Louisiana Steam Train Association

The Southern Pacific #745 (SP 745) holds a unique place in history as the sole surviving Louisiana-built steam locomotive. Born in the Southern Pacific’s Algiers shop in 1921, #745 was a stalwart, tirelessly hauling freight through the heartlands of Texas and Louisiana and even pulling the occasional troop train during World War II.

SP 745

• The Mikado-type locomotive, a unique and iconic freight locomotive from the golden age of steam, has a rich history in American railroads. Its distinctive wheel arrangement was first seen in a group of Japanese type 9700 2-8-2 locomotives, built in 1897 by Baldwin Locomotive Works for Nippon Railway of Japan (3 ft 6 in gauge.)
  
• In the early 19th century, the Emperor of Japan was often referred to as ‘the Mikado’ in English. This name continued to be used until the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, when it was replaced with the name ‘MacArthur’ during the war to describe the locomotive type.
  
• This locomotive, one of the more prevalent configurations in the first half of the 20th century, was a testament to the era of steam locomotives. Locomotives of this wheel arrangement saw service around the world.
  
• Built by renowned companies such as Baldwin, American Locomotive Company(ALCO), and Lima Locomotive Works, these locomotives were a common sight on the tracks. Today, only a handful of these locomotives have been preserved, serving as static display pieces or steam excursion stars, a testament to their enduring legacy.
  
• The influence of railroad tycoon E. H. Harriman on the standardization of locomotive designs is a fascinating chapter in the history of American railroads. After gaining control of the Southern Pacific, Harriman implemented a revolutionary mandate-all new locomotives were to be built to standard designs, incorporating the best features of the time. This move, known as the Harriman standard Mikados, was a groundbreaking step towards standardizing the main freight locomotive.

History of SP 745

Shortly after the end of World War I, the Southern Pacific found itself with an overabundant supply of workers in its Algiers Shops in New Orleans. The workforce, mostly consisting of returning American soldiers known as the ‘Dough Boys,’ was almost 5,000 strong and could repair and rebuild freight and passenger cars, keeping the SP steam locomotive fleet in running order; however, there was just not enough work. Today, corporate America might solve the problem by ‘right-sizing’ the company. But this was 1919, and the Algiers Shops were one BIG family. Work would be found!

Soon the SP began to order a large quantity of spare parts from the original builder, the famous Baldwin Locomotive Works, but instead of repairing locomotives, they consigned most parts to New Orleans and placed a smaller order for the SP shop in Houston, Texas.

Over the next two years, the two shops at Algiers and Houston produced more than a dozen locomotives. These engines were primarily designed for freight service but occasionally served as power for extra passenger and military moves. The mikes were working-class engines, handling main and branch line freight with equal skill.

These engines were designed primarily for freight service but occasionally served as power for extra passenger and military moves. A quick look under the cab’s footplate reveals an extra steam line connection for providing steam to passenger cars. Mikes were working-class engines, able to handle main and branch line freight with equal skill. They did not strike the mystic chords of Big Boys, Challengers, Daylights, Southern P’s Pacifics, NYC Hudsons, and Mohawks. Their world was the fifty-car manifest freight train, the troop train extra to an Army base, and the cross-town transfer.

The mikes built in Algiers received road numbers 738-750 and were mostly used east of El Paso and west of the Sabine. Because of Texas railroad law requirements, the distinctive Vanderbilt tenders were recipients of a ‘dog house,’ a small metal out-house-looking shed built atop the tender, to provide a station for the head-end brakeman. This unique feature provided a safe and comfortable space for the brakeman to perform their duties during the journey.

However, the post-war era brought about a downturn and a shifted demand towards the new diesel locomotives, which unfortunately cut short the service life of most steam locomotives, including # 745. In 1954, after a service of just over thirty years, she was retired to a display track in Aubudon Park, marking the end of a glorious era. But this was not the end of her story.

After 28 years on static display in the park, in 1984, Audubon’s plan to expand its zoo necessitated the removal of the engine. A group called the Old Kenner Railroad Association (OKRA) managed to get the engine donated to its care and removed it from the park.

Bringing back to life a neglected 70-year-old steam engine was no small feat. With the support of public and private grants, a community of passionate volunteers, and a team of skilled rebuilders, this monumental task was undertaken. Their collective efforts finally set the wheels in motion.

In December 2004, 745 embarked on its first main-line operations in 48 years, journeying to Reserve, LA and back over the Kansas City Southern Railway. Since then, SP 745 has embarked on tours across Louisiana, southwest Mississippi, and even made a long trip to Kansas City.

For the next 15 years, SP 745 operated in and around New Orleans and was featured in several motion pictures. In 2019, the locomotive was taken out of service for a boiler rebuild, which is required every 15 years or after 1472 operating days. Recently, we secured grant funds that will cover most of the costs, and we expect the rebuild to commence in late 2024.

Meanwhile, LASTA’s committed volunteers are diligently working on a new permanent location for their operations, where the historic 745 locomotive can be publicly displayed and operated on a regular schedule.