Northern Wyoming

NORTHERN WYOMING - Divison 14

EVANSTAN TRAIN SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

By Bill Tulley

For several years now, I have considered attending the train show in Evanstan, WY.  This year, an opportunity became available and I took advantage of that opportunity.  I have also known that charcoal kilns were located somewhere near Evanstan, which made the possibility of an excursion even more interesting.  Google Maps made locating these kilns easy, so there was no longer any excuses for not going to Evanstan.

The Charcoal Kilns are located about 24 miles SE of Evanstan. The county road to the site is on the 1869 grade for the Union Pacific railroad which was abandoned in 1901 when the main line was relocated through the Aspen Tunnel.

Charcoal Kilns

The train show is held in the restored Machine Shop and in five restored stalls of the Engine House.  The remaining stalls are being restored now. Also, the Oil House has been restored as a visitors center used when the other two buildings are not open to the public.  As an added attraction, the turntable runs and you can take a ride on it during the the train show.

Machine Shop

Engine House

Oil House

The Hostlers from Ogden, UT are one of the sponsors for this show and had their portable layout on display.  Sherman Hill from Cheyenne, WY had their layout up and running.  Both of these large layouts were in the Engine House.  Over in the Machine Shop, several more layouts were on display.  There were three large Lionel layouts, one large scale layout, a large “N” scale layout, a smaller “N” scale layout and an additional “HO” scale layout.

Dealers in the Machine Shop had T-Shirts and railroad related goods for your perusal.  In the Engine House, there were two dealers with forty tables each displaying everything you did not know you needed.  There were also three smaller dealers with similar items that you can not live without.

Overall, I feel this trip to Evanstan was worth my time because I was able to see the Charcoal Kilns and travel in a part of Wyoming that I had never seen before.

Bill Tulley, Superintendent