Cameron Steam Pump donated for STEAM Locomotion Exhibit

Reporter: Odell Overgaard


A new addition to the STEAM Locomotion exhibit program was added on Friday June 19th. Mark Paulsen of Westway Terminals arranged for the donation of the Cameron Steam pump to the Siouxland Railroad Historical Association. This pump was last used to transfer Molasses from rail cars to storage tanks at the Westway terminal in Sioux City. The pump was in continuous use until three years ago when Westway discontinued handling Molasses. The 5100 lb pump has a steam cylinder is 16 inches in diameter with a 20 inch stroke. The pumping cylinder is 12 inches in diameter. The pump has a 10 inch intake and an 8 inch discharge pipe. In its previous uses, it was located at the barge terminal and used to transfer liquids from barges.

The Cameron Steam Pump likely started out being used in a large Naval ship, such as a battleship, before it was converted to transfer pumping at a local barge station and later at Westway Terminals. The steam pump’s build date is placed in the timeframe of 1900 to 1910.The pump will be joined by the KD Corliss steam engine and Ammonia compressor later this year. Its new home will be in the Former Milwaukee Railroad Machine shop. The Cameron Steam Pump will be restored to operating condition and be on display at the Milwaukee Shops Historic District for all to see. When all restoration is completed, the pump will be demonstrated at events to show how steam technology was adapted and used in the Sioux City industrial complexes.

General information on the pump:

16” cylinder

12” water cylinder

20” stroke

Weight: 5100 pounds

Floor space: 102 in. X 41 in.

Boiler Horsepower needed: 4000 psi

Railroad museum receives major gift from Union Pacific Railroad

The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (SHRA) announced 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 one of the largest corporate gifts 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 Siouxland Historical Railroad Association is a nonprofit museum and historic preservation organization founded in 1984. Since its founding 25 years ago, volunteers have collectively contributed over 250,000 hours of labor to restore the City’s landmark steam locomotive No. 1355 and the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. Last year the Milwaukee Railroad Shops historic preservation project attracted nearly 10,000 visitors/visits to the historic district. The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District and Great Northern Railway Steam Locomotive No. 1355 are designated “official projects” of the federal Save America’s Treasures Program.

Gift shop gallery named for local philanthropist

The Edna M. Groetken Gift Shop Gallery in the new bay 1 area of the roundhouse building was officially opened during the sixth annual Ag-Rail Heritage Festival held during Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17, 2008.

The new gift shop area, named for the longtime Sioux City resident, is an area where visitors can purchase gift and souvenir items, including railroad books, as a token of remembering their visit to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, or to continue their learning experience about the railroad industry through the books and educational toys available in the gift shop. The new gift shop area is furnished with glass display cases donated by the Sioux City Public Museum and display gondolas and racks purchased during the closing sale of Linen and Things in Sioux City.

Miss Groetken passed away Monday, May 7, 2007, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She bequeathed nearly $125,000 to the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association for construction work to preserve and rebuild the roundhouse building. The gift from Ms. Groetken was the largest bequeath in the SHRA’s history. “We are incredibly grateful,” stated Jon Wagoner, SHRA president, “for the untold benefits countless visitors and local residents will receive from the remarkable generosity of Miss Groetken, not to mention the ripple effect this contribution will make in preserving the Milwaukee Railroad Shops for current and future generations to enjoy as a railroad industrial science and heritage museum.”

Her bequest was used to help finance the construction of the bay 1, a two-level area of the roundhouse building that houses the gift shop gallery, atrium welcome center, exhibit gallery and administrative center. The costs associated with this project were approximately $450,000. Her bequest helped match the federal/statewide transportation grant of $266,762.

Miss Groetken served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following her military service, she worked as a secretary in several Sioux City medical offices. She was an active volunteer with the Sioux City Police Department, where she helped in the investigative department working with fingerprinting. She was one of the Police Department’s first civilian volunteers.

She was a life member of the American Legion Wasmer Post 241 of Le Mars and was the first female state commander of the American Legion of Iowa. She also was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Miss Groetken was often a visitor to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. She had fond memories of trains traveling through the Le Mars area and Sioux City.

Railroad museum offers extended summer hours

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, a regional historic site and museum focusing on railroad history and science, is offering extended summer hours during the months of June, July, and August. For this three-month period, the railroad museum shop will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; and Noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Admission to the railroad museum is $4.00 for adults; $3.00 for senior citizens (age 50 and older); $2.00 for children and students (age 6 to 18); and free for children under age 5 accompanied by an adult. A portion of the admission fee that is collected is earmarked for historic preservation work on the buildings, locomotives, rolling stock and artifact that form the railroad museum’s collections and exhibits.

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District features an excellent collection of historic steam locomotive-era buildings dating from 1917. This historic collection features a restored roundhouse with turntable, machine shop building, carpenter shop, sand drying house, and wood sand tower. The historic district is home to the National Register-listed steam locomotive Great Northern Railway No. 1355, a Pacific-style 4-6-2 wheel arrangement passenger train locomotive.

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is located along the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, State Highway 12, in the north Riverside neighborhood of Sioux City. For more information visit the railroad museums website at MilwaukeeRailroadShops.org or call 712-233-6996.