Soo Line 2719
Encyclopedia
Soo Line 2719 is a restored 4-6-2
steam locomotive
that was originally operated by the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (“Soo Line”). The 2719 was used to haul the Soo Line's last steam-powered train, on a June 21, 1959, round-trip excursion between Minneapolis, Minnesota
, and Ladysmith, Wisconsin
.
. It was one of 6 H-23 Pacific class steam locomotives built for the Soo Line. It operated until the mid-1950s when it was overhauled and put into storage. It was brought out of retirement to haul the last steam trains on Soo Line's tracks in 1959. It is estimated that the 2719 traveled more than 3 million miles during its time on the Soo. 2719 was then given to the City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin
to be displayed in Carson Park.
On May 23, 1996, a fund raising dinner, entitled "An Evening in the Club Car", was held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Eau Claire to benefit the restoration of the 2719. This dinner was the beginning of the restoration of the 2719. Restoration was undertaken by the Locomotive and Tower Preservation Fund, Ltd. After a very aggressive restoration schedule, the inaugural running was on September 19, 1998. The 2719 did not have a museum to constrain its operations and excursions occurred over different tracks belonging to different railroads.
In June 2000, the 2719 was moved to the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad
in Spooner
. It operated during the summers in Spooner until the purchase of the Wisconsin Central
by Canadian National Railway
in 2001. It always returned to the roundhouse
in Altoona, Wisconsin
, for the winters.
With the last excursion run in 2003 and with the Altoona, Wisconsin, roundhouse being razed on June 1, 2004, the 2719 was facing a very bleak future. The 2719 was forced to sit outside, exposed to the elements until the end of 2006.
On December 17, 2006, the 2719 was moved to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum
. The museum operates the North Shore Scenic Railroad
and 2719. After extensive work during the summer of 2007, the engine was test fired on August 24, 2007, and made a successful round trip test run from Duluth
to Two Harbors, Minnesota
, on August 25, 2007. It was used on several Fall Foliage excursion runs for the North Shore Scenic in September 2007 and 2008. As of 2009, the locomotive is still owned by Locomotive and Tower Preservation Fund, Ltd. and is leased to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.
, and Ladysmith, Wisconsin
. 2719 was also able to have the distinction of being the last steam powered engine to operate out of Ladysmith, Wisconsin on former Soo Line trackage in 2001. The locomotive was stored again, in 2003, but in 2005, discussions were held to move the locomotive to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth, Minnesota. With assistance from the L&TPF, Ltd., the museum relocated the locomotive in December 2006. The museum leases the locomotive and operates #2719 through its affiliate, the North Shore Scenic Railroad.
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
that was originally operated by the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (“Soo Line”). The 2719 was used to haul the Soo Line's last steam-powered train, on a June 21, 1959, round-trip excursion between Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, and Ladysmith, Wisconsin
Ladysmith, Wisconsin
Ladysmith is a city in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,932 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rusk County. It is the former location of Mount Senario College, which closed in 2002 due to significant debt. For the 2006-2007 school year, part of the former campus...
.
History
The 2719 was built in May, 1923 in Schenectady, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It was one of 6 H-23 Pacific class steam locomotives built for the Soo Line. It operated until the mid-1950s when it was overhauled and put into storage. It was brought out of retirement to haul the last steam trains on Soo Line's tracks in 1959. It is estimated that the 2719 traveled more than 3 million miles during its time on the Soo. 2719 was then given to the City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
to be displayed in Carson Park.
On May 23, 1996, a fund raising dinner, entitled "An Evening in the Club Car", was held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Eau Claire to benefit the restoration of the 2719. This dinner was the beginning of the restoration of the 2719. Restoration was undertaken by the Locomotive and Tower Preservation Fund, Ltd. After a very aggressive restoration schedule, the inaugural running was on September 19, 1998. The 2719 did not have a museum to constrain its operations and excursions occurred over different tracks belonging to different railroads.
In June 2000, the 2719 was moved to the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad
Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad
The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad operates a historic train line in Spooner, Wisconsin on approximately 20 miles of track. It was founded on April 1, 1997...
in Spooner
Spooner, Wisconsin
Spooner is a city in Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,653 at the 2000 census. The city is located mostly within the southwest corner of the Town of Spooner, with a small portion extending into the Town of Beaver Brook on the south, the Town of Bashaw on the southwest,...
