Southern Pacific 745 is a preserved
steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, Fuel oil, oil or, rarely, Wood fuel, wood) to heat ...
that was fabricated at the Southern Pacific Railroad's Algiers Shops at Algiers Point directly across the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...
from New Orleans. With a 2-8-2 wheel configuration, 745 was built as a freight engine for the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company. The locomotive returned to service in 2004 after a restoration period. It is currently the only operating steam locomotive in Louisiana. After being located in
Jefferson, Louisiana for many years, it was moved to the Timbermill Museum in nearby
Garyville since late 2022.
History
Historic significance
SP 745 is regarded as a classic among steam locomotives and is on the U.S.
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
.
* First and foremost, the Mikado-type locomotive is considered by many to be ''the'' classic American freight locomotive from the golden age of steam locomotives, before Diesel-electric locomotives became widely used. About one out of every five locomotives in service on North American railroads was a Mikado or MacArthur.
* Second, despite well over 10,000 Mikados being built for American use, according to SteamLocomotive.com,
only 12 remain capable of operating on standard railroad tracks (others are smaller, narrow-gauge locomotives and a few are
tank locomotive
A tank locomotive is a steam locomotive which carries its water in one or more on-board water tanks, instead of a more traditional tender (rail), tender. Most tank engines also have Fuel bunker, bunkers (or fuel tanks) to hold fuel; in a #Tender ...
, designed only for short-range operation).
*Third, SP 745 is a "Harriman Standard Mikado". Railroad tycoon
E. H. Harriman obtained control of the Southern Pacific and several other major railroads, and then insisted that all of them have their new locomotives built to more-or-less standard designs for each type, based on the best features known at the time. The Harriman standard Mikados, including SP 745 and the other members of Southern Pacific's Mk-5 class designed in 1913, were the first great attempt at standardizing the main freight locomotive. (The other great standardized version was the
USRA Light Mikado design produced by a government committee during
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
.)
*Fourth, SP 745 suffered a boiler explosion on Paisano Pass in Texas in 1921, killing engineer William Francis Bohlman and throwing fireman Charles F. Robinson from the cab, knocking him unconscious. 745 was rebuilt following the accident and placed back into service.
* Finally, SP 745 is the last surviving steam locomotive built in Louisiana. It was one of a small batch of steam locomotives that the Southern Pacific built essentially from spare parts after World War I. The railroad built 745 and her sisters mostly at its
Algiers
Algiers is the capital city of Algeria as well as the capital of the Algiers Province; it extends over many Communes of Algeria, communes without having its own separate governing body. With 2,988,145 residents in 2008Census 14 April 2008: Offi ...
shops in New Orleans. Number 745 was built in 1921, based on the 1913 Mk-5 class design.
Revenue service
Although the Southern Pacific’s (SP) Algiers Shops' primary function was the repair and service of locomotives, the demands of World War I caused the Shop to begin limited construction of locomotives. Among these were twelve locomotives that were part of the SP’s Class Mk-5 Mikado-type locomotives, numbered 738 to 749.
SP 745 transported primarily freight (owing to its relatively slow speed capabilities) throughout Louisiana and Texas during its tenure from 1921 until 1956. However, the locomotive was also used to transport soldiers during World War II. Although it was always painted "Southern Pacific" or "Southern Pacific Lines", it actually worked for SP subsidiaries. The state of Texas had a law that required railroads operating in the state to be based there. SP owned the Galveston, Harrisburg, & San Antonio, and sent 745 to work for it. Later 745 worked for another Texas-based, SP-owned line, the
Texas and New Orleans Railroad. In these roles, 745 operated mostly between east Texas and the east end of the SP system in New Orleans.
In 1956, the locomotive completed its final journey by its own steam when it retired to Audubon Park in Uptown New Orleans, where it remained until 1984. There are three other surviving Mk-5 class 2-8-2s(Numbers 771,
786, and 794), but No. 745 remains as the last locomotive from the Mk-5s built by the SP’s Algiers Shops.
Excursion service
After Southern Pacific retired 745 in 1956, it was donated and placed on display in Audubon Park in New Orleans. It remained there until 1984, when it was removed to make room for expansion of the
Audubon Zoo. Ownership was transferred to the Old Kenner Railroad Association (OKRA). After OKRA disbanded, Louisiana Railway Heritage Trust assumed ownership. The locomotive is currently leased to the Louisiana Steam Train Association (LASTA). In 2001, they had obtained enough donations and grants to begin a several year restoration project with volunteers and professional crews.
In December 2004, SP 745 conducted its first main-line operations in forty-eight years, running to Reserve, LA and back over the
Kansas City Southern Railway
The Kansas City Southern Railway Company is an American Class I railroad. Founded in 1887, it operated in 10 Midwestern United States, Midwestern and Southeastern United States, Southeastern U.S. states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Ark ...
with William H. Johnson, engineer and David Bartee, fireman, as engine crew. Since then SP 745 has visited many areas around the state of Louisiana and southwest Mississippi as well as Kansas City, Missouri. Each year during
Gretna Fest, 745 finds itself only a few miles from its birthplace on the old SP line.
In media
SP 745 has been used in several films, including two major motion picture, the
Brad Pitt /
Cate Blanchett
Catherine Élise Blanchett ( ; born 14 May 1969) is an Australian actor and producer. Regarded as one of the best performers of her generation, she is recognised for Cate Blanchett on screen and stage, her versatile work across stage and scre ...
movie
''The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'', for which it was painted to look like a Southern Railway locomotive, and
''Jonah Hex'', where it took on characteristics of a much older locomotive.
See also
*
Southern Pacific 786 (Another preserved SP MK-5 class locomotive)
*
Southern Railway 4501
Southern Railway 4501 is a preserved 2-8-2 "Mikado"-type steam locomotive. Built in October 1911 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, No. 4501 was the first of its wheel arrangement type for the Southern Railway (U.S.), ...
*
St. Louis–San Francisco 4003
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana
References
External links
Louisiana Steam Train AssociationPhotos of 745 at Railpictures.net
{{DEFAULTSORT:Southern Pacific 0745
2-8-2 locomotives
Rail transportation on the National Register of Historic Places in Louisiana
Individual locomotives of the United States
0745
Railway locomotives on the National Register of Historic Places
Tourist attractions in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States
Railway locomotives introduced in 1921
National Register of Historic Places in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana
Preserved steam locomotives of Louisiana
Transportation in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana