From the left: Authority Vice President John Norkooli, Tom Fisher and Authority President John Pickard.

GLADSTONE — Late in the summer of 2020, the restoration and upkeep of a Delta County historical exhibit and site began.

Currently owned by the City of Gladstone after being donated by the now Historic Soo Line Railroad in 1960, Steam Engine #730 has greeted tourist and rail fans young and old for a generation and continues to be a Delta County landmark for all to enjoy.

In 1986, Tom Fisher of Fisher Monument came forward and gave the Soo Line retirees a helping hand toward the cleaning and painting of Soo Line Steam Engine #730 by donating a bronze plaque to be mounted on the side of the coal tender that describes the engine as a Pacific Type Locomotive built in 1911 by the American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, New York. Total weight, 493,570 pounds.

It was used exclusively in passenger service with 75-inch drivers, 25 x 26 inch cylinders and total miles traveled, 3,612,000. The plaque was starting to fade and Fisher had it sent out to be re-bronzed at no charge. Fisher has been in business for over 55 years. Tom works along side his daughter Jacqueline Martenson and grandson Jake Fisher. The plaque will be reattached to the engine when painting is done this spring.

Fundraising continues and a presentation was made by Authority President John Pickard to the City of Gladstone commissioners resulting in moving forward with an agreement between the city and the authority taking control of the property and the engine for the preservation and the historic significance.

Future plans are for a parking area and historical marker and time line kiosk, caboose, mini replica depot and welcome center. An unendowed fund plus a endowment fund have been established for lifetime perpetual care.

The authority is one of several groups to come forward in the past 63 years to cleanup and repair and paint #730 and they hope to be the last.

To make a donation to help to preserve this Delta County landmark, make checks out to the Community Foundation for Delta County 2420 1st Avenue South. Escanaba, Michigan. 49829 C/O Soo Steam Engine #730