A periodic look at the progress and events taking place at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops in Sioux City, Iowa
Monday, March 30, 2009
Virtual Construction Hard Hat Tour - Roundhouse Bay 1
During summer and fall 2008, Holtze Construction Company and its subcontractors undertook the reconstruction of the two-level bay 1 area in the roundhouse building. Before Holtze Construction began the rebuilding process, volunteers demolished the two floors that once comprised the roundhouse locker rooms (upstairs) and office and workshops (lower level). The demolish took approximately two months to complete. Wood rot and termites had taken their tole on the structural integrity of bay 1, which made it necessary to rebuild the area.
At present, Holtze Construction is completing the punch list of minor items that need to be completed. The total cost of reconstruction was nearly $500,000. The scope of work included the rebuild of the structural components that form the two level area, installation of HVAC systems, and the installation of electrical and lighting systems. The construction engineering and design was performed by RML Architects. The City of Sioux City was the public project manager for the federal statewide transportation enhancement grant.
As a result of the reconstruction, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District now has a visitor welcoming atrium, gift shop gallery, exhibit gallery, volunteer training area and conference room, library and archival storage area, and an administrative center. This new construction now allows the Association to consolidate all its records and archives that have been in storage.
This is our first attempt at producing a virtual video/slide show tour for you. We would welcome any suggestions on how to improve our videos. Please send any suggestions to shra@cableone.net
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Rare Union Pacific terracotta shield donated for exhibit
The Union Pacific Railroad, based in Omaha, NE, has gifted to the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (SHRA) a rare terracotta tile with its 1914 to 1932 era corporate logo. The terracotta shield is on display with the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District collection of railroad artifacts.
Measuring approximately four foot by four foot, the terra cotta tile weights nearly 1200 pounds and was transported to Sioux City via a car trailer. The terra cotta shield is undergoing restoration and can be seen on display in the Union Pacific Gallery at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District.
“The Union Pacific System terracotta shield is an object of high historical and architectural significance” said Jon Wagoner, SHRA president. “The addition of this artifact to our museum collection will help us to explain the architectural heritage of the railroad industry.”
According to Wagoner, the Union Pacific terracotta shield is one of four such tiles that were incorporated in the design and architecture of a passenger station in California. The exact location of the station is unknown. Wagoner states SHRA volunteers are researching the heritage of the terracotta tile to incorporate the information in an interpretive exhibit that will accompany the shield.
Measuring approximately four foot by four foot, the terra cotta tile weights nearly 1200 pounds and was transported to Sioux City via a car trailer. The terra cotta shield is undergoing restoration and can be seen on display in the Union Pacific Gallery at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District.
“The Union Pacific System terracotta shield is an object of high historical and architectural significance” said Jon Wagoner, SHRA president. “The addition of this artifact to our museum collection will help us to explain the architectural heritage of the railroad industry.”
According to Wagoner, the Union Pacific terracotta shield is one of four such tiles that were incorporated in the design and architecture of a passenger station in California. The exact location of the station is unknown. Wagoner states SHRA volunteers are researching the heritage of the terracotta tile to incorporate the information in an interpretive exhibit that will accompany the shield.
SHRA receives major gift from Union Pacific Railroad
The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (SHRA) announced today a gift of $15,000 from the Union Pacific Foundation for the reconstruction of roundhouse bay 1 as part of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District preservation project in Sioux City. The gift from the Union Pacific Railroad is the largest corporate gift to the SHRA. In recognition of the contribution, the newly constructed roundhouse bay 1 exhibit area will be named the Union Pacific Gallery.
“The gift is a generous contribution from the Union Pacific Railroad,” SHRA president Jon Wagoner said. “The contribution demonstrates the Union Pacific’s commitment to commemorate and educated the public on North American railroad history and the science and technology associated with the industry.”
According to Wagoner, the Union Pacific contribution was made on behalf of past, present and future employees of the railroad and their families. During a recent ceremony held at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, Sioux City Mayor Mike Hobart accepted the contribution from Brenda Mainwaring, director of public affairs for the Union Pacific Railroad. Others participating in the gift acceptance ceremony were representatives from the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, City of Sioux City, Siouxland Historical Railroad Association, and the Union Pacific’s operating department. Approximately 15 individuals attended the awards ceremony that was held at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District.
Built in 1917, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops are being renovated for reuse as a railroad science and industrial heritage museum. This historic preservation project is a collaborative effort between the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association and the City of Sioux City. The City of Sioux City acts as public sponsor and project administrator for many of the federal statewide transportation enhancement funds the SHRA has secured through competitive grant cycles. The gift from the Union Pacific Foundation serves as matching funds for a federal statewide grant that is funding 70 percent of the total estimated cost of $426,000 to renovate and rebuild bay 1 of the roundhouse buildings.
