Minnesota Family Donates Historic Engine to Lake Superior Railroad Museum

The Northshore Scenic Railroad will put the new engine to use right away this summer

DULUTH, Minn. – A piece of Minnesota history has made its way to Duluth.

On Thursday, the Lake Superior Railroad Museum received one of the first diesel engines purchased by the Soo Line in the Twin Cities back around 1939.

The Number 320 Switch Engine was donated to the museum by the Independent Locomotive Service and the Nesbit Family, who did a complete restoration to get it back up and running.

“That’s the neat thing about this locomotive; it’s not just a static display,” said Mike Nesbit, Vice President of Independent Locomotive Service. “This is a running, operating locomotive. We did a restoration. We fixed everything on it so that it could be used.”

The Northshore Scenic Railroad will put the new engine to use right away this summer…

The rest of its fleet is steam powered, but this is the first diesel engine to make its way back on to the tracks in Duluth.

“The things that are in the collection of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum at the depot are unique and special because they worked this area and that’s what makes them so important,” said Ken Buehler, executive director of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.

The locomotive is also built to withstand colder temperatures…so the museum will be able to keep it outside to use during the winter months.