| Soo Line 2719 | |
|---|---|
| Soo 2719 operating in Two Harbors, Minnesota, in 2007 | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | American Locomotive Company |
| Serial number | 64314 |
| Model | H-23 |
| Build date | May 1923 |
| Total produced | 6 |
| Configuration | 4-6-2 |
| UIC classification | 2′C1′ h2 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Leading wheel diameter |
36 in (914 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 75 in (1,905 mm) |
| Trailing wheel diameter |
50 in (1,270 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 31 ft 10 in (9.70 m) |
| Length | Loco: 46 ft 7 1⁄2 in (14.21 m), Loco & tender: 82 ft 6 3⁄4 in (25.17 m) |
| Width | 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m) |
| Height | 15 ft 3 1⁄2 in (4.66 m) |
| Weight on drivers | 172,400 lb (78.2 tonnes) |
| Locomotive weight | 281,080 lb (127.5 tonnes) |
| Locomotive & tender combined weight |
497,080 lb (225.5 tonnes) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Fuel capacity | 35,000 lb (15.9 tonnes) |
| Water capacity | 12,000 US gal (45,000 l; 10,000 imp gal) |
| Boiler pressure | 200 lbf/in² (1.38 MPa) |
| Feedwater heater | Worthington SCA-2A |
| Firegrate area | 52.75 sq ft (4.901 m2) |
| Heating surface: Flues |
3,172 sq ft (294.7 m2) |
| Heating surface: Firebox |
207 sq ft (19.2 m2) |
| Heating surface: Total |
4,639 sq ft (431.0 m2) |
| Superheater area | 1,260 sq ft (117 m2) |
| Cylinders | Two, outside |
| Cylinder size | 25 × 26 in (635 × 660 mm) |
| Valve gear | Walschaerts |
| Valve type | Piston valves |
| Tractive effort | 36,833 lbf (163.84 kN) |
| Factor of adhesion |
4.68 |
| Career | Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (“Soo Line”) |
| Class | H-23 |
| Number in class | 2 of 6 |
| Number | 2719 |
| Locale | Wisconsin and Minnesota, United States |
| Delivered | May 1923 |
| Retired | June 21, 1959 |
| Restored | 1996–1998 |
| Current owner | Locomotive and Tower Preservation Fund, Ltd. |
| Disposition | Operational |
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.
Contents |
The 2719 was built in May, 1923 in Schenectady, New York. 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.
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. 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.
There were six H-23 class locomotives built in May 1923. Two of them are preserved.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||