By Railfan & Railroad Staff

The Milwaukee County Zoo is selling its two operating steam locomotives but not before visitors will have a few more chances to ride behind one of the 15-inch gauge locomotives this summer. 

The 15-inch gauge railroad was built at the zoo in the 1950s and trains have been powered by steam and diesel ever since. The primary locomotives in recent decades have been two 4-6-2 Pacifics, numbered 1916 and 1924. 

Earlier this year, the zoo announced that it was selling the steam locomotives to the Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society in the Wisconsin Dells. The zoo said the sale of the steam engines supported its mission of conservation and sustainability. To replace the steam engines, the zoo plans to acquire two additional diesels. The first diesel engine, compliant with EPA tier 4 regulations, is expected to arrive within two years. The new engines will help the railroad reduce emissions by 90 percent. 

“We honor the countless memories that the steam engines have helped create over the years and look back fondly at the legacy they leave behind,” the zoo wrote in a press release. “And yet, we look forward, to a brighter and more sustainable future as the Zoo embraces the next generation of diesel locomotives to come.”

Both locomotives are expected to run in Wisconsin Dells. The first one, 1916, moved there this spring and locomotive 1924 will follow after this year’s operating season. 

The museum planned on running 1924 on August 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 30 and 31. Additional runs are expected in the fall but have not been announced. 

According to the zoo, the railroad carries more than 400,000 people annually. For more information, visit the zoo’s website.