Volume 16
© 2022 THE SUN
Osceola, Wisconsin
The restoration of GN A-18 is underway BY LARRY PAULSON
The Great Northern A-18, James J. Hill’s executive car for 16 years, is now in the beginning stages of a two-year restoration effort. The A-18 was built for the Great Northern by the American Car & Foundry Company (ACF) at their Saint Charles, Missouri plant. The car’s plan, construction materials, exterior and interior finishes, decorative appointments, etcetera, were all subject to James J. Hill’s approval, since it was to be his office while traveling on the railroad, which was quite often. The restoration plan envisions returning the A-18 close to its “as delivered” state when the car was first presented to Hill
upon arriving in Saint Paul on the 31st of July, 1900. The GN A-18 is currently housed at the “Friends of the 261” facility in northeast Minneapolis, where it will spend the next two years. Preliminary work on the car has so far included asbestos abatement on the car’s underside, the removal of the mylar wrap that protected the A-18 during transport from California, cutting off undercar appliances that were not original to the car, and the removal of anti-vandal screens that protected the windows and doors of the A-18 while it was in storage in California. Also, some disassembly of the car’s interior is underway, mainly where the original A-18 floor plan is to be reinstat-
ed on the utility end of the car. As was the case with many cars of allwood construction, when the time came to update the A-18 after a quarter century of service, in 1924 the A-18 was fitted with a steel underframe, steel sheathing on the car sides, and a new steel roof. The interior was also significantly changed, with the service end of the A-18 getting a completely reworked floorplan to expand the galley, include a sleeping quarter for the porter, and moving the hallway from a center aisle position to the left side of the car. These changes resulted in the original solarium room on the opposite end of the car from the SEE RESTORATION, PAGE 2
How I met Sharon (on the train) BY MARK QUESNEL
Sharon Illgen and Mark Quesnel began their romantic adventure on the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway. It is one of many love stories from over the years. Here’s this love story according to Mark. Sharon and I met briefly in early July of 2017. She was spending the day helping out in an area flower garden. It was raining out so we chatted only briefly and I left. Knowing only her first name, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be able to locate her again. A week later on July 13, 2017 Osceola was celebrating an event. In appreciation of its neighbors the OSCVR offered free rides all day to Osceola residents, businesses, and police, fire, education and public service employees. The train was at the depot in between runs. I was on the train waiting to help with the wheelchair lift. The platform was absolutely packed with people. Out of the crowd I heard “Hi Mark.” It was Sharon from the garden. She was with a friend that lives in Osceola and they were riding the next train. I suggested they get a seat somewhere near the rear of the train and I’d try to find them.
James J. Hill
St. Paul’s Jackson Street shops A look at the past BY JEFF HAVILAND
The following article is reprinted from the Minnesgazette, former newsletter of the Minnesota Transportation Museum. It tells the story of the origination of the Jackson Street Shops, today’s Jackson Street Roundhouse in Saint Paul. The facility is now home to the Minnesota Transportation Museum, which operates the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway.
sat down next to her and said, “I think we should have lunch together some day.” Her reply was, “How are we going to do that?” I replied, “You’ll have to give me your phone number.” As simple as that sounds that was about all we had time to say that day.
Railroading in Minnesota began at Jackson Street. The Museum has contracted to buy the roundhouse portion of this historic complex. We are beginning an ambitious fund raising program to capitalize the purchase and restoration of the roundhouse to become a permanent exhibit and restoration facility for the Museum’s collection. Member Art Pew, Tom Mega and Frank Bifulk compiled the following information, so that MTM’ers can appreciate the significance of this historic facility to the region. St. Paul has its roots deeply in railroads. Besides the St. Paul & Pacific which later became the Great Northern Railway, the Northern Pacific and the Omaha Road also located shop facilities along the railroad corridor to the north of Capitol Hill. The immigrants who settled the Frogtown, Railroad Island, Swede Hollow, North End and Thomas -
SEE SHARON, PAGE 15
SEE JACKSON STREET SHOPS, PAGE 6
SUBMITTED
Mark and Sharon enjoyed working the dinner train together.
Unfortunately I ended up working at the other end of the train and did not get a chance to look for them. Finally as the train was back at the depot and passengers were starting to get off, I rushed down the aisle to try to find them. At times I had to move in the direction against the exiting passengers. Finally finding them, I