The Union Pacific Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Union Pacific Corporation. The Foundation has distributed funds since 1959 to qualified organizations in communities served by Union Pacific. The Foundation is not endowed, but is funded each year from the operating profits of Union Pacific Corporation.
Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America’s leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country and serves the fastest-growing U.S. population centers. Union Pacific’s diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad offers competitive long-haul routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada’s rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico, making it North America’s premier rail franchise.
“The gift is a generous contribution from the Union Pacific Railroad,” SHRA president Jon Wagoner said. “The contribution demonstrates the Union Pacific’s commitment to commemorate and educated the public on North American railroad history and the science and technology associated with the industry.”
According to Wagoner, the Union Pacific contribution was made on behalf of past, present and future employees of the railroad and their families. During a recent ceremony held at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, Sioux City Mayor Mike Hobart accepted the contribution from Brenda Mainwaring, director of public affairs for the Union Pacific Railroad. Others participating in the gift acceptance ceremony were representatives from the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, City of Sioux City, Siouxland Historical Railroad Association, and the Union Pacific’s operating department. Approximately 15 individuals attended the awards ceremony that was held at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District.
Built in 1917, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops are being renovated for reuse as a railroad science and industrial heritage museum. This historic preservation project is a collaborative effort between the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association and the City of Sioux City. The City of Sioux City acts as public sponsor and project administrator for many of the federal statewide transportation enhancement funds the SHRA has secured through competitive grant cycles. The gift from the Union Pacific Foundation serves as matching funds for a federal statewide grant that is funding 70 percent of the total estimated cost of $426,000 to renovate and rebuild bay 1 of the roundhouse buildings.
The Union Pacific Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Union Pacific Corporation. The Foundation has distributed funds since 1959 to qualified organizations in communities served by Union Pacific. The Foundation is not endowed, but is funded each year from the operating profits of Union Pacific Corporation.
Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America’s leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country and serves the fastest-growing U.S. population centers. Union Pacific’s diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad offers competitive long-haul routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada’s rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico, making it North America’s premier rail franchise.
Photo Caption: Union Pacific Grant Award Ceremony.
Left to right: Teresa Rosenboom, Director of Government Relations, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce; Barbara Sloniker, Vice President of Government Relations & Transportation, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce; Larry Obermeyer, Siouxland Historical Railroad Association; Mike Hobart, Mayor, City of Sioux City; Brenda Mainwaring, Director - Public Affairs IA NE, Union Pacific Railroad; Representative, Sioux City Railroad Operating Department, Union Pacific Railroad; Jill Wanderscheid, Transportation Planner, City of Sioux City; and Paul Barnes, Planner, City of Sioux City.
Left to right: Teresa Rosenboom, Director of Government Relations, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce; Barbara Sloniker, Vice President of Government Relations & Transportation, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce; Larry Obermeyer, Siouxland Historical Railroad Association; Mike Hobart, Mayor, City of Sioux City; Brenda Mainwaring, Director - Public Affairs IA NE, Union Pacific Railroad; Representative, Sioux City Railroad Operating Department, Union Pacific Railroad; Jill Wanderscheid, Transportation Planner, City of Sioux City; and Paul Barnes, Planner, City of Sioux City.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Machine Shop Clean-up Begins
One of winter's last blasts of cold temparatures, snow and ice did not slow volunteers on Saturday, March 7, 2009. SHRA volunteers are beginning the process of cleaning out the debris and wood rot from the machine shop building in preparation of the major reconstruction that will take place in Fall 2009 and Spring 2010. The cleanup is necessary to allow the architectural and structural engineering firms access to the building for measuring the building for design plans and testing the structural integrity of the building to determine the amount of restoration work that will need to take place.
As a result of the historic preservation work and reconstruction effort, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District will redevelop the machine shop as the MRHD Industrial Heritage Museum. The building will house an exhibit featuring a circa 1890s Corliss Stationary Steam Engine, a Frick refrigeration compressor, and a Worthington refrigeration compressor. The steam engine and compressors will be the largest surviving artifacts from the KD Station, former Swift packing plant, which is scheduled for demolition this summer. Efforts are underway to salvage the steam engine and compressors for transport to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops. The additional space in the machine shop building will be used for the display of large railroad equipment used by the different divisions of the railroad. For example, track building equipment may be displayed.
Major funding for the reconstruction of the machine shop building is being provided through grants from the Federal Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation, Vision Iowa Community Attractions and Tourism Program administered by the Iowa Department of Economic Development, Historic Sites Preservation Program administered by the State Historical Society of Iowa, and an Economic Development Grant administered by the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors. Additional fundings is coming from individual donations. The SHRA needs to raise an additional $50,000. The total reconstruction project is estimated at $750,000.
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