cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/31405145

I can see the WSOR trains go by a couple of times a day from my office window. There’s a routine: Send a locomotive out to the west side to pick up the consist of hopper cars, take them out to the east to get filled with gravel or crushed stone, then take them out to the west, often with tanker cars added to the train. Once in a while, they take a train of full lumber cars west.

Today, I happened to look out and see something completely novel: C&NW steam locomotive #1385 on its flatbed, pulled by a WSOR diesel. The Mid-Continent Railway museum is finishing up a years-long restoration of #1385, and it’s on its way back to North Freedom.

I am kind of embarrassed to admit how delighted I am to see it, and all of the love the volunteers have lavished on it. I remember seeing #1385 under full steam, pulling the circus train back in the day, so it holds a fond place in my childhood memories.

There’s a homecoming celebration at the museum this Saturday, and I just had to share.