Northfield & Cannon Valley Railroad - 2 Foot Gauge Steam in Minnesota

The Northfield & Cannon Valley was a private 2-foot gauge steam railroad located on a farm near Northfield, Minnesota. In the late 1960s, Jim Machacek purchased a ten-ton, 600mm gauge 0-4-0T steam locomotive and had it shipped to the US from Germany. The locomotive, No. 504, was built for Hans Vattern AG and worked out of Mannheim, Germany, for most of its life. It was originally built by Kolben-Danek of Czechoslovakia in 1941. Its purchase by Machacek was brokered through James Valesh, who was responsible for bringing most of the German 0-4-0Ts overseas that now reside in the United States. For nearly forty years, Machacek and his family operated No. 504 on his private rail line, which he opened up to the public every October. The railroad shut down after an accident in 2007, and Machacek passed away in 2012. The locomotive - still carrying the number 504 - operates today at the Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson, Missouri, on the Frisco Silver Dollar Line.

[@MrAwesomedude808]

Love the buckeye 3 chime

[@adean1987]

Thanks for posting this, Jeff. Neat to look back on that place. It was certainly an interesting collection. I’m glad we were able to give 504 and the O&K (now #14) a new lease on life, still putting smiles on faces. 504 definitely has to work a lot harder on our railroad, but she does it well!

[@jterry618]

I figured you guys would enjoy seeing it.

[@BenBensonStudios]

It’s a shame this railroad closed. Quite underrated if you ask me.

[@TheBestTrainsAreReal]

@@AndrewLieb What was the accident?

[@TheBestTrainsAreReal]

@@AndrewLieb thats a shame.

[@EdWhizAviationTrains]

I LOve this place and I have not been yey, so thank you for the great video's 👍😎

[@TheBestTrainsAreReal]

Looked like a amazing railroad!

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

So that's where 504 originally ran before coming to Silver Dollar City restored as Frisco 504 today she where the authentic Frisco black and gold Frisco steam livery with bright red paint cab roof I wonder if she's related to Frisco Silver Dollar City engine 76 because both engines look very similar

[@TrevlynTheTrainiac]

They are sister locomotives. However, they’re built a year apart from each other.

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

@@TrevlynTheTrainiac that is so cool it’s interesting that she was at the previous Railroad as a wood burner I assume Silverdollar city converted her to burn oil when they rebuilt her and repainted her I also find an interest rate that her air compressor exhaust goes out of downward facing short pipe I wonder if they rerouted that exhaust out the smoke stack

[@georgecarter838]

Any idea what the accident was all about?

[@TrevlynTheTrainiac]

A brand new caboose fell and crushed a volunteer.