1003 was used by the Soo Line mostly to pull freight trains until retirement in August 1959, when it went into serviceable storage in Gladstone, Michigan as part of the railroad's strategic reserve.

On December 30, 1959, the railroad donated the locomotive to the city of Superior, Wisconsin where it was put on public display.

It was originally hoped that the locomotive could be used for excursion trips on the weekend of October 5, 1996, but boiler tests showed the engine to not be ready in time.

1003's first run after restoration under its own power occurred on October 27, 1996, when it steamed up the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway's Proctor Hill.

1003 lead that year's Circus World Museum (CWM) train on the WSOR from Baraboo to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

1003 returned to service in September 2012, but flue problems delayed its first excursion run until November 2014.