Texas and New Orleans 745, Steam locomotive in Jefferson, Louisiana

Texas and New Orleans 745 is a Mikado-type steam locomotive with a 2-8-2 wheel arrangement stationed in Jefferson. The machine features a steam boiler operating at 200 PSI and generates approximately 51,076 pounds of tractive force.

The locomotive was built in 1921 at Southern Pacific Railroad's Algiers Shops using spare parts in the years after World War I. It transported freight and soldiers across Louisiana and Texas until 1956.

Nicknamed the Spirit of Louisiana, No. 745 runs each year during Gretna Fest only a few miles from its Algiers Point birthplace. It has appeared in films, including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, for which it was repainted to resemble a Southern Railway locomotive.

No. 745 was taken out of service in 2019 for its Federal Railroad Administration 1,472-day inspection and overhaul at the Timbermill Museum in Garyville, with completion expected in 2026. Check ahead before planning a visit, since the locomotive may not be on its Jefferson spur during this work.

The 1921 boiler explosion on Paisano Pass killed engineer William Francis Bohlman and threw fireman Charles F. Robinson from the cab, knocking him unconscious. The locomotive was rebuilt and returned to service. It is also the last surviving steam locomotive built in Louisiana.