Northern Pacific 328
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Northern Pacific 328 is a S-10 class (NP S-10)[1] 4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler" type steam locomotive. Built in August 1905 by ALCO's Roger Works, she, along with her sisters, were set on fast passenger trains along the NP systemIt was restored to operational condition in 1981, and was retired again in 1999. As of 2024, the locomotive is on static display at the Minnesota Transportation Museum's Jackson street Roundhouse and there are no plans to return the locomotive to operation.
History
[edit]Revenue service
[edit]No. 328 was built in August 1905 by the American Locomotive company at their Rogers plant in Patterson, New Jersey. She was the second to last of her class, the last being No. 329. In 1940, it was named Blueberry Special, after the train that ran between Rush City, Minnesota and Grantsburg, Wisconsin. No. 328 pulled the last train to Taylors Falls on June 30, 1948. In 1949, L-10 0-6-0 No. 1167 replaced 328 on the Grantsburg branch.
First retirement
[edit]In 1950, No. 328 was retired and was sold to the Minnesota Railfans Association in August 1950, and displayed in Stillwater, Minnesota at their city park where she would sit for 26 years.[2][3]
Excursion service
[edit]In 1976, it was leased by the Minnesota Transportation Museum for restoration. The engine returned to service in May 1981, and ran excursion trips during the 1980's. Between 1987 and 1991, NP 328 returned to the Stillwater Branch and was owned by the Minnesota Transportation Museum and was a “crown jewel” of the historic experience.[4] In 1992 NP served as a regular locomotive on MTM's Osceola & St. Croix, MN and Dresser, WI.[5][6] In 1998, No. 328 had its most famous trip when she participated in a triple header with Soo Line 1003 and Soo Line 2719 at SteamFest '98 from Wisconsin to Minnesota. In 1999, it traveled a few more miles from the Stillwater and Taylors Falls branches it once frequented. It also made occasional special trips to other locations around the Twin Cities.
Second retirement
[edit]In 1999, No. 328 was retired from service once again and today it is an exhibit at the Jackson Street Roundhouse. There are no current plans to restore NP 328 back to operation.[7][8][9][10]
See also
[edit]- St. Louis-San Francisco 1522
- Milwaukee Road 261
- Nickel Plate Road 587
- Soo Line 1003
- Soo Line 2719
- Southern Pacific 4449
- Union Pacific 844
References
[edit]- ^ Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association (February 11, 2009). "Steam Class List S-10". Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ "Northern Pacific Motive Power - No. 5 of a Series, Class S-10 (320-329)" (PDF). The Telltale. XI (5): 2. May 1950. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ "Northern Pacific steam locomotive No. 328 on display in the park at Stillwater". Minnesota Historical Society. 1955. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ Johnson, Martin (1991). "The Blueberry Special". The Mainstreeter. 10 (4): 20–21.
- ^ Schrenk, Lorenz P. (1996). "The Truth About 328 Revealed!". The Mainstreeter. 15 (4): 5–11.
- ^ • Egan, Patrick (1996). The Other Four". The Mainstreeter. 15 (4): 12-13.
- ^ Smith, Jonathan D.H. (2005). "Chicago Terre Haute & Southeastern steam locomotives". Standard steam locomotives. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ Thompson, Richard E.; Monson, Steven J. (2005). The Taylors Falls & Lake Superior Railroad. Chicago City, Minnesota: Iron Horse Central Museum. ISBN 1-59975-248-4.
- ^ "Steam locomotives". Minnesota Transportation Museum. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ "We own that train? Stillwater weighs options for old Northern Pacific locomotive". Twin cities. December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.