Steam Festival

Fall is in the air and that means it’s time for Steam Fest and the annual appearance of historic Southern Pacific Steam Locomotive #745! The nearly 100-year-old steam engine was built just across the river in Algiers in 1921 and is the only surviving Louisiana-built steam locomotive. The old girl sat as a cold, static display in Audubon Park from 1956 to 1984, when she was pulled out of the park to make room for the expansion of Audubon Zoo. Now SP 745 returns to Audubon Park as a hot, living, breathing, steaming, fully restored blast from the past! Visitors will be able to view this monstrous mechanical marvel and climb aboard to blow her whistle and see how a real steam engine operates. Showcased inside our theatre cars will be a special exhibit documenting the history of the many passenger train stations of New Orleans from 1832 to 1954. There will also be displays on the Louisiana Steam Train Association (LASTA) which maintains and operates SP 745. On Saturday, two food trucks, La Cocinita and Ironside Waffles, will be on hand to satisfy your culinary cravings as well as ice cream from Laurel’s Licks; Sunday will be Jambalaya and Hot Dog day. Liquid refreshments and railroad related gifts will be available both days.

SP 745 and her exhibit train will be parked on the tracks on “The Fly” at Audubon Park for all to see Saturday and Sunday,from 9 am to 5 pm. lasta.org.