Cliff Buchan
Forest Lake Times

ìAll aboard The Bumble Bee Express!î

That will be the cry this summer at the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum in rural Chisago City.

For more than 40 years, the Ironhorse Museum has been offering railroad museum tours and occasional train rides, but never on a regular schedule.

A change is now in the works thanks to a new summer offering from Erik Thompson, son of Ironhorse founder Richard Thompson.

The younger Thompson in late May launched his Iron Horse Enterprise venture.

From now through the fall, Erik Thompson will be offering railroad museum and excursion packages that will enable visitors to see the museum and enjoy a ride on ìThe Bumble Bee.î

ìThe Bumble Beeî is a 30-passenger gas-powered excursion train that pulls two small passenger cars. The distictive yellow and black colors highlight the name.

ìFor years weíve been here but weíve only been open by appointment,î Erik says. ìThis is a way to better utilize our facility.î

The summer train experience will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays. The cost is $6 for adults and children 13 and older and $4 for seniors 55 and older and children 12 and under.

Guests should allow at least two hours for the train experience.

In addition to the motor car-pulled excursions around the near one-mile Ironhorse Central track, the entire museum grounds and railroad depot will be open for tours.

The Ironhorse Central picnic grounds will be available for guest use.

The father-son duo have spent many hours the past year preparing the excursion cars and motor coach for public use this summer.

Once the summer excursion season ends, Thompson is preparing the groundwork for a fall Halloween spectacular in October when the rail line will be decorated for the special fall event.

If you go

For more information about the museum and train rides, call 651-336-4531 or visit www.ironhorsecentral.com.

To reach the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum, go six miles east on TH-97 from US-61 in Forest Lake. Turn north on CR-1 (Lofton Avenue) and follow CR-1 three miles to 238th St. on the north side of Bone Lake.

Follow 238th St. one mile east to Morgan Ave. At Morgan Ave., turn left and go one mile to the railroad museum and enter at the first gate where parking is provided.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605