Soo Line 730 cosmetic restoration in Gladstone

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Here's a series of articles on the community-led cosmetic restoration of Soo Line 4-6-2 #730 under the roof in Gladstone. I always forget this locomotive is parked up in the U.P., but it's probably among the nicest parked steam engines in the state. These posts are from earliest to most recent:

Soo Line steam engine restoration group getting organized
August 27, 2022
https://www.dailypress.net/news/local-n ... organized/

[url]https://ogden_images.s3.amazonaws.com/www.dailypress.net/images/2022/08/26160357/Engine-1100x707.jpg[/url]
Photo courtesy of John Pickard Soo Line Steam Engine #730 is pictured here after it’s shelter was repainted in the fall of 2021. John Pickard, son of Soo Line retiree Kenneth Pickard, has decided to continue past efforts to maintain upkeep on Soo Line Steam Engine #730.

GLADSTONE — The effort to restore a vintage railway engine is gaining steam.

The Soo Line Steam Engine Restoration Project is inviting all community members to an organization meeting on Monday, September 12 at 6:30 p.m. at 817 Delta Avenue in Gladstone.

The group hopes to gain support for the perpetual care and preservation of Steam Engine #730 owned by the City of Gladstone and located along the U.S. 2 and 41 and M-35 at the entrance to Delta Avenue.

The meeting will be an opportunity to talk, get ideas and community views and share plans to achieve a wider support group. The group would like organize and elect a core group of members who can nominate themselves to become committee members and executive officers. The group will then be able to move forward by adopting bylaws and code of conduct and applying for non-profit status and all the other requirements to ensure the engine is preserved.

Progress has been made regarding the efforts to restore and preserve Soo Line Steam Engine #730. NK Electric in Escanaba volunteered their time and labor to help replace all of the light fixtures in and around Engine #730 over the summer. Other work has also been performed over the summer and funds have been raised to aid the restoration. The Soo Line Steam Engine Restoration project began in the summer months of 2021 when Gladstone native John Pickard formed a committee to oversee the rehabilitative process.

Pickard started the Soo Line Steam Engine Restoration project after watching the engine’s condition worsen over the past 20 years. Pickard’s father, who had worked for the Soo Line Railroad for 42 years, used to look after Engine #730 every summer with several other Soo Line employees. However, as the engine’s caretakers began to pass away, the engine’s recognition and importance in the community began to fade as well.

However, continued efforts by Pickard and Jack Soderman, retired Soo Liner and one of the engine’s caretakers, has involved collaborating with city officials and local businesses.

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October 17, 2022
The Gladstone Michigan Soo Line Steam Engine #730 Authority is happy to announce its new partnership with the Community Foundation for Delta County
https://www.cfup.org/cfup-news/steam-engine

The Community Foundation for Delta County is able to help the community in so many ways, including partnering with the Gladstone Michigan Soo Line Steam Engine #730 Authority to help with the Restoration and upkeep of a Delta County Historical exhibit and sight. Currently owned by the City of Gladstone, after being donated by the now historic Soo Line Railroad in 1960, this Steam Engine has greeted tourist and Rail fans young and old for a generation and continues to be a Delta County Landmark for all to enjoy.

After Years of neglect, the Authority has formed a Restoration Committee and have taken on the task of cleaning and the restoration of it. Over 20 years ago, Mr. John Larkin from the Escanaba Lake Superior Railroad donated over $50,000.00 to remove asbestos, refurbish metal, paint and clean the engine and add new lighting. Sadly, the lights burned out and Pigeons moved in and are slowly destroying the engine once again.

Funding is still being sought and bird netting has arrived and will be installed soon. New LED lights were donated by WPPI, the utility provider for Gladstone and installed free of charge by N/K Electric of Escanaba. Once the bird netting is installed, paint will be ordered, then the cleaning and painting will be done by the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 10-11 of the Upper Peninsula.

According to Mr. John Pickard, Authority President, “The Community Foundation for Delta County (CFFDC) goal is to make Delta County a better place to work, play and live.”

