During its Louisiana Bicentennial Railroad Tour in 2005, Southern Pacific steam engine #745 and its train spent a few hours in Hammond, Louisiana. While there, the cab was opened for visitors to climb aboard and inspect. And this little fellow not only got a cab tour, but an opportunity to ring the locomotive’s bell. With a bit of assist from his helper, the bell was set to ringing loud and clear.

It was a Sunday, May 1st in 2005, and a nice crowd showed up to visit the train and the display cars it pulled. My friend Wayne Robichaux and I had met the train up in McComb the day before, and then here again this day in Hammond. She left Hammond late in the afternoon, heading for Baton Rouge where she would spend another night.