Anita and I went to Wisconsin for the 1998 Soo Line convention in Stevens Point, and to visit family and friends in The Chippewa Falls area. Imagine our delight to find that the Chippewa Valley Railroad group, who restored the Soo Line Pacific # 2719 which had spent its retirement in Carson Park in Eau Claire, would be operating four excursions from Chippewa Falls to Colfax that same weekend. On Friday morning I drove down to Irvine Yard and found the 2719 and the 1003 Mikado there, being prepared for the upcoming excursions.

	The Mighty Soo Line Pacific (4-6-2) Class H-23 # 2719 at rest in Irvine Yard, on the west end of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Photo was taken Friday morning, September 25, 1998.
NOTE:This picture is proportioned properly to be used as background wallpaper. If you have IE 4 or Netscape 3, click on the thumbnail to get the full-size photo. Then, right-click on the photo and select "set as wallpaper".

	A close-up of the Locomotive, full side photo. Built by American Locomotive Company in Schenectady, New York in 1923, this H-23 class locomotive weighs 271,000 lbs. and has 75-inch drivers making her capable of speeds up to 100 mph. Photo was taken Friday morning, September 25, 1998.

	A close-up of the Tender and Cab area. The tender holds 12,000 gallons of water and 17-1/2 tons of coal. Photo was taken Friday morning, September 25, 1998.

	A close-up of the Cab area. Maybe this shot will help in your model building efforts. Photo was taken Friday morning, September 25, 1998.