This article is (c)2022 Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad and the Midwest Rail Rangers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. No part of the materials available through the www.MarkTwainZephyr.com site may be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the above parties.
It's hard to believe that it has been more than 60 years now since the Mark Twain Zephyr rolled down the rails on its own power. Over the past six decades, many owners have made grand plans of restoring the train set... unfortunately... just to have their dreams fall flat for one reason or another.
We are very happy to report this pattern is no doubt changing with the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad's purchase of the Mark Twain Zephyr in 2020. The railroad already has a dedicated team of full-time carpenters, mechanics, electricians, and other professionals who will working around-the-clock to make the train operable... so it can once again be enjoyed by you and your family!
The best way to follow the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad's restoration of the Mark Twain Zephyr is by signing up for our on-line e-Newsletter below. We promise not to ever sell or give away your e-mail address to any third party. You will only receive updates from the Wisconsin Great Northern one to two times per month. This is also a great way to stay in touch about other happenings at the Wisconsin Great Northern, including our Bed & Breakfast Train, Dinner Train, Family Pizza Train, our special Holiday Trains, and our Wine & Cheese Events aboard the Sky Parlour Car.
For those who do not have access to e-mail and our e-Newsletters, the Wisconsin Great Northern's Director of Passenger Development, Robert Tabern, will also be occasionally posting updates below as the railroad works towards making the Mark Twain Zephyr fully operational once again.


Due to extreme winter temperatures, we are keeping our restoration crews working indoors for the time being. Since most of the indoor work is completed on the Mark Twain Zephyr, our restoration crews have moved over to working on the interiors of our Dinner Train cars. Once completed, the traditional seating on our two articulated dining cars will become 28 private dining car rooms -- a new standard offered on no other tourist railroad in the United States. When things warm up a bit later this winter, exterior work will resume on the Mark Twain Zephyr... including the engine transplant and truck work. We will resume our Sunday Video Updates later this winter when our crews return to doing MTZ work. Reservations for our 2022 season (begins May 10) are available now! Get your tickets at www.spoonertrainride.com. We can't wait to welcome you and your family back! Meanwhile, feel free to scroll down and enjoy some weekly updates you may have missed.
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SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2022 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
Tile work in "Huck Finn" and trim work in "Tom Sawyer"
You can also use this link to watch the video, too.
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SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 2022 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
Mary Budd Mucci - Granddaughter of Budd Co. Founder Edward Budd
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
Peter Budd - Great Grandson of CB&Q President Ralph Budd
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
Charlotte Dean Mitchell - Daughter of Zephyr Designer Albert Dean
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
Vestibule Tile Work in the "Tom Sawyer"
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
The First Lift of the #1280 / Front Truck Removal
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
Deborah White Mural Interview & Poem
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
"Tanks"-giving
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
Pipe Work Under "Tom Sawyer"
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
Phil & Bob Work on "Huck Finn" Tank
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
MTZ Boy Scout Model Railroad Layout, Museum Donation, Water Fountain Tanks Recovered & "Becky Thatcher" Retrospective
You can also use this link to watch the video, too.
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
MTZ Artist Joe Clark, Finished Mural & "Effie Dean" Retrospective
You can also use this link to watch the video, too.
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021 UPDATE:
Trains Magazine Newswire
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021 UPDATE:
Facebook Update
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
"Huck Finn" Kitchen Mostly Complete; Cast Made of "Tom Sawyer" Panel
You can also use this link to watch the video, too.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
"Huck Finn" Kitchen Photos
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
New Steam Tables Installed in "Huck"
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
Oak Dining Tables Installed in "Huck"
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
Prep Work on Crane to be used for MTZ Engine Transplant
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
"Huckleberry Finn" Anniversary
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
Appliances begin to be installed in "Huck Finn"
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
"Huck Finn" Kitchen Wall Receives Paint Job
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
New Hallway in "Huck Finn" Receives Paint Job
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
New Walls & Ceiling on "Huck Finn" Kitchen Area
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TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
Insulation in "Huckleberry Finn" Kitchen
WGNRR's Phil Hedlund puts in new insulation in the "Huckleberry Finn" kitchen ahead of appliances arriving later in the week.
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SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
Air Conditioning Working in "Tom Sawyer" & Burlington's Zephyr Track
You can also use this link to watch the video, too.
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TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE:
Four New Windows Installed on "Huck Finn"
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SUNDAY, JULY 4, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
Air Conditioning Update (Part 3)
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FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE::
30 New Metal Panels Installed in "Injun Joe"
Lance and Phil have finished putting up 30 brand new metal panels in the engine room of "Injun Joe" today.
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TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 2021 PHOTO UPDATE::
Beverly Painting in the "Huck Finn"
WGNRR Dinner Train Manager Beverly Jaskolski rolls up her sleeves to paint a new wall in the "Huckleberry Finn".
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Click HERE to listen!
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It's another busy week at the WGNRR working on the Mark Twain Zephyr. At the same time we have crews putting in tables now in the "Effie Dean"... welding going on in "Injun Joe"... and heat/air conditioning work going on in the "Becky Thatcher". Phew! We hope you will come and join us SATURDAY (5/29/21) or SUNDAY (5/30/21) for our 2021 MARK TWAIN ZEPHYR OPEN HOUSE ... 10am-4pm CDT
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As promised on our Sunday, May 16, 2021 weekly video update, here are the photos of the completed "Effie Dean" curved bar area and glass panels. Join us for our next weekly video update on Sunday, May 23, 2021 as we show the carpeting and booths going in the car.
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Crews are working on the interior of "Injun Joe" this week... and look what we found! The only in-tact toilet seat, which was located in the Railroad Post Office section of the car. Anyone in the market for an original 1936 Burlington toilet?
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Some more updates on the south turning loop! First photo is an overlay of the rough location of the loop. Dilly Lake road and the Trego Depot and Yard are just north/above this image. The second photos is of the current state of the right of way: cleared and ready for grading.
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TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021 ROUNDHOUSE PODCAST INTERVIEW:
The Latest on the Mark Twain Zephyr
Nick Turinetti, the Wisconsin Great Northern's Operations Manager... and Robert Tabern, the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad's Director of Passenger Development... engage in a more than one hour conversation with Roundhouse Podcast Host Nichola Ozorak about upcoming projects, including the Mark Twain Zephyr.
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SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
Keeping That Perfect Temperature
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THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021 RESTORATION PHOTO UPDATE:
Electrical Work on "Huckleberry Finn" Car



