MILWAUKEE, Wis. — After 63 years operating at the Milwaukee County Zoo, steam locomotive No. 1916 Harry J. Grant went back home to the Riverside & Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells. The Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works built the 15-inch gauge 4-4-2 at what is now the R&GN shops in 1960-61.
Today, a crew loaded up No. 1916 for transport to the tourist line. The coal-fired locomotive will be pressed into service along the railway, now owned by the Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society. The operating season for the R&GN begins on May 4 with trains operating on weekends through Memorial Day, after running daily through Labor Day.
The Milwaukee County Zoo recently sold both of its steam locomotives, No. 1916 and 4-6-2 No. 1924, to the society as part of plans for the zoo railway to go to all diesel power [See, “Milwaukee County Zoo railroad replacing steam engines” News Wire, March 14, 2024]. No. 1924, another Sandley-built locomotive in 1978, will return to the Riverside & Great Northern after the end of the Zoo’s operating season in October.
About No. 1916: No. 1916 is one of three 4-4-2, Class D Atlantic-types built by the Sandley Works. The Milwaukee Journal Co. bought the locomotive for the Zoo in 1961, so the name of the Journal’s chairman of the board at the time, Harry J. Grant, was put on the cab. Grant began employment with the Journal in 1916, thus the locomotive number.
About No. 1924: By the 1970s, the Zoo needed another locomotive to accommodate increasing numbers of passengers on longer trains. Completed in 1978, No. 1924 was the last 15-inch gauge locomotive built by Sandley. Inspired by the USRA heavy Pacific-type, this locomotive was also the heaviest to roll out of the shops by nine tons. As with No. 1916, the Milwaukee Journal purchased No. 1924 for the Zoo. The name “Irwin Maier” is for the Journal’s board chairman at the time of the locomotive’s construction. The No. 1924 reflects the year Maier started employment at the Journal.
About No. 82: This wouldn’t be the first time the Zoo has sold a steam locomotive to the Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society. No. 82 is 4-4-0 American-type, inspired by the famous Civil War-era General locomotive. The Sandley Works built No. 82 for the Milwaukee County Zoo, just in time for the opening of its railway on Oct. 5, 1958. The Milwaukee Journal Co. purchased No. 82 for the zoo, in addition to the entire railway and much of the rolling stock currently in service. The name “L. W. Nieman” on the cab is the founder of the Journal in 1882. No. 82 was taken out of service in the 1980s because it wasn’t powerful enough to meet the Zoo’s ridership need. First organized in 1989, the Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society purchased the 4-4-0 and in return built a diesel locomotive for the Zoo. No. 82 is still in service at the R&GN.
Visit the Riverside & Great Northern Railway and the Milwaukee County Zoo websites for more information.
— Updated April 7 at 8:45 p.m. to correct name of locomotive No. 1916.
As a lifetime member of the R&GN and a volunteer years past, I am pleased to see this equipment saved. Highly recommend a visit for several reasons. One being the chance to traverse the original Milwaukee ROW before the early 20th century hi-speed realignment. It is a shock to look up from “the ledge” at the Empire Builder. In season whistle signals are exchanged. Another is sheer exquisite nature, Steamtown in scale, of the place.
Brings back memories should I ever get that way again I should go for a ride down memory lane, many thanks to all who saved this lovely little engine.
Sad to not have steam at the Milwaukee zoo, a highlight for me on the annual junior high field trips in the 70’s. At least they’re keeping the trains, unlike Brookfield Zoo, that always seemed short-sighted.
What a beautiful little locomotive. Nice to see it being preserved and run.