Mr. Pickard continued, “I know that teaming up with the CFFDC will be a win/win for my Authority and the City of Gladstone for the long term perpetual care of this Delta County historical landmark.”

“The Community Foundation for Delta County is happy to hold the funds for the Gladstone Michigan Soo Line Steam Engine #730 Authority,” stated Mrs. Cheryl Andzejewski, Executive Director of the CFFDC.

She continued, “If you’d like to learn more about how you can help and make a difference in our community, please contact the community foundation by calling 906-786-6654 or emailing office@cfup.org.”

The Community Foundation for Delta County is a 501 (c) (3) and proud to be certified with National Standards.

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Dec. 16, 2022
Gladstone community working to restore decommissioned Soo Line train

Decorated for the holidays, Soo Line Engine #730′s Christmas lights signify community effort to restore this piece of Gladstone history

Check out the video at this link: https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/20 ... ine-train/

GLADSTONE, Mich. (WLUC) - Soo Line Train Engine #730 is a rich part of Gladstone’s history.

“Without it, there wouldn’t be a Gladstone”, says John Pickard, President of the engine’s restoration authority.

Built in 1911 and put to retirement in 1960, the train hasn’t seen any action since being moved to its current site in Gladstone in 2000.

In 2021, Pickard began forming a committee, reaching out to community leaders, and getting to work.

Restoration has included cleaning, painting, installation of bird netting, the addition of Christmas lights, and more.

Pickard and Charlie Becker of the Community Foundation for Delta County say the Christmas lights are a way to attract more attention to the engine and were donated by the community.

Gladstone Mayor Joe Thompson adds that the community should care about this train’s restoration because nearly everyone in the Gladstone community has some tie to the engine.

Pickard hopes to one day see more functionality, a train park, a history museum, and a Christmas train at this site.

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October 12, 2023
Efforts continue to preserve historic steam engine
https://www.miningjournal.net/news/2023 ... am-engine/

[url]https://ogden_images.s3.amazonaws.com/www.dailypress.net/images/2023/10/10115400/train_IMG_5882-630x840.jpg[/url]

GLADSTONE — The Gladstone Michigan Soo Line Steam Engine #730 Authority is continuing its efforts with upkeep and preservation work on the Soo Line Railroad steam engine on display along US 2 and 41 and M-35 in Gladstone. Recently, volunteers washed and spray cleaned the engine in preparation for installing Christmas lights for the holiday season.

In 1959, the steam engine era came to an end, and the Soo Line Railroad looked to retire their fleet of steam engines by donating them to the major hubs along its route from Minneapolis to Sault Ste. Marie. The Soo Line donated steam engine #730 to the city of Gladstone in the summer of 1960, as the new Highway was being built along Railway Avenue. Land was prepared and cleared for Steam Engine #730 to have its final resting place. In the fall of that year, the Soo Line Railroad donated the engine to the city to display and memorialize the steam engine era of railroading.

In the summer of 2021, the restoration of a Delta County historical exhibit and site began. The steam engine has greeted tourist and rail fans young and old for a generation and continues to be a Delta County landmark for all to enjoy, but work was needed to preserve the engine. Bird netting was installed to keep the pigeons out and fencing was repaired. Rick Prica and crew from N/K Electric installed new LED lighting and wiring, replaced power outlets and made them water proof. Spot painting will be done by the Painter Apprentice IUPAT Local 10-11 of the Upper Peninsula. The brass numbers were buffed and re-installed and just recently the engine was washed and spray cleaned in anticipation of the installation of Christmas lights.

Future plans include a parking area, a historical marker and a timeline kiosk.

Donation to help preservation efforts, day to day maintenance or future perpetual care for the engine are appreciated. Checks can made in care of #730 to the Community Foundation for Delta County. 2420 1st Avenue S., Escanaba, Michigan. 49829.

[Standard Railfan]

I drove by the Gladstone yard yesterday. Soo Line 730 looked great after the cleaning mentioned in the news article.

[GLC@ZLT]

I drove by it back in September, wish I would of had time to stop.