LaPorte County Historical Steam Society at Hesston, IN is happy to announce the acquisition of the railroad equipment of the former Brookfield, Salt Creek & Western operation at Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL (Chicago area). Equipment includes a 2-4-2, a (2)-8-0, [currently has pilot truck removed] so it's an 0-8-0,a gasoline switcher, and 8 passenger coaches built by Sandley. Equipment is now at Hesston, and requires much cleanup and inspection after 16+ years of storage.



Hesston Steam Museum
jharbeck@niia.net

Good to hear that someone finally will make use of the equipment. Last thing heard in Brookfield was leagal squabling over ownership betwwen the county and the Donnelly estate in the local paper. With the county parks stating they were going to put it pack in "Eventually". I remember those summer days hearing them whistle for the Bison range gate and then the salt creek bridge.

Rich A Young

> Good to hear that someone finally will make
> use of the equipment

Well, it was an involved process. Both the Brookfield Zoo and Cook County Forest Preserve claimed ownership, so it took a while to sort out that since the Zoo is located on Forest Preserve property, it was up to Cook County to make disposition. We eventually got releases from both. We've known of it's location for some time, but re an old post, didn't reveal it, to avoid fans bothering the storage facility with requests to "see the Brookfield trains".
It's now all moved to our new $300,000.00 car barn and yard. After storage since 1986, future operation will require much cleaning and inspection. The return of warm weather next spring will allow hydrostatic boiler testing as an early and very necessary step to determine what other work may be required.

Hesston Steam Museum
jharbeck@niia.net