Soo Line 2719

Infobox Locomotive
name = Soo Line 2719

---

caption = Soo 2719 operating in Two Harbors, Minnesota, in 2007.
powertype = Steam
builder = American Locomotive Company
buildmodel = H-23
builddate = May 1923
serialnumber = 64314
totalproduction = 6
whytetype = 4-6-2
uicclass = 2'C1'
gauge = RailGauge|ussg|al=on|lk=on
leadingsize = convert|36|in|abbr=on
driversize = convert|75|in|abbr=on diameter
trailingsize = convert|50|in|abbr=on
wheelbase = 31 ft 10 in (9.7 m)
length = Engine: 46 ft 7½ in (14.2 m)
Engine and tender: 82 ft 6¾ in (25.2 m)
width = convert|125|in|abbr=on
height = 15 ft 3½ in (4.7 m)
weightondrivers = convert|172400|lb|lk=on|abbr=on
weight = convert|281080|lb|abbr=on
locotenderweight = convert|497080|lb|abbr=on
fueltype = coal
tenderc

boilerpressure = 200 psi
feedwaterheater = Worthington SCA-2A
firearea = convert|52.75|sqft|abbr=on
fluearea = convert|3172|sqft|abbr=on
fireboxarea = convert|207|sqft|abbr=on
totalsurface = convert|4639|sqft|abbr=on
superheaterarea = convert|1260|sqft|abbr=on
cylindercount = 2
cylindersize = convert|25|in|abbr=on diameter × convert|26|in|abbr=on stroke
valvegear = Walschaerts
tractiveeffort = convert|36833|lbf|abbr=on|lk=on
factorofadhesion = 4.68
railroad = Soo Line Railroad
railroadclass = H-23
numinclass = 6
roadnumber = 2718 – 2723
locale = Wisconsin and Minnesota
deliverydate = May 1923
retiredate = June 21 1959
restoredate = 1996 – 1997
currentowner = Locomotive and Tower Preservation Fund, Ltd.
disposition = operational, in storage

Soo Line 2719 is a restored 4-6-2 steam locomotive that was originally operated by the Soo Line Railroad. 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.

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. 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 excursion runs on the North Shore Scenic in September 2007. As of 2008, the locomotive is still owned by Locomotive and Tower Preservation Fund, Ltd. and leased to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.

Historical significance and preservation

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 retired again, in 2003, but in 2006, it was moved to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth, Minnesota. With assistance from its previous operators, the museum restored the locomotive in 2007. The museum now operates the the locomotive through its affiliate, the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

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 - Preserved at Lake Superior 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

*

External links

* [http://www.2719.com/ Chippewa Valley Railroad Association] The organization responsible for the restoration and continuing operation of the locomotive.
* [http://www.lsrm.org/Home/Home.asp Lake Superior Railroad Museum] Where the 2719 is currently stored.
* [http://www.northshorescenicrailroad.org/Home/Home.asp North Shore Scenic Railroad] Where the 2719 operates.