LCCA Switching Tracks Traveling Boxcar Makes Special Appearance during Cannonball Day in Mason City IA
LCCA member Tom Castle shares the following story about the recent fun Cannonball day in Mason City IA. Thank you Tom for sharing this with us and having the LCCA Switching Tracks Traveling Boxcar part of this fun event! Thanks to Bob VerHoef for providing some of these photos.
In 1912 the Minneapolis and St. Louis railroad purchase 12 American Locomotive Company 2-8-0 Consolidations. They were numbered 450 to 461. When the 457 was retired in 1950 from the M&SL and was sold as a switcher to a local sugar beet plant owned by American Crystal Sugar in Mason City, IA.
In 1959 when the sugar beet was about to scrap the engine, when a farsighted mayor decided it needed to be preserved for the children of Mason City. It move to a local park and allowed to stand unattended until 2004 when again it was headed for the scrap heap. Gene Green an author of several railroad books suggested it needed to be saved.
A committee of local leaders organized a group and proceeded to restore the engine. In 2014 at a cost of over $250,000 the restoration was completed.
Each year as a fund raiser the committee sponsors “CANNONBALL DAY”, which is a day mainly for the kids. It starts out with a “Kids Fun Run” and included in the events are a Kids Peddle Tractor Pull, Inflatables, a Train Layout. A chance toclimb aboard and ring the engine’s bell. Also there is a talent show where the winners have a chance to compete in a talent competition at the IOWA STATE FAIR.
For the adults there is a Chicken Barbeque which creates revenue to maintain the engine. Over 3,300 pieces of chicken was served.
This event is held each year on the last Saturday in June.
