Minnesota Transportation Museum

***AS DIRECT DONATIONS ARE MADE TO MTM, THE TOTAL GOAL ON THIS PAGE WILL BE REDUCED FROM $45,000 BUT THE GOAL IS STILL $45,000 TOTAL!***

 

Help save this 1950’s work of art! Built for the iconic Great Northern Railroad’s “Empire Builder” which ran from Minnesota to Washington state. These dining cars welcomed riders to enjoy a meal in a classic Western atmosphere.  Decorated with rustic wooden timbers, murals of ranch scenes, and brown & white leather seats, this dining car makes you feel like you are on a Montana ranch and is a time capsule of America history. Great Northern Empire Builder’s Ranch Car “White Pines Lake” needs a new home. 

It has been restored, loved, and cared for in Columbus, Ohio but now must move. 

The owners will donate it to the Minnesota Transportation Museum but we must raise the funds to move it by highway to Minnesota. Our short term goal is to have the car as a static display while we work to acquire the correction power generation system and air conditioning for the car. Long term, we plan to have the car in full operational service on our Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway.

With your help, it can join the collection of the Minnesota Transportation Museum in St Paul, Minnesota so future generations can experience this piece of history. Give today to help make this vision happen! Our goal is to have the funding in place by April 30, 2019.

All funds donated on this campaign go directly to the Minnesota Transportation Museum which is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization.

Donors will receive a tax receipt for their gift from PayPal Giving Fund for income tax purposes. More information on the ranch cars can be viewed at: http://www.gngoat.org/ranch_car.htm 

"The Ranch Car Program" - Donor Recognition Donation of $100 or more: Invitation for you and a guest to the unveiling celebration. (To be scheduled at a later date)   Donation of $250 or more: Limited edition collectible with image of the car, GN logo and commemorative text. (Items will be sent upon completion of the move to MN)   Donation of $500 or more: Your name will be included on a contributor recognition list permanently displayed in the car.   Donation of $1244 or more: (Limited availability) Your name will be attached to a chair in recognition of your contribution. This will be done in a nice engraved nameplate.

*If our fundraising goal is not reached this year, donors will be contacted and be offered a choice of a full refund of their donation or choose to donate to another project at the Minnesota Transportation Museum***

To follow and receive updates on the 325 repaint, follow the "Fans of Great Northern 325" page on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/FansofGN325/ Thanks to the generosity of BNSF railway in 2009, the Minnesota Transportation Museum acquired the last of six SDP40 passenger train locomotives built for the Great Northern railroad.  Great Northern 325 was built in 1966, one of six SDP40 locomotives ordered by the GN to lead passenger trains in the upper Midwest such as the Western Star and the smaller regional trains.  GN 325 was renumbered numerous times throughout its life and its active life as a Burlington Northern unit came after it was retired in 2008 by the BNSF Railway and subsequently donated to MTM. Since its donation the 325 has been enjoyed by THOUSANDS of tourists each year as the locomotive is one of the main features on passenger trains on the Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway.   Now it is time to give 325 a fresh coat of paint. Help us take 325 from BN Green, back into its appearance on the glory days of GN. The famous "Big Sky Blue" paint scheme, as shown in the cover photograph is the desired result of the museum. In Big Sky Blue, 325 will be the only operational piece of railroad equipment in the world to wear these colors. Our goal at MTM, is to have the 325 sent out for repaint to be enjoyed in its new paint by summer 2019.  The 2019 season will mark the 10th anniversary since BNSF donated the 325 to us. Donations will be used to cover the expenses incurred to have sheet metal work completed, preparation, painting, and transporation costs both ways from the contractor's location. Any donations made are tax-deductible as the MTM is an established 501(c)(3) organization. Please help the Minnesota Transportation Museum return this historic locomotive to the appearance the so many enjoyed in the 1960's.    Photo of GN 325 in St. Paul, Minnesota taken by Keon McGarvey