Steam & Excursion > Soo 1003 Loud and Proud in Wisconsin

In a first for me, I ponied up the cash and signed up for a photo charter featuring the Soo 1003 last Sunday, 10/26/25. A-Train 4014 Productions organized the event with support from Wisconsin and Southern Railroad and the Steam Locomotive Heritage Association, owners of Soo 1003 and support cars. 

The day started at Brandon, WI under clear skies with some patchy fog the quickly disappeared under the rising sun. The train headed west to Fairwater, Wi. The first scene in the video is at Brandon Road a couple of miles west of Brandon. 

At Fairwater, WI, I opted for a trailing view as the train did a runby in town. The third location is a couple of blocks west at Fairwater Pond. 

They backed to train to Brandon where it turned on the wye north of town. They did a couple of runbys. I only included one to keep the video short enough to post. The guy with the survey setup is a recently retired Metra track engineer posing with his dad's vintage CNW survey equipment, over a hundred years old. That's also his velociopede. 

The final scene is Red Cedar Road north of Burnett, Wi. 

Enjoy! Photos to come later. 
 

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Absolutely beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!

Very Nice !   Many years ago my brother and I had our photos taken on the front of this engine just after it was stuffed and mounted in Superior, Wisconsin.  The fencing was laying on the ground, not even put up yet.  Nobody ever expected to see her run again, but I'm glad they did.  I'd sure like to see it again someday.. Hopefully still running.

Craig Hanson
Vay, Idaho

First class video of beauty in motion !

I have been on several 1003 charters over the years.  The sponsors do a fantastic job of putting on a show.  Even though the runby locations tend to be the same over the years, I never get tired of them.  Time and funds permitting, if I have a chance to participate in a 1003 charter, I'll be there.

Nice work on the videos.
One question.  What is it that is venting and/or leaking steam from under the tender?
Thanks,

sierrawestern Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nice work on the videos.
> One question.  What is it that is venting and/or
> leaking steam from under the tender?
> Thanks,

Exhaust from the stoker maybe?

Nice sounding locomotive!

Out 

Great video of a very interesting locomotive !!

First rate video of Soo#1003 . Thanks for sharing. 

Thanks for sharing. Super Power Steam is nice, but these kinds of locos were more common and often served longer than super power.

Victor Baird



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/25 15:33 by wabash2800.

I first saw #1003 in the early 1980's after visiting the Lake Superior Railroad Museum where a staff member asked if I was aware of the locomotive "next to the highway" over in Superior, Wisconsin. As J.David Conrad had not yet published The Steam Locomotive Directory of North America I in fact did not know about #1003 and so stopped to take a look on my way east that afternoon. I was surprised to find it standing completely out in the open looking as if the fire had just been dropped. I was even more surprised when I received a reasonable electrical shock as I placed my hand on the loco's pilot! I can only guess that perhaps something like an electric fence power supply was in place to discourage hardware thieves? In any case, I would next encounter #1003 on one of its rare passenger carrying excursions on the Wisconsin Southern in 2001, would love to do that again...... 

 

What an excellent video and great looking engine and train !
Gary

Great video - a beautiful locomotive in wonderful scenery!

Nice video!!