I doubt any group could come up with something akin to the North Shore Scenic in Eau Claire unless they invest major capitol in rebuilding an abandoned line to operate on (UP is no dice for outside steam ops) and building a shop complex for the 2719, as well as rehabbing her for operation again.

If you ask me, this clause is just a sop to the would-be 2719 operators.

EauClaire is a small city of about 65,000 residents located in rural west central Wisconsin 100 miles east of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. The town used to be served by FOUR railroads: the C&NW, the Soo Line The Milwaukee Road and the Wisconsin Central. It is now served by two, the UP and the CP. The 2719 group had an operating agreement with the Soo Line and the reason that the locomotive is in Duluth is because CP bought the Soo Line and refused to continue the agreement to host the locomotive and the UP tore down the roundhouse where the locomotive was kept.

It is well known that the CP is absolutely anti- steam, and the UP reserves its lines for its own steam program, such as it is. So a place to run anywhere near EauClaire is pretty much a non- starter. Aside from the $700K for a 1472 day inspection which any reasonably well informed steam group should be aware of, the additional financial burden of developing an infrastructure suitable for maintenance and storage raises the bar pretty high. For a reasonable number, think "Fire Up 611". And don't forget about a train for the locomotive to pull.

This is no "Field of Dreams" deal. There is only a remote likelihood that "If you build it, they will come" can happen in a sufficient manner as to pay the bills.

The purchase of 2719 by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum makes sense as the Soo Line served the city of Duluth. But, with the restoration of D&NE 2-8-0 #28 (ex-DM&IR #332) to operation, it would seem that the plan of LSRM would be that the 2719 would be a static display only. Is there any indication that LSRM intends to spend the bucks to restore the Pacific to active service?

Les

The TRAINS article said that the 2719 would be restored to operation when the D&NE 28 approaches its next 1472 day inspection. It makes sense that the museum would elect to have one operating locomotive while fundraising for the next. That also allows the museum to decide between the 2719 and another locomotive in the collection to operate next, although bringing another locomotive back from "cosmetic display condition" may be significantly more expensive than the 2719.

Only problem with hamster's summary is CP is nowhere near Eau Claire today; The Soo Line divested itself of all this trackage to the Wisconsin Central Ltd. back in the eighties. More recently, CN has purchased WC Ltd. So, substitute CN for CP and the summary is correct.

I don't suspect CN is any more friendly to steam than CP would be.

When I was a kid, I watched a bunch of videos on trains. My mom bought me a bunch of steam excursion videos in the late 80's and early 90's. One such video was 2719's first "excursion", triple heading with NP 328, and SOO 1003. Sad to see it go, as it was a very marvelous and successful engine

Thanks for the clarification, Dennis. My bad. But the situation is still basically a "steam desert".

As for 2719 "going away", it will be lovingly cleaned up for display and kept INSIDE until it is needed again. Given its recent (post Part 230) restoration, I would suspect that there will be considerably less to do to get it running again.

It's Official: Lake Superior Railroad Museum Approves Locomotive Purchase Agreement

Sounds good to me about their situation now! Hopefully it will keep running, and not become like 1522

If the agreement still includes the the three year right to re-purchase (don't know, can't read the Trains on-line article) the prudent move would to invest minimal $$$ until the repurchase agreement runs its term. The engine will make a nice display for three years, and there will still be eleven years to get 'er runnin' before the D&NE engine needs major work again.

At least, that would be my counsel if asked.

Curious as to why CP is anti steam,they have a mainline engine 2816

That's been parked since Harrison took over... That was four years ago at this point (I think).

Simple, Harrison doesn't feel the need for warm fuzzies or goodwill, only the need for revenue, of which 2816 doesn't provide