I recently spent a day at the Manitoba Agricultural Museum in Austin,
Man.
The Museum, which tells the story of pioneer agricultural life
in the province, includes items related to railways such as an old station,
water tower, and wooden grain elevator—all things I expected.
It also contains something I didn't expect—a critter made by the Milwaukee
Locomotive Manufacturing Company.
I didn’t even know that the company existed until I came
across this unusual industrial locomotive.
A bit of searching online revealed
that it is the former Manitoba Hydro H4 7T #92; before that it has worked at a
quarry at Garson, Man.
I also don’t know how this unique locomotive came to reside
at the Museum, since it doesn’t seem to have any connection to agriculture in
the province.
Other railway-related items at the Museum include an unmarked steel and wood boxcar that likely
transported grain at one time.
The enclosed water tank belonged to the
CPR. It serviced steam locomotives at MacGregor, Manitoba (not too
far from Austin).
As for the Milwaukee Locomotive Manufacturing Company, it was founded in
1908. In 1922, the company became a subsidiary of Westinghouse Air Brake Co. It
was acquired by the Whitcomb Locomotive Company in 1932.
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| No. 92 in 1989 in East Selkirk, Man. |
I've been meaning to go to the museum but I haven't made the trip yet. I want to take the kids - do you think a 9 and 12 year old would like it?
ReplyDeleteThe best time would be during their annual Threshermen's Reunion, when they have old steam tractors and threshing machines on display, and many other displays in the pioneer village. It is at the end of July each year.
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