New Yard Update

The new “Discovery Track” is finally finished and is now home to the Sea Island and the Virginia Beach.  These cars will serve as our on-site offices and meeting room. The Sea Island is almost ready to occupy; however, the Virginia Beach still needs a complete interior remodel.

Gretna Heritage Festival

 

Your dedicated volunteers completed the annual Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) inspection just in time to steam up and operate the engine. She is now fired and under steam at the yard in advance of the move to the West Bank during the day tomorrow under diesel powered escort. Once we arrive at the 4th Street track in Gretna LASTA will drop the fire for the duration of the event and relight for the return to Old Jefferson on Monday the 10th. Come out while we are on the move and crossing the Huey P. Long Bridge on either of these days. The exact move times will be posted as we get them coordinated with our partner railroads.

The engine will be displayed prominently on 4th St. by the intersection of Huey P. Long Avenue. LASTA is bringing the Jefferson Parlor car and the LASTA Caboose along with the “Mike Hankins” Memorial Crew Car. The 745 cab will be staffed for tours again this year. LASTA volunteer and certified instructor “Bigfoot” will staff the Operation Lifesaver display inside the Caboose. The Jefferson will be set up for our members to tour and take a break from the festival action in style.

New this year for the festival is our corporate sponsor Ellsworth Corporation’s large display trailer setup with another batch of beautifully restored marine engines and artifacts. Two of these will be connected to an external compressor in lieu of live steam to actually operate.

Wear you LASTA attire or buy some new items at our gift shop. The LASTA HO-scale model of the consist will be on display for sale of additional raffle tickets. Photographs will be allowed on the front of the engine again this year.

Pass the word along for others that may be headed to the fest to come see us and see how your generous donations have allowed your LASTA volunteers to maintain the last remaining Louisiana built locomotive with meticulous care.

Thank you for your continued support!!

Barry Keegan
LASTA Director of Marketing

745 Journal

[pdf-embedder url=”https://lasta.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/745-Journal-Fall-2011.pdf” title=”745 Journal Fall 2011″]Fall 2011 745 Journal

  • Coverage of the yard configuration
  • David Redman article on rail photography
  • KC trip journal by Patty Abbott
  • Rail Tales from Ray Duplechain
  • Volunteer Spotlight – Mr. Charlie,
  • David Bartee recalls his times and trips with LASTA.

745 Journal

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2011 Steamfest

2011 Steam Fest Info

The consist will be open for tours. We will have an exhibit providing an overview of the state bicentennial trip along with a maritime steam exhibit. This maritime exhibit will complement a large selection of maritime steam engines from a various marine craft all professionally restored. One of these engines will actually be run with steam fed from 745. The “Thomas” kiddie train will give rides. Multiple model train layouts will be there for the junior engineers. An inflatable train will be available for the kids to climb through. Operation Lifesaver will reinforce the rail crossing safety message.

The music line-up includes classic rock by “The Refugeze” and rock-a-billy by “Christian Serpas and Ghost Town” on Saturday. On Sunday the Bluegrass band “Hazel and the Delta Ramblers” play followed up by the 60’s and 70’s band “Liquid Peace Revolution”.  Food vendors will be on site along with cold drinks and frozen treats. The gift shop will be set up. And as always pets are welcome.

This is LASTA’s one and only fundraiser. We welcome everyone to come out and have fun with us to keep 745 in top shape. We look forward to seeing you there.

Yard Progress

While work continued on the new LASTA yard, we were visited by the Ellsworth Steam Trailer.   Jerry, our Chief Mechanical Officer, was hard at work obtaining measurements from a 1942 Marine Steam Engine.  Plans are to demonstrate this recently rebuilt engine at our upcoming Steam Fest.

The LASTA track crew continued working on the new track.   The first new switch has been moved into position and we should be making the connection to the main track soon.  The first leg should run parallel to our existing track.

745 Journal

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ICG MOW Cars and the Scrap Man!

LRHT was unable to find a buyer for the ICG MOW cars and they are now on the way to the scrap yard. The crew has also started cleaning up the inside of the Amtrak E9 with the hope that it may soon be on the schedule for a cosmetic restoration.

Railroad Benches

Four Railroad Benches for Sale  — $100 each

These Railroad Station Benches were built for and used in the 2008 movie “ The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”  They were used in the train station scene.  During filming, the set included only a few benches and a facade that was later filled out with complex 3D digital images of ornate ceilings, rows of windows and a large crowd. Check out the behind the scene details at Animation World Network.

  • Condition:  They are functional and very sturdy and look like the real thing.  Some of the veneer is loose but could be re-glued. They have been stored inside a railroad boxcar and are somewhat dusty.
  • Construction:  Composite /wood product  (not wafer/particle board) with laminate covering.
  • Size: They are a few inches short of 10 feet long,  4 feet  wide and  about 3 feet high.
  • Style: Double Side, Railroad Bench
  • Weight: There are 8 sets of back to back benches and are VERY HEAVY. 

They are not recommended for outdoor use and sold as-is.  Buyer is responsible for transportation; however, we will assist with loading.  Proceeds for the sale will be used for the operation and maintenance expenses of our historic steam locomotive – SP745.

Progress in the new Yard

Steam Fest III

Experience historic Southern Pacific steam locomotive # 745, “The Spirit of Louisiana,” (under steam) along with her exhibit train featuring “steam train and bluegrass music.” New this year is the bluegrass music element as we start New Orleans’ first bluegrass music festival. There will also be a model train layout, a kiddy train for the little ones to ride on, antique cars, a wonderful gift shop as well as delicious food and drinks.  Every hour there will be live bands playing exciting bluegrass music! Come and enjoy this unique piece of Louisiana railroad history and the stirring sounds of bluegrass!

The Steam Train Bluegrass Festival will be held on Riverview (the fly) behind Audubon Zoo. It takes place Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5, 2008

(Saturday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) The festival is free but there is a fee to view the exhibits aboard the train as well as the cab of SP #745 under steam.

For more information call 504-897-2464 or go to www.LASTA.org.

2007 General Meeting

 

Mr. Amdal is our newest board member. He currently serves as the Director of the Merritt C. Becker Maritime and Intermodal Transportation Center (MITC) at the University of New Orleans. His experience in transportation infrastructure development and historic preservation will be a great asset to our organization. The remainder of the board is comprised of active crew members and long-time volunteers.

Steam Fest III

Visitors were also able to climb aboard our magnificent steam locomotive and our red caboose.

During the event, we maintained 50 lbs of steam so that visitors could feel her ‘alive’. Musical entertainment was provided by Rocky’s Hot Foxtrot Orchestra, Hazel and the Delta Ramblers and Gal Holiday and The Honky Tonk Revue.

745 Journal

Fall 2007 – Coverage of Steam Fest II, and a November Steam Up event with a chance to ride behind 745 at the yard. Christmas party featured Santa arriving at the LASTA yard via red caboose pushed by 745.

Frank Davis does a promo segment on Channel 4 featuring Steam Fest and Steam Up. Donation of 6 wheel roller bearing axles from Baton Rouge NRHS’s passenger consist that was moved from Baton Rouge to Hammond.