Elmers Auto & Toy Museum 08/2022

Located about two hours south of Minneapolis/St. Paul is along the river just over the Wisconsin boarder reisides a very large private collection of cars and car toys.  This guy was so car obsessed he even had a Model A as the center piece in his living room!  I learned of them around 2020, but never made the time to get down there.  Sadly the family has decided it is time to downsize.  Basically everything pedal car and up is to be sold at Mecum Auto Auctions in late September 2022.

IMHO it was well worth the drive and the $15 admission to see grounds.  It was especially interesting to talk to some of the volunteers who knew Elmer.  Apparently the apx. 60 acres of junkyard well be kept as it is active business being run by Elmer's children.  

http://www.elmersautoandtoymuseum.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ElmersAutoandToyMuseum

Pewter rendition of the model T assembly line.

I didn't know there was a Dukes of Hazzard game and slot car track! 

MINI HONDA!  

The Firebird/Camero row

International 

Studebaker

SOME of the race cars

'55 Packard

Front wheel drive bike

Pedal powered bull dozer

'72 Suzuki

Studebaker Avante

1935 Auburn

'64 Amphicar

1949 Crosley

'63 Sudebaker Grant turismo Hawk 289ci v8

two wheel drive, three wheeled motor bike; I remember reading about this in Popular Mechanics as a kid.

Studebaker

1902 Oldsmobild 1/2 size replica

Snoopy!

Dale Earnhardt Jr. 

Studebaker Lark, appears to but a chassis swap to some sort of Mopar.

Minneapolis Moline Pedal tractor.

Gibson, that one is new to me.

Alice Chalmers G pedal tractor with a single bottom plow.

Minnesota Transportation Museum aka The Jackson Round House

 The Minnesota Transpiration Museum, is at the Jackson Round house in St. Paul Minnesota.  Built in the early 1900's this yard was primarily used as a service station for train engines and rail cars.  The "turn table" still is operational today, and is the only one working in the nation.  Depending when one goes the price of admission also gets one a ride in a caboose pulled by a diesel locomotive about a mile or two up the tracks past some of the James J. Hill buildings. Longer train rides are available at their Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway locations.

Those of you not from Minnesota may not know that it is the home of Charles Schultz, the creator of Charlie Brown.  So there is a number of tribute statues dedicated to him throughout the city.  I find it amusing that Charlie isn't wearing his mask properly, it isn't covering his nose! :)

Rivet heater

Late 1940's Hobart welder

For Christmas a season themed model train was setup, more Charlie Brown figures were getting rides on the train.

Northern Pacific 328

This shot is taken from the rails leading to the giant turn table that rotates to align a train or car into one of the 25 service bays.

Giant snow plow car in the train yard.

Richard I Bong Veterans Historical Center 08/2021

 

Richard I Bong Veterans Historical Center

I had no idea there was a joint venture between Ford & the Soviet Union.

One of 22 surviving P-38 Lightnings!  Over just over 10,000 were produced.

Lake Superior Railroad Museum 8/2021

 Lake Superior Railroad Museum

The William Crooks, the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad's No. 1, a 4-4-0 American type built in 1861.  First locomotive in MN, arrived via barge.

The massive cab of DM&IR No. 227. 

Looking out the cockpit, not the best view to see down the rail!

Three of these machines still exist, it's brother lives in Two Harbors, as pictured below.

"Rotary Snow Plow!  :O  Northern Pacific Railway Rotary Snowplow No. 2, built in 1887 by the Cooke Locomotive Works.

Apparently Thomas was to embarrassed to come out?  :)