This is the new name of the operators of the Soo Line 1003 2-8-2 based at the Wisconsin Auto Museum in Hartford, Wisconsin. The former operator was 1003 Operations, L.L.P. (many of the same people are still involved).
The 1003 was taken out of service in November of 2010 for its FRA-mandated 15 year inspection and overhaul. At that time, it was uncertain when or even if it would return to service. Just under two years later, the rebuild is complete and its first public event is scheduled for Saturday, November 3rd when it will run from Milton to Madison to Middleton, Wisconsin along the WSOR Madison and Prairie du Chien Subdivisions.
For the last year or so I have been an intern with the executive producer on Milwaukee Public Television's series "Tracks Ahead." For those who don't know, it is a program that tells the stories of unique railroad operations of all scales from all over the world, and is distributed nationwide on the PBS network. I have been left mostly in charge of the Soo Line 1003 segment the producers are putting together for the next season. Our first shoot was in late August when we interviewed several of the people involved in the restoration and operation of the locomotive, and took footage of the volunteers putting the final touches on her rebuild. We obviously have a soft spot for the local stuff, although we have had crews shooting everywhere from Arizona to Maine to Oregon over the past few months.
