The Milwaukee County Zoo has been running its safari trains around the grounds since 1958. For many years, the small scale steam locomotives ran in rotation with diesel engines. But that's changing.
The zoo is putting its two steam engines out to pasture, selling them to a museum.
"The No. 1916 and No. 1924 steam locomotives (engines) will leave the station for the last time, transferring to the Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society (R&GN) in the Wisconsin Dells," the zoo announced in March.
"The sale of the steam engines supports the Zoo’s mission of conservation and sustainability and aligns with Milwaukee County’s vision of becoming the healthiest county in Wisconsin."
While engine 1916 pulled out of zoo station on April 1, No. 1924 is still riding the rails and will continue to do so this summer before it, too, heads to the Dells, on Oct. 31.
Barring unforseen track or locomotive repairs that could derail this schedule, No. 1924 will be operating at the zoo on July 19-20, and Aug. 9-10, 15-18, 23-24, and 30-31.
The zoo’s No. 1958 and No. 1992 diesel engines continue to operate and will be joined by two new diesels, which according to the zoo, "will improve engineer ergonomics and enhance the ability to run year-round, weather permitting.
"The change to diesel fuel is anticipated to decrease particulate emissions by 90 percent."
The zoo adds that diesel engines are the safest and most efficient, but is keeping an eye on electric and solar-powered options for the future.
As for the cars the locomotives will pull, six of the passenger cars will likely be completely renovated this year, including, the zoo says, "mechanical underbody work, roofing, and exterior work. As much as possible, the Zoo uses wood that’s fallen from our very own parkland to help replace deteriorated wood on the coaches."
The two steam engines being sent to the Dells are expected to operate as part of the "living museum" at Riverside and Great Northern Museum.
The trains were among the earliest features to open to the public in 1958 at the "new" zoo, which was built to replace Washington Park Zoo, which closed completely in 1963.
The process of building the current zoo took a few years.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