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SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
Updates on Injun Joe, Becky Thatcher, and Effie Dean
You can also use this link to watch the video, too.
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THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 RESTORATION PHOTO UPDATE:
Welding Work Continues on "Injun Joe"

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SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
MTZ 2021 Open House (May 29-30, 2021)
You can also use this link to watch the video, too.
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TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 RESTORATION PHOTO UPDATE:
Multiple Areas of Train Receive Attention This Week



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SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
"Effie Dean" Carpet and Booth Installation
You can also use this link to watch the video, too.
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TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021 RESTORATION PHOTO UPDATE:
Effie Dean Bar Area



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SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2021 RESTORATION VIDEO UPDATE:
"Effie Dean" Interior Work Nears Completion
You can also use this link to watch the video, too.
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TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2021 RESTORATION PHOTO UPDATE:
Imagine the people who sat there!
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SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2021 RESTORATION UPDATE VIDEO:
Update on "Injun Joe" Progress
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SUNDAY, MAY 2, 2021 RESTORATION UPDATE VIDEO:
Crews working on Becky Thatcher, Effie Dean, and truck bolt removal
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 RESTORATION PHOTO UPDATE:
More information on South Loop Construction
SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2021 LIVE RESTORATION UPDATE VIDEO:
"Becky Thatcher Museum Car Sneak Peek & 1937 MTZ Memory"
You can also use this link to watch the video, too.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021 RESTORATION PHOTO UPDATE:
The middle wall goes up in the 'Becky Thatcher' Museum Car

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 LIVE RESTORATION UPDATE VIDEO:
"From the Title Town 2021 Train Show in Green Bay, WI"
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TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021 RESTORATION PHOTO UPDATE:
Current interior view of "Becky", "Effie" and "Huck"

SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2021 RESTORATION UPDATE VIDEO:
LIVE grand reveal for interior of "Tom Sawyer"
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SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 2021 RESTORATION UPDATE VIDEO:
"Tom Sawyer" air conditioning installed; preview of track loop project
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TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021 RESTORATION PHOTO UPDATE:
"Huck Finn" gets painted... blue to be car's theme color.
SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 RESTORATION UPDATE VIDEO:
Fifth Truck in Shop & Engineer Shares Memories of MTZ
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SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021 RESTORATION UPDATE VIDEO:
Odds & Ends and Sneak Peek at WGN 2021 Elegant Dinner Train