October 2018

Yet another delay in our plans for historic steam locomotive SP 745 to pull an empty grain train on the New Orleans and Gulf Coast Railroad. The NOGC has just informed us that they do not expect a grain train for us to pull for another two weeks. 

Again, the NOGC says we will get approximately 5 days notice on when a grain train is on the way and we will give all of you that same notice as well as a projected date and time for this historic run. 

There is still time to make that all important donation to help the Louisiana Steam Train Association defray the enormous cost of this freight run. Many thousands of you have seen our post on Facebook and expressed your excitement about this rare event.  So think about it! If each one of you turns that excitement about our special steam freight excursion into a simple 1 dollar donation on our GoFundMe page…we would have more than enough money to pay for this once in a lifetime railroad event AND, with any extra money above and beyond the cost of this event, we would be well on our way toward the cost of rebuilding SP 745’s boiler next year as required by the FRA.

As previously stated, if for any reason this freight pull does not occur, your request for a refund will be honored. Rest assured, as soon as we get an exact date and time, you will be notified. 

So how about it EVERYBODY! Click on our GoFundMe page and donate just 1 dollar and more if you can!

Thanks!
LASTA (Louisiana Steam Train Association)

745′ Historical Steam Freight Run will start in Belle Chasse and end at the NOGC Yard in Gretna. The following suggested route should allow for multiple viewing locations.

* Please respect all traffic laws.
* Do not enter railroad or private property without permission. 

Driving Directions

1. The trip will start near 14715 LA-23, Belle Chasse, LA
2. Head northwest on LA-23 for 3.6 miles
3. Turn Right onto Hwy 11 and travel north for 1.5 miles
4. Turn Right onto LA-23
5. Travel North on LA-23 and continue past LA 23 BBQ. The train will turn away from the highway and into the Bell Chasse Yard
6. Travel North on LA-23 as the highway curves and continues to the northwest. After crossing the drawbridge, the tracks will then turn away from Belle Chasse Highway near Mel Ott Park. 
7. Turn Right onto Hwy 90 (West Band Expressway) and stay on the access road. The train will pass under the Westbank Expressway by Primary Veterinary Care ( 90 Westbank Expy, Gretna, LA).
8. Turn Left on Stumpf Blvd.
9. Turn Right on Kepler St. The Train will then pass up the last major crossing near Cafe 615 ( 615 Kepler St, Gretna, LA 70053). 
10. Turn Left on Monroe St.
11. Turn Left on Romain St.
12. Turn Right on Madison St. The train will travel North on Madison Street. This is a residential street with limited room. The trip will conclude at the Gretna yard. 

IT’S STILL GOING TO HAPPEN..BUT NOT NEXT WEEK AS WE HOPED!!!

The New Orleans and Gulf Coast Railroad has just told us that they are not expecting a grain train on the property until late October or sometime in November. The NOGC says we will get approximately 5 days notice on when a grain train is on the way and we will give all of you that same notice as well as a projected date and time for this historic run.

Again…those of you who have been sitting on the sidelines waiting to hear if this historic event will happen, now is the time to make that all important donation to help the Louisiana Steam Train Association defray the enormous cost of this freight run. Many thousands of you have seen our post on Facebook and posted your excitement about this rare event. So think about it! If each one of you turns that excitement about our special steam freight excursion into a simple 1 dollar donation on our GoFundMe page…we would have more than enough money to pay for this once in a lifetime railroad event AND, with any extra money above and beyond the cost of this event, we would be well on our way toward the cost of rebuilding SP 745’s boiler next year as required by the FRA.

As previously stated, if for any reason this freight pull does not occur, your request for a refund will be honored. Rest assured, as soon as we get an exact date and time, you will be notified.

So how about it EVERYBODY! Click on our GoFundMe page and donate just 1 dollar and more if you can! Thanks! LASTA (Louisiana Steam Train Association)

FINALLY, it’s about to happen!  Historic Southern Pacific steam locomotive # 745 will be on the New Orleans and Gulf Coast Railroad between October 8th through the 16th ready to pull an empty grain train. As most of you know in the rail community the uncertain nature of freight schedules make it impossible at this moment to give an exact date and time of when this historic freight run will happen. All we know at the time is that, barring any unforeseen delays, it will take place within that 9-day time frame.

So those of you who have been sitting on the sidelines waiting to hear if this historic event will happen, now is the time to make that all important donation to help the Louisiana Steam Train Association defray the enormous cost of this freight run.

Many thousands of you have seen our post on Facebook and posted your excitement about this rare event.  So think about it! If each one of you turns that excitement about our special steam freight excursion into a simple 1 dollar donation on our GoFundMe page…we would have more than enough money to pay for this once in a lifetime railroad event AND, with any extra money above and beyond the cost of this event, we would be well on our way toward the cost of rebuilding SP 745’s boiler next year as required by the FRA.

As previously stated, if for any reason this freight pull does not occur, your request for a refund will be honored. Rest assured, as soon as we get an exact date and time, you will be notified.

So how about it EVERYBODY! Click on our GoFundMe page and donate just 1 dollar and more if you can.

Thanks!

LASTA