Southern Pine Locomotive Company

05/31/2026

May 2026 Update!

We realize we have been pretty quiet on social media lately, but have no fear, progress is still taking place behind the scenes, so let's get everyone up to speed on what's been happening!

This month, we were only able to spend a few days working on 20, but some major milestones were achieved nonetheless. On May 17, the steam dome lid was lifted off, and the boiler was entered for the first time in over 60 years! That same day, tube removal commenced. By day's end, almost all of the 2" tubes were out! Removal of the remaining tubes and flues will take place during our next work session, followed by a thorough cleaning and inspection of the boiler interior.

Not to be overshadowed by the locomotive, work on other fronts is advancing as well. In the depot, rooms are being cleaned out, and preparations made for the construction of a new ADA compliant deck, as well as new windows and a new coat of red paint. In the yard, dirt and track work is continuing and plans are being drawn up for a new engine shed!

We appreciate everyone's unwavering support more than we can express! If you haven't already, give us a follow and keep an eye on our page. We have some big announcements on the horizon, a little over 200 tons worth, actually..

Donate today at https://southernpineloco.org

05/02/2026

❗️Attention❗️

Due to the amount of rain we have had, the golf tournament for tomorrow has been rescheduled to June 27th.

Thank you all for your understanding and support! We are looking forward to the tournament!

04/21/2026

And with that, the superheater units are OUT!

As expected the superheaters were quite happy right where they were, having likely been in the boiler for 70+ years. But with perseverance, our crew was able to remove all 28 units over the course of about 5 hours. With these out of the way, attention can now turn to removal of tubes and flues to allow further inspection of the boiler interior.

04/16/2026

We are excited to announce our next fundraiser, “The Ironhorse Challenge” golf tournament! The game will be held at the Birmingham golf club in Rusk, Texas on May 2nd. The price person player is $50. If you would like to be a sponsor we have options that range from $100 to $10,000!

We would like to thank the community for the opportunity and support and we look forward to seeing everyone!

04/15/2026

Day 2 of our fundraiser and only 4 languid plate keychains left! Get 'em while they're hot!

Throughout the entire journey of SPLCo, from our wild dreams last April through every major milestone achieved so far, we've been blown away by the support, kindness, and generosity of the community around us. We're thrilled this first fundraiser has taken off so fast, and look forward to many more milestones to come.

Our most sincere thanks to all our donors and supporters, past and present, your belief in our mission and this community is what makes all of this possible!

Send a message to learn more

04/14/2026

Carry a piece of East Texas history in your pocket with our first public fundraiser! The first 10 donors who contribute at least $200 will receive a keychain made from TLCo #20's original languid plate. Only 10 of these exist! If you donate please remember to send a copy of your donation receipt to [email protected] with your mailing address.

Send a message to learn more

04/14/2026

As a follow up to our last post regarding the progress on 20, we wanted to give a quick glimpse of the work happening on our AT&SF Pineland Depot!

As of April 13th, 2026, our roofing contractors have the trusses and decking reinstalled, and the depot is ready for shingles!

As many of you know, to transport the structure the nearly 100 miles from Pineland to Rusk, it was necessity to remove the roof for clearance restrictions along the route. While this was a massive undertaking, it has allowed us to replace any deteriorated or compromised material in those areas of the structure, helping to ensure this building not only survives, but thrives for another century!

With that said, we still have a long way to go before we are done! We have already invested a substantial amount into the move and roofing work, and are looking to raise another $40,000 to see it through to its completion, so please consider becoming a Depot Donor today!

Thank you kindly for your donation to SPLCo! Your support means we can continue preserving, restoring, and presenting the history of railroading in the East Texas Piney Woods for generations to come.

https://southernpineloco.org/

03/22/2026

Progress report time!

This Sunday's work session saw great progress being made on Temple Lumber #20 and in the yard here in Rusk. While this post will be geared more towards 20, more posts detailing track work and the AT&SF depot will be coming soon!

Crews removed sand from the smokebox, and all firebrick from the firebox. Much of the air piping in the cab was removed, as well as air lines for the automatic bell ringer and sanders, which were once covered by jacketing and badly deteriorated.

With this out of the way, focus during the next work session will shift to the removal of the smokebox front, petticoat, blast nozzle, and subsequently the superheater units, tubes and flues. At the same time, the injectors and dynamo plumbing will be removed to allow for the removal and repair of the cab, which was damaged by a fallen tree during Hurricane Rita in 2004.

As always, we thank you all for your support! Much more to come!

02/28/2026

SPLCo. has successfully completed our second major move!
As of yesterday evening, the AT&SF Pineland Depot has safely arrived in Rusk. With the relocation complete, the restoration process can officially begin.
This historic depot will serve as an educational resource focused on historical preservation and restoration techniques, while also becoming a future venue to support various initiatives and events of our organization.
We are incredibly proud to have completed Phase 1 of moving #20 and the depot, and we are looking forward to the exciting work ahead as restoration begins.
Thank you to LW Oney House Moving and to everyone who supported and assisted in making this milestone possible!

01/25/2026

Our depot is in the air!

We’re excited to announce that our historic depot is preparing to hit the road and join Temple Lumber Company #20 at our yard in Rusk! Once relocated, this beautiful building will become our railroad museum, featuring interactive exhibits and historic railroad memorabilia that celebrate the rich railroading heritage of East Texas.

When restoration is complete, the depot will also be available for parties, meetings, social events, and more—giving this historic space new life for the community to enjoy.

Originally built in 1915 for the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad, this depot served the community of Pineland, Texas for generations. We’re honored to help preserve this important piece of East Texas history—but we can’t do it without y’all’s help.

Once it arrives in Rusk, the depot will need:
• Replacement of rotten wood
• New windows
• Insulation
• Electrical work
• HVAC system
• Paint
• Plumbing

Every donation helps move this project closer to completion. Thank you for your support and for helping us preserve East Texas railroad history for future generations.

Donate on our website at www.southernpineloco.org or by clicking the button in our bio!