February 3, 2014 at 1:44 p.m.
Town News: Pine Lake
Town News: Pine Lake
Not long ago I wrote an article on Don Fredrickson's collection of toy and scale trains. From the phone interview, I knew I had to see the cars and locomotives he described. Recently, I had a chance to visit the Fredrickson home and Don was gracious enough to pull out part of his collection.
"I collect things that mean something to me," he said, as he showed me his treasures, including a one quarter scale Wisconsin Central 3025 locomotive.
Fredrickson said the Wisconsin Central 3025 locomotive traveled through Rhinelander at one point. He also pointed out a miniature version of the Chicago and North Western locomotive he took on his first train trip to Elcho to visit cousins.
The trip to Elcho was Fredrickson's first trip but not his first ride on a train. As a child he would watch the locomotives take cars into and out of the paper mill. The men who worked that locomotive saw Fredrickson several times and one day stopped the locomotive and asked if he wanted a ride.
He took them up on the offer.
A visit to the Fredrickson home is like taking a trip through railroading history and Don is the perfect tour guide. The excitement in his voice is palpable and he tells stories of days gone by as if they just happened yesterday.
On this date:
1964- 24th Amendment abolishes poll tax.
1976- 12th Winter Olympics games open in Innsbruck, Austria.
1987- Flamboyant pianist, entertainer Liberace dies at his Palm Springs home at age 67.
1999- Hugo Chavez Fras, Venezuelan military and politician, is elected president of Venezuela.
Contact Brian Moore at [email protected] to submit Pine Lake community information including birthdays, anniversaries, events etc.
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