NP Car No. 598

Lee Tuskey

Question - How did car no. 598 find its way to MTM in about 1983-84?

It was known an NP coach was in the old C&NW back shop area in Hudson, WI. (General knowledge.) This was during the period when the 2156 was being stripped down at the Minnesota Transfer Roundhouse on Raymond Ave. From best recollections it was probably before the first trip to Osceola/Dresser/Marine on St. Croix from the New Brighton yard ("pole yard") and return. (Gordon Jonasson was in charge for Soo Line and I was assigned the duty for MTM. The two of us planned the trip.)

The car was given a general inspection as to dates (brakes, wheels, etc.) (It was given a complete inspection and necessary updates before being moved.) The initial inspection showed there were old tires stored inside the car. The car looked straight and in line. One truck had a large weld repair, but otherwise saw no problem except for cleanup and some glass replacement, and checking out the rules, regulations, and the weldment.

MTM wanted the car. A loan of $2500.00 was made to MTM to acquire the car. It was purchased, and arrangements were made to remove the car to the Minnesota Transfer roundhouse. The loan was to be paid back in the future.

About this same time coal became available from the contractor at the U.S. Bureau of Mines at Fort Snelling, who was completing a coal gasification test program on a number of different US coals. (John Nigro was in charge of the program for USBM.)

It was the contractor's duty to clean up all of the remaining coal on the USBM site at Ft. Snelling after all tests were completed. The contractor said the coal was free if it was all removed. (I don't remember the amount but Wanda Sims might as she hauled and weighed each truckload.) MTM would take all the free coal it could have that the 328 could burn. Some of the coal was not suitable for burning in the 328; however, Northern States Power (NSP) agreed to take all the remaining coal and pay distressed coal price, provided that each load was weighed and scale tickets furnished with the deliveries made. (Ask Wanda if delivery was to the High Bridge station?) Note - the screen front end in 328 allowed only non-coking bituminous be kept and stored safely.

Sufficient funds were received by MTM for these coal sales to pay for loading, hauling, and weighing the coal, to stockpile coal for 328, to pay off the $2500 loan for 598, to pay its movement costs, and to pay off the funds MTM's railroad division had borrowed from MTM's traction division. (See Russ Olson to confirm this.)

I believe the air brakes were tested and OK'd for transit from Hudson to Bayport or Stillwater. The next time 328 and train returned to the Minnesota Transfer roundhouse the 598 was in the consist. (Talk to John Winter, Ron Beck, or Bernie Braun to confirm.) I don't remember the amount of money that the RR div owed the trolley div.