Gladstone, Michigan: An effort is underway to cosmetically restore Soo Line 730, on display in Gladstone since 1960:

• Soo Line 730, 4-6-2 (ALCO / Schenectady 49800 / 1911), Soo Line class H-3

Donations are being solicited by the City of Gladstone:

City of Gladstone
c/o Soo Steam Engine 730
1100 Delta Avenue
Gladstone, Michigan 49837-1434

Daily Press: https://www.dailypress.net/news/local-n ... am-engine/

One thing that's always been brought up about steam locomotives preserved outside in parks, is that they should be covered for protection from the elements. Obviously, that "protection" for Soo 4-6-2 # 730 has been less than satisfactory!

Les

To be fair the locomotive has gone without extensive care for 22 years. The pigeon issue does not help either...

The display location for this locomotive is less than stellar as it is literally on CN yard property. Gladstone Yard is one the more busier yards for CN in the Upper Peninsula. There is no easy/safe place to pull over on US 41/US 2 either...hopefully they can find a solution to make it more easily accessible.

NS 3322 -

Thanks for the comments. I wonder how the other Soo Line preserved steamers are faring these days. Some of these are covered; some not.


Les

The 730 does have a more substantial roof over it than most such "plinthed" steamers:

https://goo.gl/maps/uD6bonambwe8g2n76

Substantial, but she's apparently still suffering from the weather and our "feathered friends".

The bane of all these shelters is the structure under the roof, which is like a housing project for birds. One of the nicest designs for a shelter is over sister Soo Pacific 2713 in Stevens Point: http://soo2713.org/ Click the "Train Roof" tab for more photos.

Dennis -

Thanks for the reference to the shelter for Soo 4-6-2 # 2713. A better roof for sure. The website for the engine ("Friends of 2713") was interesting. It had a photo of Soo 2-10-0 #950 running in service when it was still numbered 600 and when it was still a compound! That photo in itself was well worth visiting the site.

Les