Gladstone Michigan Soo Line Steam Engine #730 Authority decorated the steam engine just in honor of the holidays with lights, ribbons and bows. For over a year, authority president John Pickard, has overseen cleaning and painting and raising funds to install bird netting on the locomotive. It was last run from Sault Ste. Marie to Gladstone on June 28, 1960 and dedicated to the City of Gladstone in September of that year. (Photo courtesy of the Gladstone Soo Line Stteam Engine #730 Authority)

GLADSTONE — After 22 Years of darkness, Soo Line Steam Engine #730 is alive again with Christmas lights, ribbons and bows. It’s all thanks to the donation of lights by the community of Delta County.

Engine #730 was built in 1911 by the American Locomotive Company at Schenectady, New York, and has a total weight of 493,570 pounds.

The locamotive was used exclusively in passenger service between Gladstone and Sault Ste. Marie.

It has 75 inch drivers, 25 x 26 inch cylinders and traveled a total of 3,612,000 miles.

The last trip from Sault Ste. Marie to Gladstone was on June 28, 1960 and dedicated to the City of Gladstone in September 1960.

Over a year and a half ago, John Pickard, president of the Gladstone Michigan Soo Line Steam Engine #730 Authority — with the blessing of the City of Gladstone — took on the task of cleaning, painting and raising funds to install bird netting.

With those tasks still ongoing, the authority thought it would be special to decorate the engine for the holidays.

“It’s our Christmas gift to the community for all the donations and support so far in our quest for a Railroad Park and Gladstone History Welcome Center,” Pickard said in a press release. “More is left to do to improve the site and with the City of Gladstone’s involvement this railroad park could be a tourist destination of the Midwest or even the whole United States.”

Pickard added: “Painting is still planned for next summer and grounds upkeep.”

Donations are continuing to be sought for the restoration and perpetual care of #730. All donations are now accepted by the Community Foundation for Delta County, 2420 1st Avenue South, Escanaba, Michigan. 49829. Memo In Care of Soo Line #730.