the RGN?
Thanks! Yes, it will!
That steam engine can burn waste cooking oil or engine oil! Any oil that will burn? Now they can store it in a landfill!
ENGINE NO. 1916 AND ENGINE NO. 1924, WE WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR FAMILIES, EVEN IF YOU TWO ARE "NOT" AROUND WITH US ANYMORE. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
GOODBYE, ENGINE NO. 1916 AND ENGINE NO. 1924., AND REMEMBER, YOU TWO WILL ALWAYS BE INSIDE OUR "RAILROAD-HEARTS", EVEN "IF" YOU TWO ARE "NOT" AROUND WITH US ANYMORE. 🙁🙁🙁
I'm all for independence from Big Oil. Innovation and experimentation are how we progress. I will never bash anybody for trying. But this seems contrary to that goal.
These kids aren't exited?
When was the film date?
July 20th of this year.
@@BadgerlandRailVideos I was at the whiskey river Railroad in Marshall that day.
Woked again!
Pacific
History lost, educational opportunity missed.
Going electric? How boring. Coal is bad? Electric , I should say battery operated cars run on on electricity provided by burning coal and trust me, no one wants an electric car.
Diesel.
Fun fact: Renewable power generation now greatly exceeds coal-fired generation in the USA.
I have to wonder if all the people whining in these comments have even the slightest idea of the amount of work needed to keep a steam locomotive in operation.
One more, “screw the people, we have to show how woke and wonderful we are” decision.
Deisel locomotives are a joke, not even to scale. Looks very odd.
Those new 'diesels' will probably cost more than they sold those precious steam engines. Bunch of 'wokesters'!
That steam engine can burn waste cooking oil or engine oil! Any oil that will burn? Now they can store it in a landfill!