Soo Line 2719

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 and displayed in Carson Park until 1996.

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. 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 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 winter.

With the last excursion run in 2003 and with the Altoona, Wisconsin, roundhouse being razed on June 1, 2004, the 2719 was facing a bleak future. The 2719 was stored 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 from 2007 to 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.

In June 2015 the 2719 was purchased by the LSRM, with the intention of a second restoration to operation, but not until the 15-year conclusion of another locomotive operating in place of 2719, Duluth & Northeastern 28.

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 at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. The locomotive faces an uncertain future after a change in ownership.

Ownership changes

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.

The LSRM was originally seeking $305,000 in 2011 to restore it back to operation after its 15-year limited expired in 2013. However, after 2719's last run, the museum announced it was restoring a different steam locmotive (that the museum owned) to operation in time for the 2016 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 its 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, 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.

On May 11, 2015, the city of Eau Claire held a community meeting to debate what the city's intentions for the locomotive would be. Some community members argued the locomotive should be returned to its home in Eau Claire, while others suggested that the Lake Superior Railroad Museum would make a better home for 2719.

The city council discussed 2719's fate on May 12. The council could not reach a majority, and another debate was planned for June. The council wanted the first right of refusal should the 2719 be sold by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum sometime in the future.

On Tuesday, June 9, the city of Eau Claire, WI, the Locomotive & Tower Preservation Fund, and the Lake Superior Railroad Museum agreed to an immediate sale of the locomotive from the city to the LSRM. The city of Eau Claire was given repurchase rights of the locomotive for 3 years if the city decides they want the locomotive back. The Lake Superior Railroad Museum, as part of the deal, would pay for and design signage for the city where the locomotive was once displayed.

Eau Claire's "buy-back agreement" lasts three years if the city finds any way to restore and return the locomotive to the city. The Museum announced plans to restore 2719 to operating condition at the conclusion of Duluth & Northeastern 28's 15 year certificate.

Locomotive's future

The sale of the 2719 to the museum hasn't solidified the future for the locomotive. Until 2018, the city of Eau Claire, WI can repurchase the locomotive and move it to permanent display in the city's Carson Park. Because of this, the museum has done little to the locomotive other than a power-wash. The museum did remove the L&TPF lettering on its tender shortly after receiving ownership. The engine sits outside, under a parking ramp, while the museum waits out the 3-year buy-back agreement with the city of Eau Claire.

Other H-23 class locomotives

There were six H-23 class locomotives built in May 1923. Two of them are preserved.