"The Dinky" - Fennimore, WI
N 42° 59.176 W 090° 39.350
15T E 691115 N 4761956
This locomotive, affectionately known as "The Dinky" worked from 1878 to 1926. Today it is located at the Fennimore Railroad Museum at 610 Lincoln Ave in Fennimore, WI.
Waymark Code: WM5VMT
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 02/16/2009
Views: 11
The marker reads:
"THE "DINKY"
Fennimore's narrow gauge train, affectionately known as the "Dinky," operated from 1878 to 1926, far longer than most 3-gauge lines in Wisconsin. At a nearby depot, standard and narrow gauge trains exchanged their passengers and freight. Trains ran daily between Fennimore and Woodman by way of Werley, Anderson Mills and Conley Cut, meandering 16 miles through the Green River Valley and serving as a key link to other railroads. The line was famous for a horseshoe curve that made it possible to climb the steep slope from the valley to the ridge west of Fennimore.
The "Dinky" was noted for its versatility, carrying farmers, fisherman, salesmen and school children, as well as the U. S. amil, milk, livestock and other freight. The narrow gauge line was a remnant of a larger, 92-mile system in south-western Wisconsin purchased by the Chicago and North Western in 1880. All except the Fennimore-Woodman line were converted in 1882 to standard (4-feet, 8 1/2-inches) gauge.
Narrow gauge tracks once were scattered across the country, as railroad builders looked for economy in construction and equipment costs to reach remote areas. At the peak of narrow gauge operations, the state had 150 miles, some used in logging operations in northern Wisconsin, now all abandoned.
Erected 1989"
Locomotive Type: (required): Steam
Do you need to pay an entrance fee to view this locomotive? (required): No
How accessible is this locomotive display? (Required): Display is behind a fence, access is limited to viewing only.
If "other" what is the engine type? (optional): Not listed
If a fee is required what is the approximate cost for admittance? (optional): Not listed
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