| This was the inaugural run of the BIG EASY STEAM TRAIN, the New Orleans & Gulf Coast Railroad's short-lived excursion service out of Belle Chasse, Louisiana. This train consisted of NO&GC (ex-SP) 2-6-0 1744, NO&GC (ex-LIRR) car 2014, MTDX (ex-Metra) cars 7665 and 7680, and three F-units. These were Idaho Northern & Pacific (ex-MBTA) F10 1112, Texas Southern F7A 106 and Keokuk Junction F7 406. Excursion service here ended on 12 May 2001 because of very poor patronage, and the 1744 was shipped to Colorado's San Luis & Rio Grande in April 2007. |