By Sterling McGinn
It was a bittersweet sight last Thursday afternoon as three historic Plymouth engines from the famed Toonerville Trolley headed out of Newberry on a semi to their new home in Skandia, Michigan.
New owners Paul and Gina Wilson purchased the iconic train from Kris and Dixie Stewart. As the Toonerville Trolley, the train carried visitors for decades through the wilderness to the Tahquamenon River where passengers boarded the boat to visit the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. Now the train will have a new lease on life as part of the Neo Willson Memorial Railroad in Skandia.
The Wilsons transported all 10 cars and three locomotives back to Skandia over eight days, then moved the three locomotives all at once—even lined up in numerical order on the back of the semi-trailer.
“Transportation went pretty much perfect,” said Paul Wilson. “I only lost one hubcap on my semi.”
Launched last September, the couple’s fundraising efforts to purchase the Toonerville Trolley began after the Wilsons took the trip during one of the last seasons the excursion operated. The Stewarts were ready to retire after running the business for many years and had placed the entire business up for sale.
“Once we heard the Wilson’s story, we knew in our hearts that this would be the best place for the Toonerville Trolley to go to,” said Dixie Stewart.
Now that the entire Toonerville Trolley has been moved, the Wilsons are working to complete another loop of narrow-gauge track where the Toonerville Trolley will run.
“I am working on trying to get railroad tires right now,” said Paul Wilson.
The couple is hoping to have the trolley up and running next year, which will be the 100th anniversary of the funding of the Toonerville Trolley. They also plan to keep the original color schemes for both the cars and locomotives.
The Neo Wilson Memorial Railroad is a growing center for the preservation of railroad history and is located at the couple’s business—Liberty Farms, which is the only state-certified steam-powered flour mill.
Paul and his late son, Neo, both shared a love of trains, and they began building their own railroad on the family farm.
After the untimely death of Neo at the age of 16, Paul continued the dream he shared with his son as a tribute.
The railroad is not entirely open to the public yet, but opens on special occasions.
“Hopefully by next year we can have the Toonerville Trolley running for the 100th anniversary and we plan to hold special rides one time per month,” Paul Wilson said.
The goal is to form a 501c3 non-profit organization for an Upper Peninsula Railroad and Museum to work hand in hand with the Neo Wilson Memorial Railroad. “We would like to open a first-class museum in the Upper Peninsula,” Paul Wilson said.
But in the meantime, the Toonerville Trolley is safely stored in the hands of a true train enthusiast.
The Toonerville Trolley will always have a place in the hearts of Newberry area residents, and it is now transferred from one loving couple to another and is only a little over 100 miles away.
“It is staying in the U.P. which makes us very happy, and we will be able to visit whenever we want,” said Dixie Stewart. “We know that Paul and Gina will take good care of our train.”
