Mark Twain Zephyr

09/13/2023

The MTZ is back on live rail for the first time in decades!

Last Monday, WGN crews worked to lift each car of the train set back onto the trucks. This was the culmination of months of work to prepare the trucks to go back under the train. Each non-powered truck was disassembled, evaluated, and reassembled as worn out parts were repaired and reconditioned. New, custom made springs were installed, along with new wear surfaces on and around the journal boxes.

Now that the train is back on its wheels, work on installation of the braking and propulsion systems can commence in earnest. We will of course update you as there is news to report!

02/10/2023

The journey to rebirth continues for the Mark Twain Zephyr. Here are some details on one of the trucks, which is in the process of a rebuild.

05/21/2022

We thought we'd share this article with you... the author sums up really well what the Wisconsin Great Northern, including the Mark Twain Zephyr project, is all about!

TREGO, Wis. – Railroads once bound Wisconsin together. Short lines brought news and goods to farms, then took produce and livestock to urban markets. Farm houses faced the railroads; country

05/12/2022

While we continue to wait for all of the materials needed for the Mark Twain Zephyr restoration to arrive (supply shortages!)... we hope you will come up this summer and experience some of the other fun rides offered by the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad. We are so happy to be back open!

  TREGO, Wis. — Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad opened its scenic bed and breakfast and dinner trains May 10, 2022, after being closed to passenger operations for 784 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The popular scenic train operates over two former Chicago & North Western Railway lines in No...

04/22/2022

One of the previous owners of the MTZ was super generous and donated part of Albert Dean's desk to be on display at the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad. Dean co-designed many railroad cars for Budd, including the Zephyrs, Flying Yankee 6000, dome cars, and the Hi-Level Santa Fe lounge car (former Amtrak Pacific Parlour Car) we do our Wine & Cheese train on. We will have some history display panels about the Mark Twain Zephyr in our depot lobby starting May 10th... so stop on by during our normal business hours! Just imagine what might have been in those drawers!!!

04/21/2022

While we patiently wait for the needed parts to arrive for the engine transplant, truck/wheel rebuild, and other work to take place in the months ahead (unfortunately we are experiencing supply shortage... like much of the country is experiencing) -- our crew has been busy out on the tracks now that the snow has finally melted! In the photos below -- the first section of the Mark Twain Zephyr's future "home base" has been fully leveled and tamped. Hopefully the difference between the leveled section and the 'secured' section is evident. Our video updates will resume when more supplies arrive and we can resume work on "I***n Joe". Meanwhile, get your tickets now for the other rides offered at the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad in 2022 when we resume passenger operations in just 20 days! Tickets on sale now at www.spoonertrainride.com

04/06/2022

If you're in the Green Bay area this weekend... be sure to stop by the Titletown Train Show taking place at the KI Convention Center and visit the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad booth. We will information about all of our exciting 2022 train rides, including the Bed & Breakfast Train, Dinner Train, Wine & Cheese Train, and our Pizza and Santa trains. Saturday (April 9) 9am-5pm and Sunday (April 10) 9am-4pm. We will have some displays and a slide show about the progress we are making on the Mark Twain Zephyr restoration.

04/01/2022

03/04/2022

The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad is on the road again this weekend ahead of our reopening in May. Visit us tomorrow and Sunday between 1 pm & 5 pm at the Minnesota Monthly Food & Wine Experience at Target Field in Minneapolis.

02/19/2022

Stop by the Alliant Energy Center in Madisom, Wisconsin this weekend.. say hello... and spend some time chatting about the world famous Mark Twain Zephyr! We are at booth E6.