If it goes back to Eau Claire to be displayed under roof, it's really just mothballed for the future. If the money for the shelter isn't forthcoming, then very likely it will stay in Duluth, also a good home, and likely be rebuilt again while the D&NE 28 runs out its days.

All you can do with the 2719 is run back and forth to Two Harbors, hope the Canadian National lets you around the wye and back out of town in a two hour window, and charge more money for a ticket than most visitors to the area are willing to spend, let alone four or more for a family trip, which is the core of our ridership.

No offense to Brother Storzek intended but statements about the 2719 being rebuilt when 28 finishes its current certification are rather irritating. There are statements to that effect that have been made in numerous locations and all of them are still talking about something that's 8-10 years down the road and likely to be decided by different people than those managing the organization now. I can already tell you from one operating season that 28 is a better fit to the type of railroad and operation the North Shore Scenic Railroad is. All you can do with the 2719 is run back and forth to Two Harbors, hope the Canadian National lets you around the wye and back out of town in a two hour window, and charge more money for a ticket than most visitors to the area are willing to spend, let alone four or more for a family trip, which is the core of our ridership. 2719 ran in Duluth because it had a current certification, had nowhere else to go, and the museum was willing to take a chance on a partnership with an outside group. The locomotive would likely not be in Duluth now if the choice was being made today to bring it up as a recently operated but currently retired locomotive.

Ken Buehler, executive director of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, pressed his case to the City Council at a Monday night public hearing that the museum has been the best steward of the steam locomotive and intends to get it running again.

During the discussion of the proposal, the sponsor of the resolution, Dave Strobel, commented that once the city buys the engine back from the Museum, then they could do anything they wanted with it. Strobel said the city could sell it for what it is worth (a million dollars was referenced)