The Lake Superior Railroad Museum UPDATED Steam Team Plan for 2025
– as of June 7, 2025 –
Now with trains running regularly on the North Shore Scenic Railroad, the topic of steam is coming up more often. The Lake Superior Railroad Museum and North Shore Scenic Railroad had a table at TRAIN Day in St. Paul. There was incredible interest in touring the museum and riding the train. Steam was one of the most asked about and commented on topics.
Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services’ Chief Mechanical Officer has been at the museum’s Lenard Draper Maintenance Facility and inspected both the DM&IR #332 and SOO #2719. Thanks to the Steam Team for getting the engines in place and ready. One day was spent on each of the steamers.
We are awaiting the report. When it comes it will be reviewed by the Steam Team and presented to the Board of Directors with recommendations for operation and/or restoration. With accurate information the best possible decisions can be made. Our goals have always been to operate steam trains safely while preserving the engines for future generations to enjoy.
The preliminary findings are that the #332 has a few repairable defects and may soon need a running gear overhaul, but the #2719 is in excellent condition though it doesn’t have a current FRA boiler certification. The #332 would need her annual inspection before operating. That inspection and hydro test will be determined after a review of the report from Strasburg.
We are fortunate to have two great steam engines in the collection that have the potential of returning to operational status. Even more if you consider the almost pristine condition of the DM&IR #227 Yellowstone. Ed Dickens, Union Pacific Railroad’s Manager of Heritage Operations, said when he was here with the BIG BOY several years ago that #227 is in magnificent condition and “very runnable for tens of thousands of miles.”
While that would be something to see, remember the work and effort put into running the #4014 by UP and the most recent success of #2816 by CPKC. Both engines on tour demonstrate the huge interest in steam. We hope to be a part of that excitement.
You can help by making a donation to the Steam Team at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. Tax deductible donations (FEIN 23-7312204) can be made to:
Lake Superior Railroad Museum
c/o Steam Team
506 West Michigan Street
Duluth, MN 55802
Thank You for your ongoing interest and support!
History of the locomotive:
The #332 locomotive was built by the Pittsburgh Locomotive Works in 1906 for the Duluth, Missabe and Northern. A typical drag freight consolidation type engine of the early 1900s, she weighs in at 102 tons (172 tons with tender loaded). The capacity of the tender is 8,000 gallons of water and 12 tons of coal.
No. 332 was sold to the Duluth & North Eastern in 1955, and got its #28 numbering and was used to haul logs, lumber products and some general freight. It worked in this service until 1964 and was last under steam in 1965. The D&NE restored and donated the locomotive to the Museum in 1974.
In the Fall of 2013, a restoration project began to bring the engine back to operating condition. It operated for the first time in 2017 on the North Shore Scenic Railroad as #28, and was renumbered/painted to be its original #332 for the 2019 season.