The one thing I agree with on this article is the CN&W #1385 is a very sweet locomotive. The running gear doesn't have that many miles on rebuild, but needs to be disassembled because of sandblasting done to original boiler while in place. Had new tires put on not that many miles ago as well. Kind of heavy for light track and tight curves on a daily basis, but there are rumors of major track repairs and possibly taking care of the troublesome curve. The R-1 class locos like #1385 originally ran on the line, but not doing 3-4 trips a day, probably a couple trips a week back in the day?

Now if a new boiler can be built to FRA qaulifications and fit on the frame, she may indeed rock and roll again. As previously mentioned the slippery slope to successfully building a new and functioning boiler that fits is going to be the key, along with fundraising. This type of medium/heavy 4-6-0 is the cats PJ's in my book. Was involved in getting this loco running in the early 1970's. With a lot of help from the CN&W and MC crews, she kept running for about another 25+ years. Almost the perfect locomotive in size and power, short of the super high iron class. Cheers, John.

Does anyone have any information or updates on #1385's sister, #175, at the smelter in Ripley, MI? According to http://www.steamlocomotive.info #175 hauled the last C&NW owned steam revenue train. Last I knew, there were no known plans for Clint Jones' #175. I'm also curious as to why it inherited a NP tender- guessing the tank on the C&NW tender was in poor shape.

From what I was told, The crew that prepped Copper Range #29 for it's move to Mid-Continent also did some prep work for moving #175, to where I don't know, and it's still sitting waiting for that move.
I had really hoped it would be to Mid-Continent too, an R-1 double header would have been great to see. And Mid-Continent does have an extra R-1 tender...
The NP tender was a replacement for the badly deteriorated original, that Clint scrapped...

The boiler is ready to be removed from the frame that was about all there was to do. Most of the piping is already off. Steve and TJ doing most of it. We did remove some of the smashed roof boards that might of flew off had the transport ever happened. Clint told me he had most of the parts for the locomotive squirreled away in a box car. I kind of liked the NP tender, even if not authentic CN&W. I have a very old booklet from MC that stated the #175 was either at or coming to MC. Clint was an early member if I remember right and was involved back at Hillsboro, WI the original site of MC, as well as North Freedom, Wi.

The two CN&W tenders that MC has are of course junk, at least the tank/coal bunker parts. MC plans on rebuilding one for the current restoration. The replacement tank that had been used on #1385 since the early 1970's was barely usable when it came in off the CN&W. The bottom 3 ft of the tank was pitted so bad we were very concerned it would start leaking the pits were so deep. Dave Wantz and I scaled the inside of the tank and painted it with some nasty toxic paint to try and keep it going. Guess it worked as there was not much metal left. Think the quality of the steel was better back when they built these tanks. If you used modern steel I think the tanks would of rotted out much faster. Sure like the Strasburg approach to building new tanks. Cheers, John.