The train engine returned to the Kansas Underground Salt Museum on January 17th! Although it went underground in 3 hoist trips and multiple pieces, the conversion from gas-powered to electric was finally complete. After some reassembly, it was successfully set on the rails and ties originally used in the 1950's by the Carey Salt Company and was modified to it's current gauge of 16 by the the KUSM "Track Team." 

Other than a day of hard labor donated by some members of the Leadership Reno County 2010 Class, the back-breaking and challenging work to retrieve, modify, and lay rails and ties was accomplished by a small but passionate Track Team headed by Dave Unruh, KUSM Maintenance Supervisor, and including weekly assistance by Joel Busch, Travis Haneke and an inmate from the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. Board member Jerry Wray has provided valuable contacts, ideas and custom fabricated parts to help in the construction process.  

Although we have not officially measured the length of the train loop, Dave estimates it to be about 2000 feet long.  The two ends met on December 30 after about 10 months of effort.  In the beginning, the Track Team could lay about 60 feet of track a day.  The LRC volunteers laid 205 feet in one day, plus cut enough ties for another 200 feet.  Their help was a huge morale boost for the Track Team, who was wondering if they would ever see the "light at the end of the tunnel" 

There is still a lot to do before we can share this unique ride with visitors.  Testing, adjusting, leveling, ballasting, lighting, fire protection, communication, creating a loading platform and determining a schedule are just a few areas we will be working on in the next month or so.  But when we announce that the train route is open, believe me, you won't want to miss this ride!

-Gayle Ferrell

Director of Operations

On Saturday, October 2, 2010, nine members of Leadership Reno County 2010 went 650 feet under Hutchinson to join the track team of the Kansas Underground Salt Museum.

The Museum is adding a train ride underground that should be ready to roll by Spring 2011. An electric engine and cars were purchased from the Carey Park Zoo, and old rails and ties, left in the salt mine from early mining days, are being used for the track. The laying of the track will take an abundance of hours to complete since the rails first have to be found, then retrieved and re-laid. Old wood ties are being retrieved and cut to fit the new smaller gauge (width) of the Museum’s rail system.

Outfitted with hard hats, rescuers, and helmet lights (it is dark out there!), the team arrived underground before visitors. At times they were called a “living exhibit” by docents driving by with tram loads of visitors. LRC members found that 68 degrees is a great temperature to work in IF there is some air movement. Since there is not much out in the train route, a few members discovered they were dripping wet in the first hour.

A four person crew cut 260 ties to the new length and predrilled holes for the “spikes” (screws) used to hold the rails. It is estimated that over 1200 ties need to be retrieved and cut. The second crew laid the ties on the railbed, set the rails, bolted rail joint plates to hold the rails together, gauged (spaced) the rails, and screwed them down.

A new record was set by this track team that will be a challenge for others to break. The team laid 205 feet of track in six hours. They also left behind enough cut ties for another 200 feet to be laid by the next crew.

KUSM Supervisors were Dave Unruh and Joel Busch.

Written by Dave Unruh, Track Team Captain

Exhibits are constantly changing here at the Kansas Underground Salt Museum, and the newest one already has a major element in place.  You may have seen it on TV before, but I doubt that you'd recognize it.  It's called the Myronmobile, and it's an old, 1984 Pontiac that has seen better days.  It was brought underground to ferry miners from one part of the mine to the other, and was recently retired. It's named after its driver, Myron Marcotte, the mine manager, and he generously donated it to the museum once it was past its useful life.  It was made into an icon after its 15 minutes of fame on Dirty Jobs  (click on "preview clip" near the bottom of the page) with Mike Rowe, as it was the car that Mike rode around in during filming and can be seen in the episode.  Soon a couple of other articles used on the day it was filmed will be added in, so check back to see what we'll add!