Louisiana Steam Train Association in New Orleans area, Louisiana
Rail preservation groupRelocating from Jefferson Parish to Garyville; no regular public hours
The Louisiana Steam Train Association is a volunteer nonprofit that restores and runs vintage railroad equipment, led by Southern Pacific 745, a 1921 MK-5 class steam locomotive with deep roots in Algiers, Louisiana.
- Founded in 1997
- Home of Southern Pacific 745
- 1921 MK-5 class steam locomotive
- Run entirely by volunteers
- New home in Garyville
Louisiana Steam Train Association at a glance
- Hours
- No regular public hours during the move; check Facebook
- Admission
- Not posted; events and rides announced individually
- Best for
- Steam fans, volunteers and supporters
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address1501 Jefferson Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70121(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(504) 539-4600
- Email745@lasta.org
- Websitelasta.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Louisiana Steam Train Association
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Louisiana Steam Train Association? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to New Orleans area.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Bringing a 1921 Southern Pacific steamer back to the main line
The Louisiana Steam Train Association, known as LASTA, was founded in 1997 around a simple belief: railroad history should be heard and felt, not only looked at behind glass. The group's pride is Southern Pacific 745, a 1921 MK-5 class locomotive with Algiers, Louisiana in its origin story and one of the last of its kind. When volunteers took it on, it was a neglected engine about 70 years old. Public and private grants, a crew of dedicated volunteers and skilled rebuilders brought it back, and in December 2004 the 745 made its first main-line run under LASTA.
For years the group worked out of a yard in Jefferson Parish, and its website lists outings such as excursions, a freight run and Santa trips over the years. As the yard became a less certain home, LASTA searched for somewhere new, looking at Algiers near the 745's birthplace, the French Quarter, Slidell and Westwego.
The answer came upriver. By late 2023 LASTA had partnered with the Garyville Timbermill Museum, the former headquarters of the Lyon Lumber Company and the Garyville Northern Railroad. Together they raised support for repairs to the museum building after Hurricane Ida. In December 2025 LASTA began moving out of the Ochsner yard, the first shipping containers arrived at the new railyard, and plans took shape for a new engine house in Garyville where the 745's next rebuild can happen.
A steam locomotive, its train and a lumber town's railroad
LASTA's collection centers on the 745 and a set of vintage railcars, which crews have been inspecting and preparing for the move. Right now there is no regular visiting schedule, since equipment is in transit and the 745 is heading toward a rebuild.
The new base at the Garyville Timbermill Museum is where the public will eventually meet the collection. LASTA describes a vision called the Garyville Northern Railroad, along with planned exhibits on trains, timber and everyday life in the old lumber town, all set around the restored museum building and a new engine house. Follow the group's Facebook page and YouTube channel for progress photos and opening news.
Don’t miss
- Southern Pacific 745A 1921 MK-5 class steam locomotive and one of the last of its kind, restored by volunteers to run on the main line in 2004.
- The Garyville Timbermill MuseumThe former headquarters of the Lyon Lumber Company and the Garyville Northern Railroad, now LASTA's partner and future home.
- The new Garyville engine housePlanned to support maintenance of the 745 and the vintage cars once the move is complete.
- LASTA's news archiveDecades of updates, from the 745's history through the 2025 move, posted on the group's website.
For young steam fans, watch for the next public day
Kids who love big engines will want to see the 745, but there is no regular drop-in visit while LASTA moves to Garyville. The best plan is to follow the Facebook page with your child, look at photos and videos of the engine together, and watch for announcements once the Garyville site opens or the group holds a public event.
Plan your visit: tips for Louisiana Steam Train Association
- Follow facebook.com/745Steam for move updates and event news.
- Email 745@lasta.org with questions about visits or volunteering.
- The group's YouTube channel posts videos of the 745.
- Membership and donations directly fund the relocation.
An all-volunteer crew moving a steam railroad
LASTA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run entirely by volunteers, and they are doing the heavy lifting of the relocation: inspecting equipment, moving cars and preparing the Garyville site. The group asks for donations to cover moving costs, equipment relocation and site preparation, offers sponsorship opportunities, and welcomes new members who want to help keep the 745 and its train in Louisiana.
