City of Casper and Colorado Railroad Museum announce plans to return Standard Oil locomotive No. 1 to Casper
Fort Caspar Museum project will showcase important community history
Casper, Wyoming (June 1, 2026) – A small steam locomotive that once worked at the largest oil refinery in the world will soon be returning to Casper, the “Oil Capital of the Rockies.” This 0-4-0T tank engine was built by the American Locomotive Company’s Cooke Works (of Paterson, New Jersey) in 1920.
Today, City of Casper officials announced plans to bring Standard Oil No. 1 back to Casper. The locomotive was acquired by the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado in 1962, after it was retired from refinery service. The museum subsequently modified the engine and initially used it as a billboard, renaming it “Lulu Belle.” Eventually the Standard Oil logos were placed back on the locomotive, and it became a favorite of younger visitors.
More recently, the Colorado Railroad Museum has been reevaluating its collections, identifying locomotives, rolling stock and smaller artifacts that are not historically connected to Colorado. Locomotive No. 1 fits squarely into this category. Over the past year, Fort Caspar Museum volunteer, author, and local historian, Con Trumbull, has worked closely with the Colorado Railroad Museum to facilitate the locomotive’s future and potential return.
“Through careful consideration and thoughtful deaccessioning—in cases where we either have artifacts unrelated to Colorado, or duplicates of other more significant objects—the Colorado Railroad Museum is working to place selected items with new owners. The goal is to better target our existing resources, including space, so the Museum can continue to collect artifacts and rolling stock that focuses on telling the rich railroad history and diverse stories of Colorado,” said Colorado Railroad Museum Executive Director Paul Hammond.
“We are excited about what this project means for Casper history, and Con’s dedication and persistence have been instrumental in moving this project forward,” said Steve Gainer, Fort Caspar Museum supervisor. “He recognized this locomotive’s historical importance to Casper years ago and has devoted an extraordinary amount of time and effort toward bringing it home. He is very committed to preserving our community’s history.”
“Casper is also one of Wyoming’s most historically significant railroad communities yet currently lacks a prominent public railroad artifact representing that heritage,” noted Gainer. “Returning Standard Oil No. 1 to Casper is an opportunity to preserve and publicly interpret an important chapter of our community’s industrial and transportation history. This project is not simply about displaying a locomotive. It is about reconnecting the community with a tangible artifact tied directly to the refinery, the railroad, and the people who helped shape Casper’s identity during the twentieth century.”
Additional details regarding the project and future fundraising opportunities will be released as planning progresses. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Fort Caspar Museum at 307-235-8462 (website www.fortcaspar.org). For more information about the Colorado Railroad Museum, visit www.coloradorailroadmuseum.org.
