Louisiana Steam Train Association

10/15/2026

Save the date for the Great Louisiana Model and Toy Train Show on Saturday, November 7th, from 9 AM to 3 PM at the American Legion Hall in Covington!

Bring the family to explore model train layouts, toy displays, and vendors selling all kinds of trains and memorabilia. The LASTA crew will also be on-site to say hello and showcase our exclusive, in-stock merchandise! These items won't be available anywhere else, so make sure to swing by and grab a memento!

10/02/2026

As the sun sets on one site, it’s rising at another.

The LASTA crew has been working around the clock—preparing equipment, pulling ties, and clearing rail from another section at the Ochsner yard to make way for the next phase of construction at the hospital complex.

Meanwhile in Garyville, track is being built on the original Right-of-Way of the Garyville Northern Railroad! This track will provide temporary storage for some of our railroad maintenance equipment that will be stored until the main rail project begins at the museum site. While this is a significant milestone in LASTA’s migration, we still have a long way to go.

Want to be part of the movement and new chapter of LASTA? If you or someone you know is interested in joining our crew, head over to lasta.org/volunteer and apply today. No experience necessary!

09/25/2026

Representatives of the LASTA–GTM Joint Venture recently met with the Louisiana’s River Parishes's new Executive Director to discuss our move to Garyville and plans to rebuild the Timbermill Museum.

The conversation focused on opportunities to promote the museum and railroad as a regional heritage tourism destination and bring new visitors to Garyville and the River Parishes.

Together, we can showcase the region’s railroad, timber, and industrial heritage while creating a unique new destination for visitors.

Follow our progress, share our story, and help us build the next chapter of Garyville's railroad and industrial heritage.

Photo (Left to Right): Craig Howat - River Region Tourism Commission, Colin Duhe’, RJ Ory, Jacob Styron and Matt Anderson - LASTA GTM Joint Venture.

09/09/2026

We hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend! The LASTA crew is staying busy!

For the beginning of September, our crew began moving rail cars out of the Discovery Track as part of the ongoing effort to clear a portion of the North Yard. This previous weekend, we continued that work, moving additional equipment and making further progress toward clearing the area.

We also received a very generous donation of nearly 700 gallons of diesel fuel to support the relocation effort. As we continue switching and preparing equipment for relocation, this generous donation will go a long way toward keeping everything moving smoothly.

A big thank you to our volunteers and supporters who continue to contribute their time, equipment, materials, fuel, and other resources to keep this project moving forward.

Interested in helping? If you can volunteer, provide equipment or services, or make a donation toward fuel, materials, and relocation expenses, now is a great time to get involved. Even a few hours of help can make a real difference as we work to clear the yard and prepare for the next phase of the move. Send us a message or visit lasta.org/volunteer for more information on how you can be involved with our journey ahead.

09/05/2026

The Bisso Locomotive awoke from her near decade-long slumber this past weekend when we moved it for the first time since 2017. This is part of our broader efforts to switch our rail equipment in preparation for moving to our new home. LASTA is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us prepare our rolling stock and other equipment for movement to Garyville and upkeeping our current home in Jefferson. Visit lasta.org/volunteer for more information!

08/26/2026

Today, the world lost a true friend, Mrs. Dolly Parton. We are deeply saddened by her passing and have always admired her deeply caring spirit. Dolly inspired millions across the globe through her kindness and generosity.

Most importantly to us, her love of steam trains inspired so many in the steam preservation society, reminding us that any challenge can be met with faith and passion. The authentic steam train ride at Dollywood remains one of the park’s most iconic experiences. While visiting, you can always count on seeing, hearing, and smelling the authentic steam engine as it winds its way up the mountain. Every time that lonesome whistle echoes across Dollywood, we will remember you, Dolly!

Our hearts go out to Dolly Parton’s family and to the community of Sevier County, Tennessee.

08/20/2026

Last Saturday, the crew started by exercising the drums on the Orton crane and preparing it for the upcoming Bisso tender project. The crane will be used to lift the water/fuel bunker back onto the tender frame.

Afterward, we shifted our attention to a preliminary inspection of the roller bearings on the Hankins Crew Car and the Baton Rouge and Orleans theater cars. We are developing a plan to thoroughly clean, inspect, and re-lubricate the bearings as part of our work to prepare the cars for interchange and our move to Garyville.

08/11/2026

It was a busy week of hard work and long hours for the crew, but their determination paid off. Two weeks ago #748 was moved to the back of the yard to clear space for critical track repairs. When the locomotive is not in use, we normally keep the battery system on a continuous charge, but the temporary location left us several hundred feet away from the nearest power source. Unfortunately, during this time, the batteries drained and the locomotive would not start.

The team wasted no time getting to work, spending days putting in the manual labor to run temporary power lines and hook everything up to a generator to start the charging process. By Saturday morning, while the batteries finished topping off, the crew pivoted to tackle much-needed yard maintenance, clearing all the high grass along the tracks caused by the recent heavy rains.

All that collective sweat and determination paid off late Saturday afternoon. Locomotive #748 fired right up, and the crew successfully maneuvered the 160 Ton Orton crane back into its proper position. A massive thank you to the crew for powering through a long, demanding week to get our equipment back where it belongs!

Next week, the team takes on the big task of moving the water and fuel bunker back into the tender frame of the Bisso locomotive. Once this is complete, we can finally move the Bisso locomotive and the Discovery car to a new location.

07/29/2026

Despite the hot weather and a smaller crew, we checked off some projects during another productive work session. Building on the track repairs completed during last week’s session, we added and tamped ballast on the recently repaired section, continuing the progress toward reopening the line. Once our Orton Crane is back in position, we'll be ready for the next major milestone—reassembling the Bisso Tender.

The Takeuchi track loader, generously provided by one of our members, made its official debut at the yard with its new root rake attachment. It quickly proved its value by clearing brush and debris on the north side of the yard, revealing a large concrete pad that extends much farther than we've seen in years. The additional hard-surfaced area will provide much-needed space for equipment and material as we work on moving. Having this extra ground will give us greater flexibility and help maximize our available workspace in the months ahead.

Every work session brings us closer to our restoration goals, and it's exciting to see the progress taking shape.

Help keep railroad history moving forward - lasta.org/volunteer

07/20/2026