Soo Line 1003: Wisconsin Chapter NRHS 75th Anniversary Excursion 2025 (4K)

This year the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society celebrated 75 years. To commemorate this, on August 23rd, the group would charter Soo Line 1003, along with its usual consist, to run a train from Hartford to Burnett Wisconsin & Return. It had been almost 4 years since the last time I was able to see this locomotive operate. When the day arrived, 1003's departure was delayed due to an Eastbound Freight, WSOR T-004. After that 1003 would shove out of the Automotive museum to West Yard, Rearrange the consist, and run Tender first to Horicon. After catching the train shove out, I would catch the Train Tender first in Rubicon, and chase it to Horicon. After Horicon, I would miss the engine switching the Freight Cars, and head to Burnett. They would shove the train up to Burnett, and then do some Photo Runbys. After that, I would chase the train back to Rubicon, where they did a few more photo Runbys. After that I would call it a day. Join me track side, in the Midwest as we chase Mainline Steam on the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, on a Hot Humid Summer Day. From the Hills, Farms & Towns of Wisconsin, hope you all enjoy my coverage of my favorite operational Mikado 1003, on it's first outing of 2025.

Soo Line #1003 is an L-1 2-8-2 Mikado, built by the American Locomotive Company in 1913. Over the years the locomotive would receive numerous upgrades. The locomotive would operate up until 1959. It was placed on Strategic reserve, and is part of the reason the engine was not scrapped. After that, it was put on Display in Superior Wisconsin. In the mid 1970s Shortline Steam Railroad Ltd. was organized to restore the locomotive to operation. It never happened. However, in the 90s it was sold to the Wisconsin Preservation Trust for restoration. It would return to operation in 1997, and would pull excursions and trains all over the Midwest, including the Circus Train in 2002 to from Baraboo to Milwaukee Wisconsin Over the years it has pulled excursions on the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad. In 2012, it would return from another 1472 Day Inspection.

Bison Rail Photography would join me on this adventure. After getting to Hartford, we would pick up ‪@LanesTrains‬ & ‪@kilroy_was_here1‬. ‪@MiddleTennesseeRailProductions‬ would follow along, and we saw many other railfans that day ‪@Djcman331‬ ‪@NYTrainzchaser‬ ‪@ATrain4014‬ ‪@DroppedSignal‬ & ‪@BrendenAlbert-Filmz‬

Last weekend, was a lot fun with 1003. Next week will be my last video from Colorado, of the Union Pacific #4004 As for the rest of the year, I am going to see #1309 in October hopefully. If all goes well, I am hoping to still see #4960 #261 #1702 611, #4501 and #630 and possibly a few more! As always if you liked this video, please give it a like and subscribe to my YouTube Channel! If you want to stay up to date with my adventures please follow my socials below.
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