Choo Choo Hill: The Rest of the Story

February 8, 2012 at 6:40am By: Mr. Wilson Posted in The Lincolnite Blog

On Monday Mr. T posted a Where In Lincoln featuring sledding on Choo Choo Hill. That’s what I’ve always called it anyway, thanks largely to my time on the Lincoln Southeast cross country team. I’m not sure if any other local schools called it the same thing.

Regardless, do any of you know why we called it Choo Choo Hill?

Long-time Lincolnites will remember that there used to be a train engine sitting at the top of the hill. Specifically, Chicago Burlington & Quincy locomotive #710. It sat there for a few decades, until it was removed in 1990, restored, and then placed where it still resides today: in the Haymarket.

We have Mr. W.E. Haydon to thank for that engine. You can read about it here.

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The Comments

Mr. T says Interesting history.Did everyone here know February 8, 2012 at 9:01am

Interesting history.

Did everyone here know that Wilderness Park actually used to be a fairly developed recreational area as well? 

http://www.memories.ne.gov/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/opl&CISOPTR=304&REC=5

Nikkidemas says "I think I can, I February 8, 2012 at 10:15am

“I think I can, I think I can”

Mr. Wilson says RE: "I think I can, I February 8, 2012 at 10:58am

In my experience people tend to say something more along the lines of:

“I think I’m dead! I think I’m dead!”

JT says Wilderness February 8, 2012 at 11:26am

@MrT You can still see some foundations from the old building if you snoop around Wilderness a bit. Here’s Jim McKee article on it. http://journalstar.com/online/newspaper-services/article_024d2ad6-86a7-5326-a1d8-1104b747c905.html

Mr. T says RE: Wilderness February 8, 2012 at 11:36am

Thanks for linking to that article JT, hadn’t seen that before.

I usually run right in that area. I’ll keep an eye out for ruins next time I am there.

The other really cool, very remote part of the park I like is way south off where Saltillo and North Jamaica meet.

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