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Photos: The restoration through the years of the 1385 steam locomotive
The 1385
Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine near Middleton, installs a custom brass bearing on a 1907 Chicago & North Western locomotive the company is rebuilding. The $2 million project has been underway for more than two years, with another two years of work likely remaining on the steam engine.
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Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, hauls parts from one of his barns to his shop as he continues the restoration work of the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive in Middleton, Wis., Friday, February 6, 2015. Roudebush is restoring the locomotive for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, talks about the driving wheels as he continues the restoration work of the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive at his shop in Middleton, Wis., Friday, February 6, 2015. Roudebush is restoring the locomotive for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
The 1385
Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, shows how an Underwood portable boring bar machine from the 1890s is used to make cylinders round during the restoration of the Chicago & North Western 1385. The locomotive and the boring machine are parts of the collection at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom.
The 1385
Pete Deets, a longtime volunteer at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum and a member of the restoration task force, peers into a 22-inch cylinder as it is being restored with an antique boring machine.
The 1385
Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, uses a lathe to touch up a custom brass bearing for the main side rod on the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive. In addition to modern technology, the restoration has also included the use of old blue prints and books detailing steam engine construction and practices.
The 1385
Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, left, and Peter Deets, a longtime volunteer at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, prepare to put the two restored main side rods on the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive. While much of the work is being done by Roudebush and his employees, volunteers have put in countless hours of work on the project.
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Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, leaning up on the driving wheels, continues the restoration work of the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive at his shop in Middleton, Wis., Friday, February 6, 2015. Roudebush is restoring the locomotive for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, shows how he continuously checks the wire for alignment during the restoration work of the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive at his shop in Middleton, Wis., Friday, February 6, 2015. Roudebush is restoring the locomotive for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, displays an original train bolt, left, to one he's made during the restoration work of the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive at his shop in Middleton, Wis., Friday, February 6, 2015. Roudebush is restoring the locomotive for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Pete Deets, 1385 task group member, walks past parts of the train during the restoration work of the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive at SPEC Machine in Middleton, Wis., Friday, February 6, 2015. Roudebush is restoring the locomotive for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Train parts lay out to dry after being painted during the restoration work of the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive at SPEC Machine in Middleton, Wis., Friday, February 6, 2015. Roudebush is restoring the locomotive for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Steve Roudebush talks about the main cylinder of the C&NW #138 locomotive at his shop, SPEC Machine, in Middleton, Wis., Wednesday, February 5, 2014. Roudenbush is in the process of restoring parts of the locomotive. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
The 1385
Many of the parts of the C&NW 1385 locomotive have been stored in a barn at SPEC Machine near Middleton prior to restoration. This photo is from 2014, shortly after the locomotive arrived.
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Steve Roudebush talks about the restoration of the C&NW 1385 locomotive while leaning on the drive wheels at his shop, SPEC Machine, in Middleton, Wis., Wednesday, February 5, 2014. AMBER ARNOLD -- State Journal
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Steve Roudebush walks by the driving wheels from a C&NW #138 locomotive at his shop, SPEC Machine, in Middleton, Wis., Wednesday, February 5, 2014. Roudenbush is in the process of restoring parts of the locomotive. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
The 1385
Steve Roudebush looks over the main cylinder of the C&NW 1385 locomotive at his shop, SPEC Machine. The cylinder is the heart of the train and was replaced in 1927, just 20 years after the locomotive was built.
The 1385
Steve Roudebush holds up an identification tag for a part of the C&NW 1385 locomotive. The steam engine has been dismantled into hundreds of pieces and the tags help organize the parts.
The 1385
The C&NW 1385 locomotive was built in 1907 in Schenectady, N.Y. Its restoration is expected to make it operational for another 100 years.
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Steve Roudebush shows off trains he has stored in one of his buildings at SPEC Machine in Middleton, Wis., Wednesday, February 5, 2014. AMBER ARNOLD -- State Journal
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Steve Roudebush opens up one of his garages where he stores old trains at his shop, SPEC Machine, in Middleton, Wis., Wednesday, February 5, 2014. Roudebush is restoring parts of a C&NW #138 locomotive at his shop. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Steve Roudebush stands on top of the 1385 steam locomotive on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 at Spec Machine in Middleton, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL
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The furnace area where coal is loaded to run the 1385 locomotive on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 at Spec Machine in Middleton, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL
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Steve Roudebush looks through the window of the detached cab of the 1385 locomotive on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 at Spec Machine in Middleton, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL
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Steve Roudebush works on the 1385 locomotive on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 at Spec Machine in Middleton, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL
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Grease cakes Steve Roudebush’s fingers as he works on the 1385 locomotive on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 at Spec Machine in Middleton, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL
Mid-Continent Railway Museum Steam Engine 1385
Having spent Sunday night in Madison after a weekend trip on the Saukiedoodle line between Mazomanie and Sauk City, steam engine No. 1385 leaves the Chicago and North Western rail yards along Fordem Avenue on Monday morning. The engine was bound for the Mid-Continent Railroad Museum in North Freedom.
