I was checking the Mid-Continent Railway Historical Societies website to see if they were planning on running steam this season. I found the following notice posted:

"The Union Pacific Foundation will assist Mid-Continents restoration of Chicago & North Western Railroad R1 class 4-6-0 #1385 with a $5,000 grant for restoration of the original tender, now stored at Quartizite Lake, Wisconsin."

This statement seems to indicate that #1385 has been operating with a different tender since her original restoration. If so, can anyone advise why a different tender was used and why the original tender is now going to be re-united with the locomotive?

Thanks!

midlandblb@cs.com

I think it was becasue the original tender was too small to hold the water and coal needed when they ran 1385 on mainline trips. Perhaps now she doesn't need taht extra capacity?

todengine@woh.rr.com

My understanding is that the tank on the original R-1 tender was full of holes, so a replacement from a Z-class "Zulu" 2-8-0 was substituted. Will be nice to see the original re-applied.

> I think it was becasue the original tender
> was too small to hold the water and coal
> needed when they ran 1385 on mainline trips.
> Perhaps now she doesn't need taht extra
> capacity?


ryarger@rypn.org

> I think it was becasue the original tender
> was too small to hold the water and coal
> needed when they ran 1385 on mainline trips.
> Perhaps now she doesn't need taht extra
> capacity?

Actually the one she has now is smaller than the original. The museum added boards on top to hold more coal for the trips outside the museum. Though I'm not exactly sure where the tender that she has now came from. I would have thought that a Z's tender would have been bigger than a R-1's. Can't wait to see her run again though!

ablemanscurve@hotmail.com

This reply is a little delayed, but I just recently recieved the information.
The 1385's "replacement" tender was acquired by mid-continent due to the original's tank and coal bunker being in such bad shape. The "replacement" was in use with a C&NW pile driver when it was purchased by the museum. Prior to it's mow service, it was used as a replacement tender behind a "Z" class 2-8-0, but it originally did come from another "R-1" class 4-6-0 (#1361 if my source is correct). Currently a new tank and coal bunker is being fabricated to be installed on the original frame (funded by the Union Pacific Foundation).
> Actually the one she has now is smaller than
> the original. The museum added boards on top
> to hold more coal for the trips outside the
> museum. Though I'm not exactly sure where
> the tender that she has now came from. I
> would have thought that a Z's tender would
> have been bigger than a R-1's. Can't wait to
> see her run again though!


C&NW #1385

ddg14@msn.com

For "The Rest of the Story" From Mid-Continent's Web Page, Click on the Link and Scroll Down.

http://www.midcontinent.org/news/news.html
ddg14@msn.com

Sorry, for some reason that other post didn't come up on my computer until after I posted mine.
Sorry to duplicate.

Allan

ddg14@msn.com