. It operated during the summers in Spooner until the purchase of the Wisconsin Central
Wisconsin Central Transportation
Wisconsin Central Ltd. is a railroad subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway. At one time, its parent Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation owned or operated railroads in the United States, Canada , the United Kingdom , New Zealand , and Australia .- Overview...
by Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
in 2001. It always returned to the roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
in Altoona, Wisconsin
Altoona, Wisconsin
Altoona is a city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 6,706 at the 2010 census. The city is a railroad terminal on the Union Pacific Railroad.-History:...
, for the winters.
With the last excursion run in 2003 and with the Altoona, Wisconsin, roundhouse being razed on June 1, 2004, the 2719 was facing a very bleak future. The 2719 was forced to sit outside, exposed to the elements until the end of 2006.
On December 17, 2006, the 2719 was moved to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Lake Superior Railroad Museum
The Lake Superior Railroad Museum is a railroad museum in Duluth, Minnesota.The museum has seven steam, fourteen diesel and two electric locomotives, and over 40 other pieces of rolling stock...
. The museum operates the North Shore Scenic Railroad
North Shore Scenic Railroad
The North Shore Scenic Railroad is a heritage railroad that operates between Duluth, Minnesota and Two Harbors, Minnesota, USA.The railroad is owned by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum and offers several different types of passenger excursion trains between May 28 and October 15 each year...
and 2719. After extensive work during the summer of 2007, the engine was test fired on August 24, 2007, and made a successful round trip test run from Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
to Two Harbors, Minnesota
Two Harbors, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,613 people, 1,636 households, and 953 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,120.7 people per square mile . There were 1,631 housing units at an average density of 505.9 per square mile...
, on August 25, 2007. It was used on several Fall Foliage excursion runs for the North Shore Scenic in September 2007 and 2008. As of 2009, the locomotive is still owned by Locomotive and Tower Preservation Fund, Ltd. and is leased to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.
Historical significance and preservation
The 2719 was used to haul the Soo Line's last steam-powered train, on a June 21, 1959, round-trip excursion between Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, and Ladysmith, Wisconsin
Ladysmith, Wisconsin
Ladysmith is a city in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,932 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rusk County. It is the former location of Mount Senario College, which closed in 2002 due to significant debt. For the 2006-2007 school year, part of the former campus...
. 2719 was also able to have the distinction of being the last steam powered engine to operate out of Ladysmith, Wisconsin on former Soo Line trackage in 2001. The locomotive was stored again, in 2003, but in 2005, discussions were held to move the locomotive to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth, Minnesota. With assistance from the L&TPF, Ltd., the museum relocated the locomotive in December 2006. The museum leases the locomotive and operates #2719 through its affiliate, the North Shore Scenic Railroad.
Other H-23 class locomotives
There were six H-23 class locomotives built in May 1923. Two of them are preserved.- 2718Soo Line 2718Soo Line 2718 is a Pacific class 4-6-2 steam locomotive that was originally owned by the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway , but operated by their subsidiary, the Wisconsin Central Railway.- History :...
- On display at the National Railroad MuseumNational Railroad MuseumThe National Railroad Museum is a railroad museum located in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, in suburban Green Bay.The museum is one of the oldest institutions in the United States dedicated to preserving and interpreting the nation's railroad history. It was founded in 1956 by community volunteers in...
in Green Bay, WisconsinGreen Bay, WisconsinGreen Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,... - 2719 - Operational at Lake Superior Museum in Duluth, MinnesotaDuluth, MinnesotaDuluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
- 2720 - Scrapped at United States Steel, July 19, 1951
- 2721 - Scrapped at Purdy Company, November 13, 1950
- 2722 - Scrapped at American Iron & Supply, December 28, 1954
- 2723 - Scrapped at Purdy Company, November 13, 1950
External links
- Locomotive & Tower Preservation Fund, Ltd. The organization responsible for the restoration and continuing operation of the locomotive.
- Lake Superior Railroad Museum Where the 2719 is currently stored.
- North Shore Scenic Railroad Where the 2719 operates.