Soo Line 2719
| Soo Line 2719 | |
|---|---|
|
Soo Line 2719 operating on the North Shore Scenic Railroad, September 2009 | |
| Type and origin | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | American Locomotive Company |
| Serial number | 64314 |
| Model | H-23 |
| Build date | May 1923 |
| Total produced | 6 |
| Specifications | |
| 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 and 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) |
| – Firebox | 207 sq ft (19.2 m2) |
| – Total | 4,639 sq ft (431.0 m2) |
| Superheater area | 1,260 sq ft (117 m2) |
| Cylinders | Two, outside |
| Cylinder size | 25 in × 26 in (635 mm × 660 mm) |
| Valve gear | Walschaerts |
| Valve type | Piston valves |
| Performance figures | |
| Tractive effort | 36,833 lbf (163.84 kN) |
| Factor of adhesion | 4.68 |
| Career | |
| Operator(s) | Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (“Soo Line”) |
| Class | H-23 |
| Number in class | 2 of 6 |
| Number(s) | 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 |
Display |
|
Soo Line Locomotive 2719 | |
| Location | Duluth, Minnesota |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Architectural style | Other, Steam Locomotive |
| Governing body | Local |
| NRHP Reference # | 93001453[1] |
| Added to NRHP | January 10, 1994 |
Soo Line 2719 was a restored 4-6-2 steam locomotive 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, a June 21, 1959, round-trip excursion between Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Ladysmith, Wisconsin. It operated excursions on the North Shore Scenic Railroad between Duluth, MN and Two Harbors, MN from 2007 until 2013 when its boiler certificate expired (2719 was restored in 1998). It was then moved to static display in the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.
History
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 Line. 2719 was then given to the City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin to be displayed in Carson Park.
Excursion career
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, running a "triple-headed excursion" with Northern Pacific 328 and Soo Line 1003. 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 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. 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. Soo Line 2719 ran a regular excursion schedule 2007 - 2013.
In May 2013, it met Milwaukee Road 261 for the first time. Soo 2719 pulled special excursions for that weekend (National Train Day).
2719's FRA boiler flue time was to expire on July 31, 2013, but its flue time was extended so that it could operate into late summer of 2013. It pulled its final excursion on September 14, 2013, afterwards Soo Line 2719 was drained and moved deep into the Lake Superior Railroad Museum for display, with hopes of restoring it back to operation in the future. Duluth & Northeastern 28 will replace 2719's schedule beginning in 2015 on the North Shore Scenic Railroad. In October 2014, 2719 was thoroughly power-washed before being moved indoors for display.
Historical significance and preservation
The 2719 was used to haul the Soo Line's last steam-powered train between Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Ladysmith, Wisconsin on June 21, 1959. 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 leased the locomotive and operated #2719 through its affiliate, the North Shore Scenic Railroad. Since 2013, with 2719 no longer in operation, it is displayed both outdoors and indoors at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, as it awaits an uncertain future.
Finding a New Owner
On February 21, 2015, the Locomotive & Tower Preservation Fund approached the city of Eau Claire, WI, and offered to sell 2719 back to the city for $1, with the city also covering the cost of the $135,000 shelter to house the locomotive. It came at great surprise to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, as they were unaware of the talk to move the engine back to permanent outdoor display. The L&TPF weren't interested in renewing the lease with the LSRM, which expired in 2015.[2]
The LSRM was originally seeking $305,000 in 2011 to restore it back to operation after it's 15-year limited expired in 2013.[3] However after 2719's last run, the museum announced it was restoring a different steamer (that the museum owned) to operation in time for the 2015 season, postponing hopes of 2719 return to steam.
The city of Eau Claire attempted to raise funds to return the locomotive, but were highly unsuccessful. The L&TPF announced that if the city didn't want the locomotive back, it would look for offers elsewhere.
On February 24, 2015, the city decided it wanted up to two months to make it's decision on 2719. It was likely that the city would buy the 2719 for $1 then sell it back to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum for $2,[4] as the city council seemed to agree they'd rather have 2719 be restored to operation in the future than sitting on permanent display. The city, however, wanted this time extension to explore all options available. Representatives from the Lake Superior Railroad museum were present at the meeting, and promised if 2719 stayed in Duluth, it would run again.
Other H-23 class locomotives
There were six H-23 class locomotives built in May 1923. Two of them are preserved.
- 2718 - On display at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin
- 2719 - On display at Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth, Minnesota
- 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
References
- ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- Glischinski, Steve (February 1997). "Soo Line 2-8-2 back in steam". Trains magazine 57 (2): 24–25.
External links
Media related to Soo Line 2719 at Wikimedia Commons
- 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 on display.
- North Shore Scenic Railroad Where the 2719 operated 2007 - 2013.
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