"Fire up the 28" fundraiser was held in order to pay the $11,700 needed for boiler flues which are required for operation.

[3] In the summer of 2014, Cloquet Terminal Railroad ended its part in the restoration process due to management changes.

It was then decided that 28 would return to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum to complete its restoration with the installation of the flues.

[4] On February 3, 2015, #28 was moved back to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum via BNSF Railway to complete its restoration.

In March 2016, the brass and cab water-level meters were reinstalled, the super-heater tubes were being reassembled for installation, and the blow-down valves were sent to Colorado for rebuilding.

Insulation and lagging and a new boiler jacket were supplied to the museum to finish locomotive assembly at no charge.

Insulation was installed on the boiler beginning August 12, according to the North Shore Scenic Railroad's Facebook page.

The #28 had a successful test fire April 3 and 4th, with a few last minute touches (such as painting the steam dome) to be completed.

[7] These two excursions, for donors to the restoration project, operated from the Duluth Union Depot to Palmers, Minnesota roughly 16 miles up the former DM&IR, tracks once used by the 28 in regular service.

[8] DN&E 28 did not run in 2018 in order for the museum to improve the locomotive's condition, and it later operated on several weekends in 2019.

On July 19, 2019 DM&IR 332 (D&NE 28) met Union Pacific 4014 during a "festival of steam" hosted by the museum to welcome the "Big Boy" to Duluth as it made its Midwest tour.

Duluth & Northeastern #28 was the last steam locomotive to operate in regular service on a railroad in Minnesota[citation needed].