Fundraising effort seeks roof to protect Soo Line steam engine
June 17, 2015
The city of Thief River Falls, Minn., is seeking funds to provide a roof to protect former Soo Line locomotive No. 1024.
Steve Glischinski
THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. – A fundraising effort is underway to build a canopy to protect Soo Line 2-8-2 No. 1024. The engine has been on display near Thief River Falls City Hall – once the Soo Line passenger depot – for more than half a century. Residents are hoping to raise as much as $50,000 to build the canopy. About 10 percent of the money has been raised so far.
Those donating $500 or more toward the project will receive a special booklet that designates them as a certified engineer. A donation of that size also includes a tour of No. 1024 from Hilary Stoltman, who fired the engine when it was in service, the Grand Forks Herald reported.
Soo No. 1024 is historic since it is the only surviving steam locomotive from the Monon – the Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville Railway. The locomotive was built in 1912 at Alco’s Brooks Works in Dunkirk, NY, as J-1 Class No. 504 for the Monon. It was one of the first batch of twenty-five Mikado’s bought by the Monon that year (Nos. 500-524). A further five J-1s were brought in 1918 and four more in 1923.
No. 504 was sold to the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie (Soo Line) in 1941 and renumbered No. 1024. It was one of eight bought from the Monon by the railroad between 1941 and 1942 and designated Class L-4.
Donations for the canopy project can be sent to City of Thief River Falls Engine Fund, P.O. Box 528, Thief River Falls, MN 56701.
