Chicago & Northwestern (CNW) 1385 - Alco 4-6-0
Photo Gallery
A patient engineer sits in the cab of Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 ten wheeler #1385 in the Mid-Continent Rwy Museum waiting for a signal to move out. No exact date was given for the photo which is now in my rr collection but the red painted cab window places it in the late 1970's before it was eventually painted black.
A concerned crew looks down at a issue on this 4-6-0 ten wheeler steam engine. Wish I knew what the problem was! Although no date was given for this photo, the red paint on the cab window places it around late 1970's.
This 4-6-0 ten wheeler steam locomotive was built by Alco-Schenectady in March of 1907 as Chicago & North Western #1385 (serial #42187, class R-1). The locomotive was one of 325 R-1s to be built for the Chicago and North Western Railway (CN&W) throughout the 1900s. No. 1385 was mainly used to pull the C&NW's freight trains until 1956, when it was retired from revenue service. In 1961, the original members of the MCRY purchased No. 1385 for $2,600 scrap value, and the locomotive was moved to the museum's original location in Hillsboro, Wisconsin. In 1963, No. 1385 was moved again to the MCRY's current location in North Freedom, Wisconsin, and the R-1 locomotive began pulling tourist trains between North Freedom and the end of the MCRY's line in Rattlesnake. In 2011, the MCRY began to perform a complete rebuild on No. 1385, using a portion of a matching grant the museum received. SPEC Machine was hired to perform most of the repairs on the locomotive. As of 2026, No. 1385's rebuild is nearly completed, and it is scheduled to return to service by July. No exact date or photographer was listed for the trio of photos in this album.
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& MCRY 4. This was the only shot I got of 1385, but it is parked in here because they are actively restoring it to running order! Dave, the friendly engineer spearheading the project, gave me a fascinating tour of the workshop. They are hoping to have this one running again next year!
C&NW 1385 simmers during a photographers event. Date and location approximate.
CNW 1385
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Interesting photo of this Baldwin 4-6-0 built in April of 1899 in its earlier days as it is currently (2019) going through a rebuild at the Midwest Continent Rwiway
Chicago & North Western Railway 4-6-0 Class R-1 1385 a little west of Geneva, Illinois on September 8, 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. I believe this was a ferry move to get the train to Boone, Iowa for Kate Shelley Days Excursions.
CNW 1385 under steam at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum
CNW 1385 under steam at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum
Chicago & North Western Railway 4-6-0 Class R-2 1385 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 4, 1983, Kodachrome by Gib Allbach, Chuck Zeiler collection.
Chicago & North Western Railway 4-6-0 Class R-2 1385 at West Chicago, Illinois on July 10, 1983, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.
Chicago & North Western Railway 4-6-0 Class R-1 1385 about to cross Roosevelt Road (Route 38) a little west of West Chicago, Illinois on September 8, 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. Behind the F units was a box car, presumably support equipment for 1385, and gondolas of coal, followed by a few bi-level gallery commuter coaches, and finished by a C&NW business car. Given the situation, I don't see how they provided HEP to the gallery cars.
Chicago & North Western Railway 4-6-0 Class R-1 1385 a little west of Geneva, Illinois on September 8, 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. I'm not certain, but I believe that the cables between the steam locomotive and diesel allowed the Engineer in 1385 to control the diesels. Anyone know for sure? What little I could find so far states it was an EMD supplied control stand.
The tender is topped off with coal before heading to the engine house for the evening.
The tender is topped off with coal before heading to the engine house for the evening.
The tender is topped off with water before heading to the engine house for the evening.
After leading the last passenger train the 1385 heads back to the engine house.
The 1385 leads the passenger train back to North Freedom.
The 1385 leads the passenger train back to North Freedom.
The 1385 leads the passenger train back to North Freedom.
The 1385 leads the passenger train back to North Freedom.
The 1385 blows down as it crosses Seeley Creek.
The 1385 leads the passenger train back to North Freedom.
The 1385 leads the passenger train back to North Freedom.
After running around the train the 1385 is about to couple onto the train
The 1385 has cut away from the passenger train and is about to run around the cars.
The 1385 leads the passenger train along the MCRY main line.
The 1385 leads the passenger train along the MCRY main line.
The 1385 leads the passenger train up the grade to Summit.
The 1385 leads the passenger train up the grade to Summit.
Before backing onto the passenger train, the tender is topped off with water.
Before backing onto the passenger train, the tender is topped off with water.
The 1385 has cut away from the passenger train and is about to run around the cars.
The 1385 leads the passenger train past the MCRY shops.