Through the Years: The Milwaukee Railroad Shops

Another photo from Berkstresser in 1950. From left to right, you can see the car shop, which performed maintenance for passenger and freight cars; the oilhouse, which was used to store all flammable liquids; the storehouse, where equipment would be stored; and the blacksmith/machine shop, which manufactured and forged necessary parts for the locomotives.

At the south end of the complex you would find the coal tower, which was dedicated to supplying the coal necessary to power the steam engines. To the right of the coal tower you can see the locker room/breakroom for the workers, the lumber shed, and the car shop once more.

Photo taken sometime in 1980, one year before the Milwaukee Road closed its doors. Since the 1950s, the site had seen intense cutbacks in both traffic and workforce. Only 6 stalls remain of the roundhouse of the original 30 that were built. The storehouse, oilhouse, offices, coal tower, powerhouse, and water plant have also been demolished by this point.

The complex was later completely abandoned until 1995 when it was purchased by the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association. As seen in this photo by Larry Obermeyer, restoration would be a long process. Nearly every remaining structure had fallen into complete disrepair, especially the locker room building at the south end, which was completely detroyed in a wind storm in the early 1990s.

The site in the late 2000s after a decade of outdoor restoration. You can clearly see roundhouse, turntable, and machine shop, as well as our first few pieces of rolling stock in view. Photo provided by George Lindblade.

The blacksmith/machine shop under restoration in the late 2000s. Today, it houses the corliss steam engine, which once pumped ammonia through the refrigeration lines at the Swift meatpacking plant, later known as KD Station in Sioux City. Photo provided by Larry Obermeyer.

In 2010, the Civil Engineering building was built in the same spot where the old locker rooms stood. Today, it is home to our extensive model railroad collection, and is known simply as the Model Railroad building. Photo provided by Larry Obermeyer.