The Standard Oil No. 1 steam locomotive, a key piece of Casper’s industrial history, is returning home to the Fort Caspar Museum. Built in 1920, the locomotive was used at the Standard Oil refinery in Casper, serving as the facility’s sole switcher. Local historian and Fort Caspar Museum volunteer Con Trumbull said the locomotive played a vital role in Casper’s legacy as the Oil City.
Restoration Plans
The museum plans to perform some upkeep on the locomotive, including detailing the woodwork in the cab, replacing the windows and doors, and possibly repairing its electrical systems. A fundraiser is currently ongoing to raise money for the restoration, with a goal of $15,000.
The locomotive was used for more than 40 years before being decommissioned and eventually sold to the Colorado Railroad Museum. Trumbull, a train enthusiast, would regularly visit the museum as a child and always wished the train car proudly bearing Casper’s name was on display in the city where it spent its lifespan.
Museum curator Michelle Bahe noted that by bringing the piece of local history to the Fort Caspar Museum, they are filling a gap in the museum’s inventory. The locomotive is expected to be delivered before the end of summer, and the museum staff hope to restore it to eventually allow children to safely climb in and move around the locomotive.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
