CNW 1385: On Track to Operation, One Year Later

 

Very nice. Now, any information on the building a totally new boiler situation? Have the engineering studies been done yet and what company will be contracted to construct the new boiler?

I know it is to be an all welded boiler but not sure of the company to build it.  They say they have the funds so hopefully next summer it will be ready (just my belief).

Yes, most likely an all welded boiler. However, I'm not so sure that any of the engineering/design work has been done as yet, concerning whether the boiler will use superheaters (remember, she was NOT originally built as a superheated locomotive), and layout of boiler tubes.

 

Unless the Mid Continent RR Museum has LOTS of money, I personally do not see 1385 being completed and operational "next summer". 

By next summer I mean 2016 not 2015.  this coming summer we have 611 and maybe the Duluth and northeastern engine and maybe some I do not know of.

Unless they have a lot more money than I suspect, I doubt that it will be ready by even 2016.

Whenever she does get done, this report that was given was very promising and uplifting for all.  While the engine is tiny, compared to some of the monsters in the U.P. roster, the engine is significant as it is the last, or at least one of the last, C&NW steam engines still in existence.   I recall seeing it under steam many times when the Northwestern was using it for publicity purposes all around the state.  And, I also rode behind it at Mid-Continent when it was in regular use there. 

 

The Mid-Continent guys have been operating without a steam locomotive for quite a few years now, using little diesels for their excursion trains, and I'm sure that the return of this engine would mean a lot to them.  Also hope that the U.P. the successor to the C&NW, will allow movements around Wisconsin on their railroad.

 

Good news and a great report!

 

Paul Fischer

>>Also hope that the U.P. the successor to the C&NW, will allow movements
around Wisconsin on their railroad.

 

I believe that UP's policy is to allow only their own steam locos to operate. Probably for legal or insurance reasons.

No. Both Frisco #1522 and SP #4449 have operated on the UP main line.

 

It really doesn't matter anyway, since the Mid Continent Railroad Museum has been "land locked" ever since the huge flood, some years ago. That flood seriously damaged the RR bridge of that creek/river and thus the museum no longer has a rail connection to the former C&NW branch line nearby. 

Before I begin, I would first like to let everybody know that I do not represent the Mid-Continent Railway Museum. I was brought in to work on the videos for the fun of it as well as the opportunity to help spread the word on what the museum is striving to accomplish, this of course being the return of steam with both the 1385 and the other locomotives. What I'm basically going to do is respond to a few things regarding the videos themselves.

1. The Boiler. If you watch the 2014 video, Pete Deets states in the interview that the new boiler will be built at Deltak in Plymouth, MN (Go to 7:13 of the video for the full details). When talking to Mike Wahl during this years open house, he told me that they have been working on the boiler design and are hoping to start the building process by mid-summer. It's a fault on my part as I should've added that additional information into the 2015 video, I apologize for that. Even so, if you watch both videos all the way through, you'll know that the new boiler is in the planning stages and is next on the list for the task force to work on.

2. Money. While there's no money tree growing at the museum grounds, finances has not been a major issue for the project (I direct your attention to 9:49 in the 2015 video). This is mainly thanks to the generous donations plus the Wagner Foundation who are the big reason why this rebuild is finally taking shape after so many years. As clearly stated in both videos, generous support is still welcome from the museum; whether it be through donations, volunteering or knowledge/advice.

3. The actual return to steam. I have seen some predictions of a 2016 debut from others here or there. In my opinion, it might happen, it might not happen, we'll just have to see. From what I've experienced during both my visits to SPEC, I see the task force wanting the 1385 alive and well again but they want to make sure they do it right. Kind of follows the whole idea of quality vs quantity. This is a huge project no doubt, but considering the fact that there's more work that still needs to be completed, I strongly believe that there has been a lot progress that has been made with incredible results.

So there you go, kind of my response regarding the videos themselves. Like I said, this is all based on my visits to the open houses and the videos that I've produced as I'm not a representative for the museum and my knowledge regarding steam is below average. If you still have more questions, I would highly recommend contacting Mid-Continent. If there are any further questions regarding the 1385 rebuild, whether it be the boiler or something else, I can get you in contact with the project manager, Mike Wahl. Shoot me a PM and I'll arrange it.

So once again, I hope I was able to answer a few questions and would highly recommend supporting the project and museum as there's a lot of excitement to see steam return again. Thank you very much and have a good day.

 

My Dad took me many times to the Mid Continent train museum over the decades.One of the most memorable was a night time run to La Rue.The steam engine in the heavy fog that night looked like something out of a Hollywood movie.I look forward to seeing the 1385 run again.

Dan

From their website it seems they have a lot of rusting engines in pieces. I know it must be hard to raise money.

 

I understand they are cut off from live rail because a bridge was damaged. What is the situation in terms of restoring the bridge?

 

There were at one time mines serviced by the spur they run excursions on. If the bridge were restored would they have any real traffic to defray costs of restoration?

The mines played out long before Mid Continent was formed.

 

Rusty