Other rail stops around New Orleans
In the city about 4 miles away, the New Orleans streetcars are the easiest way for kids to ride historic rail today, and the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal is also about 4 miles off. Up the river, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum sits in a Baton Rouge depot about 71 miles away. Browse train museums across Louisiana for more.
- New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal historic exhibitsNew Orleans, LA · about 4 mi
- New Orleans Streetcar historic operationsNew Orleans, LA · about 4 mi
- Louisiana Art & Science Museum historic railroad depotBaton Rouge, LA · about 71 mi
- Louisiana Railroad Heritage Trust / related preservation collectionsstatewide, LA · about 71 mi
- McComb Railroad MuseumMcComb, MS · about 90 mi
- Historic Hattiesburg Train DepotHattiesburg, MS · about 107 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
A steam engine like the 745 sits so high off the rails that grown-ups need a ladder to climb into the cab. In our book, Rally's short corgi legs can't manage even the passenger car steps, so Dad gives him a boost. I love that the volunteers here are giving a whole locomotive a boost to its new home. Our story page tells how my mom first imagined Rally's trip.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Louisiana: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Louisiana
- Halloween train rides in Louisiana
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Louisiana Steam Train Association?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Louisiana Steam Train Association official website(opens in a new tab)
- Louisiana Steam Train Association on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Louisiana Steam Train Association on YouTube(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Louisiana Steam Train Association: 20 common questions
What is the Louisiana Steam Train Association?
The Louisiana Steam Train Association, or LASTA, is a nonprofit founded in 1997 to preserve the golden age of railroading by restoring and operating vintage equipment. It is run entirely by volunteers. Its best known piece is Southern Pacific 745, a 1921 steam locomotive, and its mission includes teaching the public about South Louisiana railroad history.
How do I get Louisiana Steam Train Association tickets?
LASTA does not sell tickets for regular visits, because it has no set public schedule while it moves to Garyville. When the group runs an excursion or public event, it announces it on its Facebook page and website. Follow facebook.com/745Steam or email 745@lasta.org to hear about the next chance to see or ride behind the 745.
Where is the Louisiana Steam Train Association located?
LASTA has been based in Jefferson Parish, with a listed address of 1501 Jefferson Hwy in New Orleans, near the Ochsner yard. In December 2025 it began moving its operations upriver to Garyville, Louisiana, where it is partnering with the Garyville Timbermill Museum. Check the group's website for the current location before you go anywhere.
Why is LASTA moving to Garyville?
After a long search for a new home that looked at Algiers, the French Quarter, Slidell and Westwego, LASTA partnered with the Garyville Timbermill Museum in late 2023. The museum, once headquarters of the Lyon Lumber Company and the Garyville Northern Railroad, offers room for a railyard and a new engine house for the 745 and its railcars.
What is Southern Pacific 745?
Southern Pacific 745 is a 1921 MK-5 class steam locomotive and one of the last of its kind, with its story rooted in Algiers, Louisiana. LASTA volunteers restored it from a neglected 70-year-old engine with help from public and private grants, and it made its first main-line run under the group in December 2004.
Is the SP 745 steam engine running now?
The 745 is headed for a rebuild as part of the move to Garyville, so it is not running regular trips right now. LASTA has said its focus has been relocating equipment from the old yard and that the engine is moving closer to its rebuild. Watch LASTA's news page and Facebook for progress.
What is on the Louisiana Steam Train Association roster?
The heart of the roster is Southern Pacific 745, the 1921 MK-5 class steam locomotive. LASTA also keeps a collection of vintage railcars that run with the engine, which crews have been inspecting before the move. The group does not post a full car-by-car roster online, so email 745@lasta.org for details on specific equipment.
Where can I see Louisiana Steam Train Association photos?
The best places are LASTA's Facebook page, facebook.com/745Steam, and its YouTube channel, @745LASTA, which carry photos and video of the 745 and the move. The lasta.org news archive goes back many years with posts about excursions, the rebuild and the Garyville railyard, and it is a good way to see the engine's history.
What do people say about the Louisiana Steam Train Association?
