Chicago And North Western 1385

Chicago and North Western 1385 is a standard gauge class "R-1" 4-6-0 " Ten Wheeler" type steam railway locomotive built in March 1907 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) for the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW). It was used for hauling freight and passenger trains on the C&NW trackage until its retirement in 1956. In 1961, it was purchased by a preservation group that is known today as the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, and they have operated No. 1385 on several excursions on their tourist railroad, as well as the C&NW mainline, until 1998. As of 2022, No. 1385 is currently being rebuilt for operational purposes.

History

Original service life

Between 1901 and 1908, the Chicago and North Western Railway, also known as the North Western, approached the American Locomotive Company (ALCO)'s former Schenectady Locomotive Works in Schenectady, New York, as well as the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and ordered 325 4-6-0 "ten wheelers", which were classified as the R-1 class. C&NW owned more R-1s than any other steam locomotive class in their roster. No. 1385, being built by ALCO, was the 248th member of the R-1 class, and it was the 18th locomotive of the 12th batch of R-1 locomotives to be built in March 1907.

Although principally used for pulling mainline fast freight trains, the R-1 class also was used for slower passenger service and occasional switching over the North Western's extensive system, which at its peak extended through nine states from Illinois to as far West as Wyoming. When new, it was large, modern power, and required strengthening and enlarging turntables, engine houses, and bridges wherever used. As time progressed, No. 1385 was reassigned to pull branch line passenger and freight trains in favor of larger locomotives, such as the E-2 class 4-6-2 "Pacifics" and the E-4 class 4-6-4 "Hudsons", taking over the mainline assignments. After 49 years of service on the North Western, No. 1385 was retired from revenue service in 1956, and the C&NW subsequently used it to thaw ore cars during the winter months.

Preservation

No. 1385 was purchased from the C&NW by the Historical Society of Milwaukee, Wisconsin for $2,600 in 1961. Two years later, the society purchased an abandoned branch line in North Freedom from the C&NW and changed their name to the Mid-Continent Railway Museum (MCRM), and No. 1385 was moved North Freedom shortly afterwards. The locomotive began operating on the MCRM’s short-distance tourist railroad in 1963 between North Freedom and La Rue. During that time, the locomotive would take part in occasional special events, such as doubleheaders and tripleheaders with the MCRM's other steam locomotives, including Western Coal and Coke 1 and Dardanelle and Russellville 9.

Between 1983 to 1995, No. 1385 was also used to pull excursion trains on the CN&W's mainline in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. In 1985, the locomotive pulled the Circus World Museum’s train from Baraboo to Milwaukee, becoming the last steam-powered locomotive to do so. During the summer months of 1992, the locomotive operated on Wisconsin Central and Wisconsin and Southern Railroads, pulling passenger trains in Wausau and Milwaukee, as well as some freight trains in Horicon.

In 1993, No. 1385 was scheduled to participate in that year's National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) Convention in Chicago, Illinois, and in doing so, it would have pulled an excursion train along the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad during the event's last day, and it would have met up with other locomotives, including Nickel Plate Road 587 and Union Pacific 3985, during that time. However, the locomotive became marooned by Midwest flooding. Thus, No. 1385's excursion trip to Chicago was cancelled. After a subsequent overhaul was completed in 1994, No. 1385 was used to haul additional mainline excursion trains within the outskirts of Milwaukee.

After the Union Pacific Railroad purchased the C&NW in 1995, No. 1385 could no longer operate on the main line, since the UP has a policy against foreign steam locomotives on their trackage. The locomotive has remained operational solely for the MCRM’s tourist railroad, until its flue ticket expired in 1998. No. 1385 pulled its last run of the 20th Century on July 1st of that year before it was disassembled for further inspection. As a locomotive that has turned 90 to 100 years old, no. 1385 has operated for so long with little repairs, that running under its own power has taken its toll on the locomotive. It has sat idle at the Mid-Continent’s property for several years until 2011, when the MCRM announced that No. 1385 would receive a complete rebuild for operational purposes.

As of 2022, the boiler has been completely replaced, the frame has been refurbished, and several of the smaller components, including the steam dome, the air compressors, the running gear, and the cab have been rebuilt and cleaned to meet up with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)’s standards. It will likely be a few more years before No. 1385 would be ready to be fired up again.

Historical significance

No. 1385 was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 as Steam Locomotive #1385.

See also

* Soo Line 2645
* Soo Line 2719
* Copper Range 29
* Chicago and North Western 175
* Lake Superior and Ishpeming 18
* Polson Logging Co. 2

References

{{National Register of Historic Places

Rail transportation on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin
Railway locomotives introduced in 1907
Railway locomotives on the National Register of Historic Places
1385
4-6-0 locomotives
Individual locomotives of the United States
Sauk County, Wisconsin
ALCO locomotives
National Register of Historic Places in Sauk County, Wisconsin
Standard gauge locomotives of the United States

Preserved steam locomotives of Wisconsin