C&NW 1385's road back is clear

摘要

RESTORATION of one of the Midwest's most iconic steam locomotives, Chicago & North Western No. 1385, is in the homestretch. Last fall, a new boiler arrived from the fabri-cation shop in St. Louis. Weighing more than 41,000 pounds and new from mud ring to steam dome, it was united with the 112-year-old running gear to bring life again to this R-1 class Ten-Wheeler. Built in 1907 at the American Locomo-tive Co. shops in Schenectady, N.Y., it was a member of the C&NW's most numerous class of locomotives. Used in fast freight and local passenger service, it worked for the C&NW for all of its 49-year life in revenue service. Retired in 1956, the railroad sold it in 1961 to the fledgling Mid-Continent Rail-way Museum for the scrap value of $2,600. The museum had it running by 1963. In the early 1980s, No. 1385 pulled specials on the Chicago & North Western main line.