Chicago and North Western 1385

Chicago and North Western 1385
No. 1385 waiting to depart North Freedom, Wisconsin in the 1990s
Type and origin References:[1][2] Power type Steam Builder American Locomotive Company (ALCO) Serial number 42187 Build date March 1907
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0  • UIC 2′C n2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Trucks Truck No. 3 Leading dia. 30 in (0.762 m) Driver dia. 63 in (1.600 m) Tender wheels 33 in (0.838 m) Minimum curve 301 ft (92 m) radius/ 19° Wheelbase: ​  • Engine 25 ft 10 in (7.87 m)  • Leading 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)  • Drivers 14 ft 10 in (4.52 m) Height 14 ft 11+5⁄8 in (4.56 m) Adhesive weight 126,000 lb (57,000 kg) Loco weight 162,500 lb (73,700 kg) Tender weight 140,000 lb (64,000 kg) 61,500 lb (27,900 kg) (1973-1998) Total weight 302,500 pounds (137.2 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 10 tonnes (9.8 long tons; 11.0 short tons) 9 tonnes (8.9 long tons; 9.9 short tons) (1973-1998) Water cap. 7,500 US gal (28,000 L; 6,200 imp gal) 5,400 US gal (20,000 L; 4,500 imp gal) (1973-1998) Firebox: ​  • Type Radial stay (round-top)  • Grate area 46.27 sq ft (4.299 m2) (102 in × 65+1⁄4 in or 2.591 m × 1.657 m) Boiler: ​  • Diameter 66+1⁄4 in (1.683 m)  • Small tubes 2 in (51 mm)  • Large tubes 5+3⁄8 in (137 mm) Boiler pressure 200 psi (1,400 kPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 152.00 sq ft (14.121 m2)  • Tubes and flues 2,822.00 sq ft (262.172 m2)  • Total surface 2,974.00 sq ft (276.294 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 21 in × 26 in (533 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Stephenson
Performance figures Tractive effort 30,900 lbf (137.5 kN) Factor of adh. 4.08
Career Operators Chicago and North Western Railroad Mid-Continent Railway Museum Class R-1 Numbers C&NW 1385 DLW 1053 Retired 1956 (revenue service) June 30, 1998 (excursion service) Restored May 27, 1963 (1st restoration) 2011-ongoing (2nd restoration) Current owner Mid-Continent Railway Museum Disposition Undergoing restoration to operating condition
Steam Locomotive #1385
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	E8948 Diamond Hill Rd., North Freedom, Wisconsin
Coordinates	43°27′31″N 89°52′29″W / 43.45861°N 89.87472°W / 43.45861; -89.87472
Area	less than one acre
NRHP reference No.	00000524 [3]
Added to NRHP	May 18, 2000

Chicago and North Western 1385 is an R-1 class 4-6-0 "ten-wheeler" steam locomotive owned by the Mid-Continent Railway Museum (MCRM). Built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in March 1907, the locomotive was one of 325 R-1s to be built for the Chicago and North Western Railroad (C&NW) 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 MCRM 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 MCRM's current location in North Freedom, Wisconsin, and the R-1 locomotive began pulling tourist trains between North Freedom, and the end of the MCRM's line in Rattlesnake. In 1981, the C&NW was exploring public relations options before they reached an agreement with the MCRM to lease No. 1385 for their steam program.

The first train of the program, which was a promotion of the C&NW's rolling stock upgrades, took place in May 1982. From 1985 to 1987, No. 1385 pulled the Circus World Museum (CWM) train between Baraboo and Milwaukee, for the annual circus parade events. In 1986, the C&NW's steam program was discontinued, due to liability insurance issues and a change of leadership. No. 1385 continued to run on MCRM's trackage, and it also pulled some mainline excursion trains on other nearby railroads, such as the Wisconsin and Southern (WSOR).

In 1998, No. 1385 was removed from service, since it was due for boiler and running gear repairs. Repairs were subsequently halted, due to a lack of funding, and No. 1385 was stored while the MCRM focused on other priorities. In 2011, the MCRM 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 2024, No. 1385’s rebuild is still ongoing.