The group has a following of more than 7,000 people on Facebook, where supporters often thank the volunteers for their hard work, including jobs like installing new cross ties. LASTA's own reputation rests on bringing the 745 back to the main line in 2004. Read the Facebook page for current comments and photos.
Can you visit the Louisiana Steam Train Association?
Not on a regular schedule right now. Equipment is being moved to Garyville, and the site there is still being prepared. Once the new railyard and museum exhibits open, there should be more chances to visit. Until then, email 745@lasta.org or message the Facebook page to ask about any upcoming public days.
Does LASTA run steam train excursions?
LASTA's mission includes operating vintage railroad equipment, and its website lists excursions, a freight run and Santa trips among its past activities. No excursions are posted at the moment while the group relocates and the 745 awaits its rebuild. Check lasta.org and the Facebook page for news of future trips.
Is the Louisiana Steam Train Association good for kids?
Young steam fans will love the 745 when it is on display or running, but there is no regular drop-in visit during the move. For now, browsing photos and videos on the Facebook page and YouTube channel is the easiest way to share the engine with kids. Watch for public events after the Garyville site opens.
What is the Garyville Timbermill Museum?
The Garyville Timbermill Museum is the former headquarters of the Lyon Lumber Company and the Garyville Northern Railroad in Garyville, Louisiana. LASTA joined forces with it in late 2023 and helped raise support for repairs after Hurricane Ida. The two groups plan exhibits on trains, timber and everyday life in Garyville.
What is the Garyville Northern Railroad vision?
It is LASTA's plan for its new home in Garyville, shared in a video on its website. The vision connects the 745 and the vintage railcars with the history of the Garyville Northern Railroad and the Lyon Lumber Company, with a new engine house for maintenance. Its pace depends on support from members, donors and volunteers.
How can I volunteer with the Louisiana Steam Train Association?
LASTA is run entirely by volunteers, and the move to Garyville means plenty of work, from equipment inspection to site preparation. Membership is the usual first step. Email 745@lasta.org or message the group's Facebook page to ask about workdays and what skills are needed right now.
How can I donate to the Louisiana Steam Train Association?
LASTA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and it asks for donations to cover moving costs, equipment relocation and site preparation in Garyville. Donations can be made through the link on lasta.org, and businesses can ask about sponsorship opportunities. Memberships also directly support the preservation of the 745 and the rest of the collection.
When was the Louisiana Steam Train Association founded?
LASTA was founded in 1997 to educate the public and preserve railroading history through restoring and running vintage equipment. Its first big achievement was rebuilding Southern Pacific 745, which returned to main-line service in December 2004 after volunteers, rebuilders and grant funding brought the long neglected engine back to life.
How do I contact the Louisiana Steam Train Association?
Email 745@lasta.org or call (504) 539-4600. The group is most active on its Facebook page, facebook.com/745Steam, where it posts updates on the move, the rebuild and any public events. Because LASTA is volunteer run and in the middle of relocating, allow some time for a reply.
Is there a Christmas train with the Louisiana Steam Train Association?
LASTA has run Santa events and holiday gatherings in past years, according to its website, but no Christmas train is posted while the group relocates to Garyville. Check the Facebook page each fall for any holiday plans. Other rail sites around New Orleans may have seasonal options in the meantime.
What train attractions are near the Louisiana Steam Train Association?
In New Orleans, about 4 miles away, the historic streetcars offer an easy ride for families, and the Union Passenger Terminal is about the same distance. The Louisiana Art & Science Museum in Baton Rouge's old depot is about 71 miles away, and the McComb Railroad Museum in Mississippi is about 90 miles.
Keep exploring
More family train guides from Rally
- DirectoryRailway Museum Directory650 train museums in all 50 states, with hours, tickets and train rides.
- HolidayChristmas Train RidesSanta trains and holiday light rides, sorted by state and town.
- OctoberHalloween Train RidesPumpkin trains and not-too-spooky rides for little ones, by state.
- NovemberThanksgiving Train RidesHoliday weekend train trips the whole family can share.
- AmtrakAmtrak With KidsWhich Amtrak routes work best with babies, toddlers and big kids.
- Plan a tripTrain Trips With KidsEvery Amtrak route, stop by stop, planned for families.