The Lake Superior Railroad Museum UPDATED Steam Team Plan for 2025
The Lake Superior Railroad Museum successfully and SAFELY operated DM&IR #332 steam locomotive on several sold out excursions in 2024 on the North Shore Scenic Railroad. It is the intention of the Steam Team and museum management to operate a similar schedule this year.
Before those plans can be solidified and tickets put up for sale, the engine needs its annual inspection by the Federal Railroad Administration. This involves several steps focusing primarily on the integrity of the boiler under pressure. The two inspections are first with just hot water (hydro) and then under steam.
To prepare for this routine inspection it was the decision of management to employ the assistance of the Strasburg Railroad through a consulting agreement, in order to do a very thorough inspection with expertise they can provide. Strasburg is well known for their steam program and offers these services to other steam operations.
To spread out the investment of having consultants come from Strasburg, PA to Duluth, it was decided to also inspect SOO Line Pacific #2719. That engine was in service prior to the #332 but its boiler license expired. The whole plan is to inspect more deeply into both locomotives and assess their stability for operations, as well as preservation, into the future.
Currently dates for the inspection are being negotiated for May of this year. This will involve putting both locomotives in the shop and over the pit.
If you are steam enthusiast and would like to help with this project, please consider a contribution to cover the consulting costs charged by the Strasburg Railroad. Send your TAX FREE donation to:
Lake Superior Railroad Museum
c/o Steam Team
506 West Michigan Street
Duluth, MN 55802
Thank You for your ongoing interest and support!
History of the locomotive:
The #332 locomotive was built by the Pittsburgh Locomotive Works in 1906 for the Duluth, Missabe and Northern. A typical drag freight consolidation type engine of the early 1900s, she weighs in at 102 tons (172 tons with tender loaded). The capacity of the tender is 8,000 gallons of water and 12 tons of coal.
No. 332 was sold to the Duluth & North Eastern in 1955, and got its #28 numbering and was used to haul logs, lumber products and some general freight. It worked in this service until 1964 and was last under steam in 1965. The D&NE restored and donated the locomotive to the Museum in 1974.
In the Fall of 2013, a restoration project began to bring the engine back to operating condition. It operated for the first time in 2017 on the North Shore Scenic Railroad as #28, and was renumbered/painted to be its original #332 for the 2019 season.