The mission of LASTA is to educate and entertain the public about railroading in general, steam railroading in particular and passenger rail service from 1920 to the present. LASTA is supported entirely by dues, gifts, donations, use in movies, passenger excursion revenue, volunteer labor, and sponsorships by various organizations.
In 1984, a group of railroad enthusiasts removed 745 from the park in hopes of eventual restoration. Breathing new life into a neglected 70-year-old steam engine is not an easy task, but by 1997 dedicated volunteers formed the Louisiana Steam Train Association to restore the locomotive and several classic passenger train cars. After thousands of hours of volunteer labor, vital professional help, private donations, and public grants, these dedicated enthusiasts finally got the wheels turning.
In 2004, SP 745 conducted its first main-line operations in 48 years, running to Reserve, LA and back over the Kansas City Southern Railway. Since then SP 745 has toured Louisiana and Mississippi as well as making a long trip to Kansas City.
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