Ex-Upper Michigan Steamer Gets Home in Wisconsin

A steam locomotive that once pulled iron ore cars in upper Michigan has now been given a permanent home at a railroad museum in Wisconsin.

Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad No. 22, a 1910 Alco (Pittsburgh) 2-8-0, is now being housed in the new Laurence Dorcy Building at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom.

The locomotive was cosmetically restored before it was placed in the building, which is named for a great grandson of rail baron James J. Hill.

Dorcy donated the funding to construct the building. The cosmetic restoration of No. 22 was performed by Diversified Rail Services.

The restoration included the creation and installation of new jacketing, replacing the wooden cab interior and making new piping where needed.

DRS conducted research to determine what had been the original shade of green paint on the boiler jacket.

Tags: 2-8-0 steam locomotives, Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad, Mid-Continent Railway Museum, steam locomotive restoration, steam locomotives