Exciting news, railfans! Help us take a quick trip back in time! To the sights and sounds and smells of the mighty steam locomotive! What better way to help celebrate the Crescent City’s Tricentennial with a real blast from the past! Although not exactly in New Orleans nor an official Tricentennial event…historic Southern Pacific Steam locomotive #745 (SP 745) will relive the past when she pulls a freight train on the New Orleans and Gulf Coast (NOGC) Railroad.
The 20-mile run will be on the NOGC from Myrtle Grove to Gouldsboro Yard in Gretna, Louisiana. This is just a short distance from where SP 745 was born nearly 100 years ago and just across the Mighty Mississippi from 300-year-old New Orleans! The NOGC route parallels Louisiana State Highway 23 for nearly the entire route and includes a bit of street running in Gretna.
A steam-powered freight train is an extremely rare sight in the 21 st century and it’s something that’s never been seen in southeast Louisiana since steam railroading faded away in the 1950s but with your help the past will come alive as SP 745 pulls a long cut of grain cars to the delight of rail fans and the wonderment of the general public. Recommended viewing areas will be announced later and we ask that you please respect private property. This is a freight-only trip so no passengers will be on board.
The exact date has not been set and that’s where you, the rail enthusiast will need to get involved. We need to raise $10,000 to make it all happen. A GoFundMe account has been set up at https://www.gofundme.com/sp745. As an extra added bonus, any money raised beyond the cost of this event will go into 745’s flue fund as the old girl’s boiler must be rebuilt next year as mandated by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
We hope to run this once in a lifetime steam freight excursion in the next few weeks so what are you waiting for…PLEASE DONATE TODAY!
All donations will be refunded if the excursion is canceled.
Thanks!
The Louisiana Steam Train Association (LASTA)