HARRIS, Mich. (WZMQ) – This weekend, railroad enthusiasts from across the United States are in Harris for an annual gathering.
The Soo Line Historical and Technical Society (SLHTS) Convention kicked off Thursday evening at The Island Resort & Casino. The meeting draws more than 100 Soo Line employees, historians, and fans each year.
“I’ve been coming to the Soo Line Conventions for maybe 20 years, 25 years,” said Ronald Kaminen, who traveled from Littleton, Colorado. “I was an employee for 35 years.”
“I was assigned to Minot Air Force base in 1973 – 1975, and I used to hang out with the tower operators in Minot, North Dakota,” said Chip Sherman from Aurora, Colorado. “This is my fourth [convention].”
Much of the convention is focused on Soo Line history, including the engine located along M-35 in Gladstone. Nonprofit Gladstone Soo Line Steam Engine #730 Authority has been working to preserve the steam engine since 2021.
“This engine here was donated by the Soo Line Railroad to the City of Gladstone in 1960,” said Authority President John Pickard. “Birds had moved in. Pigeon droppings were on it and were actually ruining the train. We came up with the idea of putting a bird net around it. It was five-thousand dollars we raised locally.”
Before the railroad, Gladstone was known as Saunder’s Point. Pickard says without the Soo Line, Gladstone wouldn’t be what it is today.
“This is the most photographed static display engine in the whole United States, which really is exciting for us,” he said. “It’s an era of steam locomotive history. Younger people today don’t know what steam locomotives were, and this is one of the last ones. To lose our sense of history would be to lose this train engine.”
The Soo Line Historical and Technical Society hopes to welcome new members in the coming yars to keep that legacy going.
“We try and hold the historical aspect of the organization in interest with the younger people,” Kaminen said. “We’ve got a dedicated group that have been running the organization for many years. It’s always a lot of fun.”
“It brings the history alive!” said Sherman. “It’s a great opportunity to see the fellow friends of ours that we’ve met over the years through the Soo Line.”
On Friday, September 13, the Gladstone Soo Line Steam Engine #730 Authority will host Railroad Day at the U.P. Steam & Gas Engine Association Antique Village, located at the U.P. State Fairgrounds. Click here for more information on Railroad Day or how to get involved with the Gladstone Soo Line Steam Engine #730 Authority.
For more information on the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society, visit sooline.org.
