The Rail Dog

I first discovered the Rail Dog Caboose a few years back. By that time, it was closed. It was an interesting looking caboose so I took a few photos and continued on, not giving it much thought.

Recently while walking around the Wisconsin Dells searching out subjects for my Street Photography, I came across the Rail Dog once more.

As I stood there looking at the old caboose, I knew there must be an interesting story behind it.

Turns out the Rail Dog was the dream of one Antoni “Tony” Wolan. Emigrating to the United States from Poland in his 20’s. In 2003, Tony relocated from Illinois to the Wisconsin Dells because the area reminded him of his homeland.

Once in the Wisconsin Dells, he became owner of the Parkway Motel. He then purchased an old 1956 Milwaukee Road caboose which he converted into a hotdog stand. He named his hotdog stand the “Rail Dog.”

I’m not sure when the Rail Dog officially opened, but it had an Internet post in September 2012 on Dells.com about the Rail Dog selling a really good Chicago Style hot dog.

While the Parkway Motel seems to never have had great reviews, this was not the case with the Rail Dog's Chicago Vienna Hot Dogs and Polish Tacos. In all the reviews I've uncovered, everyone raved about the Rail Dog's hotdogs and tacos.

Check out this great little video on YouTube.

Tony didn't stop with the Rail Dog caboose. He purchased a second caboose. This time it was an old Soo Line caboose.

Tony completely refinished the old Soo Line caboose turning it into a sleeper car complete with a bathroom, full sized bed and a foldout futon. When asked why, Tony said he did it for the kids.

i found this post on Wikimapia with pictures of Mr. Wolan in the Rail Dog.

Sadly Antoni “Tony” Wolan, passed at age 61 in the Wisconsin Dells on June 20, 2015.

Today like the Rail Dog, the Soo Line sleeper car is feeling too many years of neglect. Sitting there they both seem to call out for the another chance at life. How great it would be if a way could be found to restore them?

A two block walk north of Broadway Street on Oak Street you’ll find the Broadway Motel. Next to the motel sits an old 1956 Milwaukee Road railroad caboose. A caboose that had been converted into an Hotdog Stand. It’s called the Rail Dog.

I will never have the opportunity to meet Mr. Wolan or taste one of his famous Chicago Style Hotdogs or Polish Tacos, but that doesn’t prevent me from taking an occasional walk up Oak Street to admire One Man’s Dream.

As big as a caboose is, I completely missed the second caboose in my first visit to the Rail Dog. I guess I was so intrigued by the Rail Dog that I didn't see it sitting there.