Wednesday was a special day for the Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum as a newly purchased exhibit arrived.
A special “lightly used” 7 ½” gauge train was delivered to the museum that will be the centerpiece to a new attraction next year. It includes 2,000 feet of rail, (1,000 feet of finished track), 3 switches, a gasoline/hydraulic locomotive, 3 passenger cars and a caboose. The locomotive is painted in the Santa Fe Warbonnet paint scheme (red, yellow and silver), long thought to be the most beautiful paint scheme for Santa Fe locomotives.
The museum purchased the train from Arkansas to help restore the incomplete train equipment and track that the Lehnis Railroad Museum currently owns. Purchasing this lightly used train saved the museum a good amount of money when compared to the cost of all new track and equipment.
“The next step will be building the railroad on the museum grounds,” said Mary Irving, Curator. “We’ll need lots of volunteer help to prepare the roadbed, lay track, and install the historic railroad signs and signals.”
This small scale train will be a great addition to the museum, and although is a not a full size train, will be large enough to give rides around the museum grounds. The train is scheduled to be completed for a grand opening of the railroad during the Brownwood Reunion 2011.
Top Photo: The locomotive now sitting in the museum. (by Lisa Tipton)
Bottom Photos: Workers unload the track and train on Wednesday afternoon (courtesy Mary Irving)
