Steam & Excursion > Milwaukee Zoo Shutdowns Steam Operation

As a note of interest, the Milwaukee Zoo announced 2 days ago, the historic steam operation of two 15 inch gauge steam engines is now over.  Diesels that are Tier-4 compliant will be taking over the operation during the next 6 months or so.  And, while the new release tries to paint a picture of better guest experience, reading between the lines, it is clear that the "left-leaning environmental wackos" (my words) have taken reign over the historic miniature railroad after 63 years of steam operation.  Words such as "is anticipated to decrease particular emissions by 90%", "enhances guest experiences" and "improves engineer ergonomics" reeks of left-wing politics.  Fortunately, #1916 and #1924 have been saved from a scrapper with the sale and transfer of the locomotives to the Riverside and Great Northern Preservation Society in Wisconsin Dells.

Marty Harrison
Knob Noster, MO

Not everyone who cares for the environment is a "left leaning environmental wacko".  But sometimes even smart responsible people do stupid things, and this seems to be an example.

JBWX

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper has a story on this change 
with excellent shop photographs. The two steamers are beautiful little engines. 


 

CP8888 Wrote:
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> The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper has a
> story on this change 
> with excellent shop photographs. The two steamers
> are beautiful little engines. 
>
>
>  

First they built better living spaces for the animals that make them harder to see than the concrete floors with steel bars, now this. Don't they know nobody will come to the zoo without a smoke belching kiddie train?!

Posted from Android

Just think how much emission would be cut if the zoo closed.
Go for it.

Englewood Wrote:
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> Just think how much emission would be cut if the
> zoo closed.
> Go for it.

Don't kid yourself. Or us. The zoo's are definitely on the target list of things the progressives wish to shut down. They will never stop.

Posted from Android

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Englewood Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Just think how much emission would be cut if
> the
> > zoo closed.
> > Go for it.
>
> Don't kid yourself. Or us. The zoo's are
> definitely on the target list of things the
> progressives wish to shut down. They will never
> stop.
>
> Posted from Android

Well you got the first letter right, PETA does start with a P.  Oh and there's a fair number of Conservatives in PETA too.

Several pictures and more background.

The Journal-Sentinel reports that the decision to end steam operations and replace the two units with diesels was made by the museum. They felt the pollution was inconsistent with their conservation efforts.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/2024/03/14/the-milwaukee-county-zoo-trains-steam-locomotives-are-being-retired/72969310007/

Posted from Android

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> P Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Englewood Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Just think how much emission would be cut if
> > the
> > > zoo closed.
> > > Go for it.
> >
> > Don't kid yourself. Or us. The zoo's are
> > definitely on the target list of things the
> > progressives wish to shut down. They will never
> > stop.
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> Well you got the first letter right, PETA does
> start with a P.  Oh and there's a fair number of
> Conservatives in PETA too.

I always thought that PETA stood for: People Eating Tasty Animals.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Several pictures and more background.
>
> The Journal-Sentinel reports that the decision to
> end steam operations and replace the two units
> with diesels was made by the museum. They felt the
> pollution was inconsistent with their conservation
> efforts.
>
You need to tell the zoo folks you'll spend the night with the steam engine fired up over night in the engine house with the doors closed and then meet the museum management for breakfast the next morning. Then have museum management spend the night with their diesel parked in the engine house idling and have them meet you the next morning for breakfast? I bet not one of them will take you up on it. Which is harder on the environment? External or Internal combustion?

after some digging I find that both the steam locomotives being sold use coal as the fuel source.  not sure why the current media isn't reporting this.   I am surprised that these coal burners survived to this point in time.  We should all take heed.....we all should adopt the operating rule that clean stacks are promoted in spite of photographers requests.   Arlen

I know one of the steam locomotives at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is an oil-burner. What fuels the other steam locomotive?

Liberals fighting climate change one inconsequential step at a time.

Posted from iPhone

Both the Kraus and the Crown are oil burners.

Earlk Wrote:
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> Both the Kraus and the Crown are oil burners.

Thanks

Posted from Android

This is a damn shame.

When I was an Engineer in the 90's they were burning #2 diesel but that may have changed. The Crown was built that way and I think the Kraus was converted by the UP when it came to the States for the Zoo. This is also when the air brakes were added. The Kraus is 134 yrs old this year and I believe the Crown was built in 68. It's the only 30" live steam that Crown ever built.
Steve

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Earlk Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Both the Kraus and the Crown are oil burners.
>
> Thanks
>
> Posted from Android

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > P Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Englewood Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Just think how much emission would be cut
> if
> > > the
> > > > zoo closed.
> > > > Go for it.
> > >
> > > Don't kid yourself. Or us. The zoo's are
> > > definitely on the target list of things the
> > > progressives wish to shut down. They will
> never
> > > stop.
> > >
> > > Posted from Android
> >
> > Well you got the first letter right, PETA does
> > start with a P.  Oh and there's a fair number
> of
> > Conservatives in PETA too.
>
> I always thought that PETA stood for: People
> Eating Tasty Animals.

Yes, that's the Conservative Division of PETA...;-)
Cheers, Dave

jbwest Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not everyone who cares for the environment is a
> "left leaning environmental wacko".  But
> sometimes even smart responsible people do stupid
> things, and this seems to be an example.
>
> JBWX

Words such as Words such as "is anticipated to decrease particular emissions by 90%", "enhances guest experiences" and "improves engineer ergonomics" strongly imply that certain factors may have been determined to be more important than others in the decision to change.  Without knowing all of the factors, I would not have used the author's descriptive language, but, can you blame him?

 

kbarnett Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Several pictures and more background.
> >
> > The Journal-Sentinel reports that the decision
> to
> > end steam operations and replace the two units
> > with diesels was made by the museum. They felt
> the
> > pollution was inconsistent with their
> conservation
> > efforts.
> >
> You need to tell the zoo folks you'll spend the
> night with the steam engine fired up over night in
> the engine house with the doors closed and then
> meet the museum management for breakfast the next
> morning. Then have museum management spend the
> night with their diesel parked in the engine house
> idling and have them meet you the next morning for
> breakfast? I bet not one of them will take you up
> on it. Which is harder on the environment?
> External or Internal combustion?

Why would you do either?