The sound of a steam whistle permeated through Duluth’s crisp morning air for the first time in 15 years as steam returned to the Southeastern Railway Museum.
Jeddo Coal Co. No. 85, a guest locomotive that will be at the museum this weekend and next weekend, pulled the museum’s first steam-powered trains since 2003.
Vulcan Iron Works in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., built the 41-ton 0-4-0T locomotive in 1928 for A.E. Dick Construction Co. Jeddo Coal Co. later used the steam engine.
The Gramling family of Ashley, Ind., owns the locomotive. The family has taken their locomotives to 30 museums in 19 states since 2004.
“An important part of our mission is to educate newer generations about what a steam locomotive is — not only as a static interpretive piece but as a living, breathing, operational artifact,” said Andrew Durden, the museum’s operations manager.
Volunteers arrived at the museum well before dawn to fire up the locomotive.
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