Chicago's former Brookfield Zoo Train. The Hesston Steam Museum. Hesston Indiana USA. July 2007.

I took this photo inside one of the museum shop / storage buildings at the Hesston Steam Museum. This locomotive hauled steam powered 2 foot guage passenger trains at Chicago's Brookfield Zoo untill Labor Day Weekend in September of 1985. This 2-4-2 type turn of the century era replica, was built in the early 1970's at the Sandley Locomotive Works near the Wisconsin Dells, and served the Brookfield, Salt Creek & Western Railroad, that circled Chicago's Brookfield Zoo in a counter clockwise rotation.
The Brookfield Zoo had steam train service from May of 1967 to September of 1985. In 2002, the equipment consisting of 3 locomotives, several open coaches, track and supplies were donated to the Hesston steam Museum. The little engine shown here is operable, but is only used on Father's Day , as the Hesston Steam Museum's railroad is very hilly with steep grades, and this little engine is light and underpowered. The two other Brookfield Zoo locomotives -one steam and one diesel switcher replica, are undergoing mechanical restoration.

The Hesston Steam Museum is located in northwest Indiana between Michigan City Indiana, and the nearby border town of New Buffalo Michigan. It is a fun family place inthe country.