Restore the Great Northern 3059

For nearly 70 years, Great Northern Steam Locomotive No. 3059 has stood as one of Williston’s most recognizable historic landmarks. Now, the Fort Buford 6th Infantry Association is leading an effort to preserve it for another generation.

Our goal is to complete a full cosmetic restoration of No. 3059 and formally re-dedicate the locomotive during Williston’s Chokecherry Festival weekend in August 2028—70 years after it was presented to the community.

We need your help to make it happen.

Why No. 3059 Matters

Built in 1913, No. 3059 is a Great Northern Railway O-1 Class 2-8-2 “Mikado” steam locomotive that spent decades hauling freight across the Great Northern system, including service in North Dakota.

After its retirement, Great Northern President John M. Budd presented No. 3059 to the Williston Park Board on August 2, 1958.

Today, it remains a physical connection to the railroad that helped shape Williston and northwestern North Dakota.

Decades outdoors, however, have taken their toll.

The Restoration

The Fort Buford 6th Infantry Association is proposing a comprehensive, volunteer-led restoration with one overriding principle: do it safely, professionally, and historically accurately.

Before volunteers begin physical restoration work, certified environmental professionals will address hazardous materials, including lead paint and asbestos.

Once the locomotive is certified safe, restoration work will include:

• Repairing and replacing damaged or missing exterior components

• Fabricating replacement sheet-metal boiler jacket panels

• Cleaning and restoring historic piping, appliances, and cab components

• Repainting No. 3059 in its historic Great Northern “Glacier Park” appearance

• Reproducing historically appropriate lettering and technical markings

• Replicating missing or stolen components when possible

• Installing new outdoor interpretation telling the story of No. 3059, the Great Northern Railway, and Williston’s railroad heritage

A Community-Funded Restoration

The restoration is intended to be funded without relying on city resources.

The Fort Buford 6th Infantry Association is seeking support through individual donations, business sponsorships, grants, donated materials, professional services, and volunteer labor.

Whether you can give $25, sponsor a portion of the restoration, donate materials, or eventually lend your skills to the project, every contribution moves No. 3059 closer to its 2028 re-dedication.

Donate to Restore No. 3059

Donate Online

Support the Restore Great Northern 3059 campaign through GoFundMe:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/restore-great-northern-3059

Donate by Mail

Checks and contributions may also be mailed to:

Fort Buford 6th Infantry Association
P.O. Box 159
Williston, ND

Become a Project Sponsor

Businesses, organizations, families, railroad enthusiasts, and individuals can also support the project through our restoration sponsorship tiers.

Our highest sponsorship level, the Empire Builder Tier, will help fund some of the restoration’s most specialized work, including replicating missing historic components and producing custom castings for No. 3059.

Contact the Fort Buford 6th Infantry Association to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

Help Us Bring No. 3059 Back

This locomotive belongs to more than Railroad Park. It represents the railroaders who worked the Great Northern, the families who built their lives along its tracks, and the transportation network that helped Williston grow.

Our goal is simple: preserve No. 3059, restore the dignity of this historic landmark, and ensure that future generations can understand why it matters.

Help us bring Great Northern No. 3059 back to its former appearance in time for its 70th anniversary in Williston in 2028.