Steam Locomotive Heritage Association

Steam Locomotive Heritage Association Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Steam Locomotive Heritage Association, History Museum, P. O. Box 270594, Hartford, WI.
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The Steam Locomotive Heritage Association, based in Hartford, Wisconsin, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to reconstruct, maintain and display steam locomotives and associated historic railroad equipment for educational purposes.

Soo Line 1003 south of Waupun in October of 2025. Tim Pitzen image.Follow, Like, and Share our page for the most up to d...
08/26/2026

Soo Line 1003 south of Waupun in October of 2025. Tim Pitzen image.

Follow, Like, and Share our page for the most up to date information on operations of Soo Line 1003 Steam Locomotive.

1003 heads through Fairwater, WI on October 26, 2025. Tim Pitzen photo.
08/23/2026

1003 heads through Fairwater, WI on October 26, 2025. Tim Pitzen photo.

THE WAIT IS OVER! The whistle is about to echo across Wisconsin once again.The legendary Soo Line No. 1003 will return t...
08/08/2026

THE WAIT IS OVER!

The whistle is about to echo across Wisconsin once again.

The legendary Soo Line No. 1003 will return to steam on Saturday, September 26, 2026, for a special public run celebrating America's 250th Birthday! 🇺🇸🚂

This isn't just another train run—it's a celebration of the locomotive that helped build America. As our nation marks 250 years of independence, you'll have the opportunity to witness one of the few operating mainline steam locomotives in North America as it once again roars through the Wisconsin countryside. The event is free to attend from public viewing locations along the route, and thousands are expected to experience this unforgettable piece of living history.

The official joint press release is attached with complete event information, including the route, schedule, safety information, and details from the Steam Locomotive Heritage Association, the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, and the Soo Line Historical & Technical Society.

📅 Save the Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026

Now it's your turn to help spread the word.

➡️ LIKE this post.
➡️ SHARE it with your friends and family.
➡️ TAG someone who needs to see the Soo Line No. 1003 in steam.

Let's make this America's biggest steam locomotive celebration of 2026.

See you trackside! 🇺🇸🚂

Chapter National Railway Historical Society Line Historical & Technical Society Group

TOMORROWFor weeks, our volunteers have been preparing Soo Line 1003 for what comes next. Every inspection, every adjustm...
08/07/2026

TOMORROW

For weeks, our volunteers have been preparing Soo Line 1003 for what comes next. Every inspection, every adjustment, every hour of work has been leading towards this.

That moment arrives tomorrow.

If you've ever wanted to see, hear, and feel a living piece of American history under steam again, you'll want to be watching this page.

We know many of you have been asking, emailing, and commenting about when the next opportunity to experience Soo Line 1003 would be. We appreciate your patience—and we think you'll like what we've been working toward.

Make sure you're following our page, turn on notifications, and be ready when the whistle blows.

History is about to move once again.

WERE CLOSE!!Soo Line 1003 is one step closer to steam.For months, you've asked the same question:"When will 1003 run aga...
08/07/2026

WERE CLOSE!!

Soo Line 1003 is one step closer to steam.

For months, you've asked the same question:
"When will 1003 run again?"

We think it's almost time to answer it.

Keep your eyes on this page this Saturday. If everything stays on track, we'll have an announcement that many of you have been waiting months to hear.

Whether you've chased the 1003 for decades or hope to see her for the very first time, you won't want to miss what's coming next.

📅 Mark your calendar. Saturday.

The whistle may be closer than you think. Share with your friends, 2026 is going to be exciting.

Follow, Like, and Share our page for the most up to date information on the Soo Line 1003.

FRA Annual Inspection? ✅Every successful steam season begins right here.Before the whistle blows... before thousands gat...
08/06/2026

FRA Annual Inspection? ✅

Every successful steam season begins right here.

Before the whistle blows... before thousands gather trackside... before the first turn of the drivers... there's the work you don't always see.

Tasks like detaching the engine and tender, examining the drawbar with dye penetrant, cleaning and preparing the dry pipe, hydro testing, replace and torque dome lid, reinstalling cab gauges, water glasses, and general inspection.

Our dedicated volunteer crew is hard at work completing the Soo Line 1003's annual FRA inspection, carefully examining all aspects to ensure this 113-year-old locomotive is ready for another season of making history.

This isn't just routine maintenance—it's the final step in preparing one of America's great operating steam locomotives for what comes next.

We're getting CLOSE.

Very soon, we'll have something exciting to share. Stay tuned over the coming days—you won't want to miss what's ahead.

Join us in thanking our incredible volunteers, whose countless hours make every mile behind Soo Line 1003 possible. Know someone on our crew? Comment your memories with them below!

Soo 1003 operating a Santa Train in Ripon, Wisconsin in November of 2007.Follow, Like, and Share our page for the most u...
08/02/2026

Soo 1003 operating a Santa Train in Ripon, Wisconsin in November of 2007.

Follow, Like, and Share our page for the most up to date information on the Soo Line 1003.

Soo 1003 makes its way into Fox Lake, Illinois in August of 2022 on its way to Chicago.Follow, Like, and Share our page ...
07/24/2026

Soo 1003 makes its way into Fox Lake, Illinois in August of 2022 on its way to Chicago.

Follow, Like, and Share our page for the most up to date information on operations of Soo Line 1003 Steam Locomotive.

HOOPING UP ORDERSLong before radios and digital communication, train crews relied on a time-honored railroad tradition k...
07/13/2026

HOOPING UP ORDERS

Long before radios and digital communication, train crews relied on a time-honored railroad tradition known as "hooping up orders."

When a train needed new instructions without stopping, a station operator would write the train orders on thin paper, place them inside a loop of string or twine attached to a wooden hoop (or later a Y-shaped fork), and stand beside the track. As the locomotive thundered past, a crew member would extend an arm and catch the hoop, while another copy was often grabbed by the conductor from the caboose.

This simple but ingenious system allowed trains to receive vital dispatching instructions while staying on schedule. It required perfect timing, teamwork, and trust between the dispatcher, station operator, engineer, conductor, and train crew.

Today, Steam Locomotive Heritage Association often re-creates this on some of our photo charters and public runs. Simulating "Hooping Up" orders is a fascinating reminder of the skill and precision that kept America's railroads moving during the steam era. It's one of many traditions that make preserving historic steam locomotives so important.

Make your tax-deductible donation to the Steam Locomotive Heritage Association today and help ensure these remarkable traditions continue long into the future.

https://steamlocomotiveheritage.org/contribute

Photo by Chris Pitzen

Join the Soo Line Subscribers – Keep History Steaming!☕ One specialty coffee can cost more than $10.03. But unlike a cup...
07/06/2026

Join the Soo Line Subscribers – Keep History Steaming!

☕ One specialty coffee can cost more than $10.03. But unlike a cup that's gone in minutes, your $10.03 monthly subscription helps keep the legendary Soo Line 1003 under steam. Every dollar supports maintenance, restoration, and operations so future generations can hear the whistle and watch history come alive. Skip one coffee. Keep a steam locomotive running. That's a trade worth making.

1. Visit our website at www.steamlocomotiveheritage.org
2. Click "Contribute"
3. Click the orange "Donate" icon
4. In the center of the screen, change the frequency to Monthly
5. Enter $10.03
6. Watch your money at work to preserve railroad history!



Photo by Chris Pitzen

Address

P. O. Box 270594
Hartford, WI
53027

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