A Brief History of the

Siouxland Historical Railroad Association

    In 1945, I. W. Reck wanted to pay homage to the railroad industry. He enlisted the help of several members of the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce; and was able to obtain a steam locomotive from the Great Northern Railway. This locomotive was placed on permanent exhibition at the Sioux City Municipal Auditorium. For twenty-nine years it served as a reminder to an "era gone by."

    The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association was formed in 1984, when Larry Obermeyer, Sr., organized twelve concerned citizens in an effort to restore the city's historic steam locomotive. After organizing the Association, Larry Obermeyer presented a "preservation plan" for restoring the steam locomotive to an operating condition. As work on the locomotive restoration progressed, the Association developed a "museum concept plan" for properly displaying and operating the locomotive in an environment that would allow the SHRA to educate future generations on the contributions of the railroad industry to our area.

    During the first eleven years, the SHRA developed its museum and restoration programs at various locations in the Sioux City area. The first museum exhibit program was offered from 1987 to 1994 at the Sioux Gateway Airport. By utilizing a former military police building and a display track, the SHRA was able to "incubate" it's museum concept. In 1994, the SHRA moved it's museum program to the KD station, by utilizing a storefront on the first floor. Also, a demonstration railroad was successfully operated as part of the museum experience.

    From 1984 to 1997, the SHRA's steam locomotive restoration program was operated in a single-stall engine house at 18th and Steuben streets. This engine house was once the boiler house for the once fifteen-stall roundhouse. Thanks to the efforts of Edward Sibley and Paul Reistrup, the SHRA was able to lease this facility from Cargill. As the locomotive and rolling stock collection continued to grow, the need for a larger, permanent, rail-oriented facility be came necessary. Larry again had a vision. This time he saw the Milwaukee Railroad Roundhouse Complex as the perfect site for the museum.

    Realizing the potential that the railroad museum would have on Sioux City, the City Council formed a "Historic Train" task force in 1987. This committee was composed of people from all walks of life: and was charged with evaluating sites for the railroad museum. The task force recommended the Milwaukee Railroad Roundhouse Complex. however, adversarial ownership and environmental problems provided roadblocks to the acquisition of the complex. In December 1995, the SHRA purchased the Milwaukee Roundhouse Complex, with the aid of a grant form the City of Sioux City.

This information was taken from the Heritage Rails newsletter 98-2 year-end 1998

LEGAL STUFF