The General Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2011 in the Jefferson car. The general meeting will be followed by the Board meeting. The meeting is open to all member and begins at 6 pm.
The new “Discovery Track” is finally finished and is now home to the Sea Island and the Virginia Beach. These cars will serve as our on-site offices and meeting room. The Sea Island is almost ready to occupy; however, the Virginia Beach still needs a complete interior remodel.
Your dedicated volunteers completed the annual Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) inspection just in time to steam up and operate the engine. She is now fired and under steam at the yard in advance of the move to the West Bank during the day tomorrow under diesel powered escort. Once we arrive at the 4th Street track in Gretna LASTA will drop the fire for the duration of the event and relight for the return to Old Jefferson on Monday the 10th. Come out while we are on the move and crossing the Huey P. Long Bridge on either of these days. The exact move times will be posted as we get them coordinated with our partner railroads.
The engine will be displayed prominently on 4th St. by the intersection of Huey P. Long Avenue. LASTA is bringing the Jefferson Parlor car and the LASTA Caboose along with the “Mike Hankins” Memorial Crew Car. The 745 cab will be staffed for tours again this year. LASTA volunteer and certified instructor “Bigfoot” will staff the Operation Lifesaver display inside the Caboose. The Jefferson will be set up for our members to tour and take a break from the festival action in style.
New this year for the festival is our corporate sponsor Ellsworth Corporation’s large display trailer setup with another batch of beautifully restored marine engines and artifacts. Two of these will be connected to an external compressor in lieu of live steam to actually operate.
Wear you LASTA attire or buy some new items at our gift shop. The LASTA HO-scale model of the consist will be on display for sale of additional raffle tickets. Photographs will be allowed on the front of the engine again this year.
Pass the word along for others that may be headed to the fest to come see us and see how your generous donations have allowed your LASTA volunteers to maintain the last remaining Louisiana built locomotive with meticulous care.
Thank you for your continued support!!
Barry Keegan
LASTA Director of Marketing
Experience historic Southern Pacific steam locomotive # 745, “The Spirit of Louisiana,” (under steam) along with her exhibit train featuring “steam train and bluegrass music.” New this year is the bluegrass music element as we start New Orleans’ first bluegrass music festival. There will also be a model train layout, a kiddy train for the little ones to ride on, antique cars, a wonderful gift shop as well as delicious food and drinks. Every hour there will be live bands playing exciting bluegrass music! Come and enjoy this unique piece of Louisiana railroad history and the stirring sounds of bluegrass!
The Steam Train Bluegrass Festival will be held on Riverview (the fly) behind Audubon Zoo. It takes place Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5, 2008
(Saturday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) The festival is free but there is a fee to view the exhibits aboard the train as well as the cab of SP #745 under steam.
For more information call 504-897-2464 or go to www.LASTA.org.
Visitors were also able to climb aboard our magnificent steam locomotive and our red caboose.
During the event, we maintained 50 lbs of steam so that visitors could feel her ‘alive’. Musical entertainment was provided by Rocky’s Hot Foxtrot Orchestra, Hazel and the Delta Ramblers and Gal Holiday and The Honky Tonk Revue.
Frank Davis, from the TV show Naturally New Orleans, ran a segment about 745 and Steamfest.
Frank Davis ‘Naturally N’Awlins
Fall 2007 – Coverage of Steam Fest II, and a November Steam Up event with a chance to ride behind 745 at the yard. Christmas party featured Santa arriving at the LASTA yard via red caboose pushed by 745.
Frank Davis does a promo segment on Channel 4 featuring Steam Fest and Steam Up. Donation of 6 wheel roller bearing axles from Baton Rouge NRHS’s passenger consist that was moved from Baton Rouge to Hammond.
On Saturday, July 14, we gathered at Mike’s house to apply the usual LASTA elbow grease to make some much-needed home repairs.
Later in the month, Listerine on Sundays, a local production, filmed at the LASTA yard for several days. This film is set to be released in early 2008.
On February 7, we departed at approximately 8 am for our test run. We arrived in Baton Rouge around noon, turned at the Canadian National (CN) “Y” and then remained overnight at the KCS Yard .
At 8 am the following morning, we departed for our return trip to New Orleans, arrived at the CN yard just before 2 pm, where we waited until both the north and southbound Amtrak trains passed. We then proceeded to Lambert junction where we met the Public Belt switcher to escort us back to our yard. 745 was back in her home yard by 4:30 PM, successfully completing her first trip since Kansas City Excursion.
Mays Yard by Leo Persick
745 had all lettering removed from her firemen’s side and replaced with a Southern Railroad “SR” logo as well as the “Southern” name. 745 was also renumbered on that side and under the headlight to “682.” The Jefferson Parlor car also had her lettering removed and was stenciled “Southern” along the side and across the rear platform top.
Liberty MO
Watco
Dr. Eric Langhorst is an award-winning educator who brings history to life through storytelling, technology, and conversation. He teaches 8th-grade American History, broadcasting, and technology at Discovery Middle School in Liberty, Missouri and is nationally recognized for his work in education and digital learning.
In this episode of his Speaking of History podcast, Dr. Langhorst explores “The Spirit of Louisiana Steam Engine in Liberty,” highlighting the story, significance, and enduring legacy of Southern Pacific 745 and the people dedicated to preserving steam railroading history.
🎧 Listen now: Speaking of History Podcast #31 – The Spirit of Louisiana Steam Engine in Liberty
MP3 Format | Runtime: 12:30 minutes
Early Tuesday morning, a battery of photographers arrived and lined up in preparation for 745’s arrival. Looking due west the illuminated headlight appeared in the distance as the train appeared in the distance. Approaching the I-35 overpass, 745 erupted into sound, smoke and steam. A black and white plume of exhaust ascended as the train continued toward the station. As the train came to a stop, a small jazz band began to play. The Spirit of Louisiana had formally arrived.
LASTA had three display cars indicating the different decorations and spectacular items from the Kenner Mardi Gras Museum. On Mardi Gras Day, February 28th, the cars were opened for the press and the dedicated staff of the Union Station Museum to take a peek at the celebration of time.
The exhibit opened it doors to the general public on Saturday, March 4th so that anyone who visited could enjoy the colors, festivities, and art of the holiday. This exhibit stayed open for several more weeks, during which time both locals and tourists could come view the display of the holiday decorations and learn more of their origins.
LASTA wishes to offer special THANKS to the following people and companies for helping us get 745 to Kansas City and back home:
745 departed the KCS yard for Kansas City on February 21. We had an unexpected stop in Sorrento, LA due to mechanical problems. Our driver bearing heated up and forced us to stop. We considered returning home but decided to continue. The next two days were spend on a short industrial siding, where the crew removed the side rods to allow the engine to be towed. At 11:15 am, on February 24, SP745 departed with TFM Locomotive 1412 providing power.