No. 1385 steam locomotive
The No. 1385 steam locomotive was built in 1907 but is in the midst of what will be nearly a five-year, $2 million restoration. Most of the work is being done by Steve Roudebush at his SPEC Machine shop in the town of Springfield near Ashton. The locomotive, owned by the Mid Continent Railway Museum, was a workhorse until 1956 for the Chicago & North Western Railroad, purchased by the museum in 1961 and in the 1980s pulled the Great Circus Train from Baraboo to Milwaukee and back. This week, construction will begin on the boiler in St. Louis and the firebox in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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The No. 1385, a steam engine that began operating for the Chicago & North Western Railroad in 1907, is undergoing a $1.2 million restoration, but not all of the funds have been raised for the work. Officials at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom hope to have the engine running again by 2013.
Dreams of steam for No. 1385
The brand new tender for the Chicago Northwestern No. 1385 is lifted to its temporary waiting spot while the running gear for the locomotive is refurbished at Spec Machines in Middleton for an anticipated return to steaming down the tracks into the woods of North Freedom at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum.
The 1385
Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, north of Middleton, rests on the drive wheels of the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive. Roudebush is restoring much of the locomotive for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. The $2 million project is scheduled for completion in 2016.
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The American Locomotive Co. in Schenectady, N.Y., built the 1385 in 1907. The engine and its tender weigh about 100 tons when fully loaded with water and coal.
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Don Meyer, who is leading the project to restore the No. 1385 steam engine and its tender box, believes that once the engine is restored, it will increase attendance at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum. The museum has received a $250,000 matching grant from the Wagner Foundation but needs to raise about $800,000 more to pay for the project.
No. 1385 steam locomotive
The No. 1385 steam locomotive was built in 1907 but is in the midst of what will be nearly a five-year, $2 million restoration. Most of the work is being done by Steve Roudebush at his SPEC Machine shop in the town of Springfield near Ashton. The locomotive, owned by the Mid Continent Railway Museum, was a workhorse until 1956 for the Chicago & North Western Railroad, purchased by the museum in 1961 and in the 1980s pulled the Great Circus Train from Baraboo to Milwaukee and back. This week, construction will begin on the boiler in St. Louis and the firebox in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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Steve Roudebush talks about the restoration of the C&NW 1385 locomotive while leaning on the drive wheels at his shop, SPEC Machine, in Middleton, Wis., Wednesday, February 5, 2014. AMBER ARNOLD -- State Journal
The 1385
Many of the parts of the C&NW 1385 locomotive have been stored in a barn at SPEC Machine near Middleton prior to restoration. This photo is from 2014, shortly after the locomotive arrived.
The 1385
Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine near Middleton, installs a custom brass bearing on a 1907 Chicago & North Western locomotive the company is rebuilding. The $2 million project has been underway for more than two years, with another two years of work likely remaining on the steam engine.
The 1385
Pete Deets, a longtime volunteer at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum and a member of the restoration task force, peers into a 22-inch cylinder as it is being restored with an antique boring machine.
The 1385
Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, uses a lathe to touch up a custom brass bearing for the main side rod on the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive. In addition to modern technology, the restoration has also included the use of old blue prints and books detailing steam engine construction and practices.
The 1385
Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, shows how an Underwood portable boring bar machine from the 1890s is used to make cylinders round during the restoration of the Chicago & North Western 1385. The locomotive and the boring machine are parts of the collection at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom.
The 1385
Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, left, and Peter Deets, a longtime volunteer at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, prepare to put the two restored main side rods on the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive. While much of the work is being done by Roudebush and his employees, volunteers have put in countless hours of work on the project.
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Pete Deets, 1385 task group member, walks past parts of the train during the restoration work of the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive at SPEC Machine in Middleton, Wis., Friday, February 6, 2015. Roudebush is restoring the locomotive for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
04train042-02102015145041
Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, shows how he continuously checks the wire for alignment during the restoration work of the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive at his shop in Middleton, Wis., Friday, February 6, 2015. Roudebush is restoring the locomotive for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
03train038-02102015145041
Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, talks about the driving wheels as he continues the restoration work of the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive at his shop in Middleton, Wis., Friday, February 6, 2015. Roudebush is restoring the locomotive for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Steve Roudebush, co-owner of SPEC Machine, displays an original train bolt, left, to one he's made during the restoration work of the Chicago & North Western 1385 locomotive at his shop in Middleton, Wis., Friday, February 6, 2015. Roudebush is restoring the locomotive for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
The 1385
Steve Roudebush looks over the main cylinder of the C&NW 1385 locomotive at his shop, SPEC Machine. The cylinder is the heart of the train and was replaced in 1927, just 20 years after the locomotive was built.
The 1385
Steve Roudebush holds up an identification tag for a part of the C&NW 1385 locomotive. The steam engine has been dismantled into hundreds of pieces and the tags help organize the parts.
The 1385
The C&NW 1385 locomotive was built in 1907 in Schenectady, N.Y. Its restoration is expected to make it operational for another 100 years.
