Here is a recent photo of her on display. She looks pretty good.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hunter1828/3592697629/

Nice to see the photos of 1356 and sister 1382 on display. They both look good. As I recall, there were 4 of these S-4 class Northern Pacific Ten-Wheelers saved. One was even partially dismantled years ago, in an aborted attempt to restore it to operation. Not sure which one that was. Anyone know the status of the other two NP S-4 class 4-6-0's?

Les

SteamLocomotive.com shows 1354 on display in Pasco, Wash. and 1364 under restoration at Toppenish, Wash.

NP 1356's career was very well documented by Ronald V. Nixon, former wire chief for the Northern Pacific. The locomotive was involved in a tragic bridge collapse on the Darby Branch in June 1943, was repaired and placed back in service, and was preserved by the Northern Pacific in 1955, thanks largely to Mr. Nixon's efforts. In my early years in Drummond (located 50 miles east of Missoula), my family would make (for my benefit only) an occasional pilgrimmage to the top of Higgins Avenue, to see the 1356. The 1955 photographs document the NP's efforts in placing the locomotive on display.

Ron Nixon's photography is archived in the following collection. Simply click on "NP Steam Locomotive Search", find "NP 1356", and go from there. This remarkable archive resides with the Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University in Bozeman, and was funded in part by a grant from the North American Railway Foundation.

http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/

Craig Lacey

The Nixon photos are an amazing collection. The website is easy to us and there are many photos of most of the locomotives. The photographic documentation of the 1356 is fantastic. It looks like they had some sort of steam connected to her when she was dedicated. Maybe to blow this whistle. Also it looks like the speeches went into the night. It's too bad that the locomotives of every railroad are not cataloged online as well as these.

Looking at the wreck photos, it's amazing the engine survived at all! It was bad enough to have the bridge collapse under her, fall into the river and then have several of the log cars she was pulling land on top of her, but then during the recovery effort the wrecking crane rolled over and fell on top of her too! Presumably if it hadn't been the middle of World War II when the accident happened, they would have just scrapped the 41-year-old engine where she lay.

I know the restoration has been slow but this group has had some tough things happen to them. Here are some photos that show a lot of progress. This is the 1364.

http://nprymuseum.org/NP%201364.htm

I think this is a great size for an excursion operation. Its size and versatility is one reason this class remained so long on the NP roster.

Scott

I was fooling around on Google Earth and came across Missoula. Could see there was a display loco, turntable, no roundhouse, but a very pretty small station, neat and well kept. Looked to see if Amtrak Empire Builder came through, but no. What goes on in Missoula?

Missoula is the home of the University of Montana (http://www.umt.edu/future.aspx)and is one of the larger and most popular cities in the state.

There are two extant depots in Missoula. The one next to the 1356 is the ex-NP depot which stands at the north end of Higgins Avenue. If you follow Higgins Avenue south and cross the river, to the west of the bridge is the beautiful former Milwaukie depot, now a professional office building right on the south side of the river.

http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/

Scott

I should have added that Missoula was on the routes of the NP's North Coast Limited and Mainstreeter as well as the Milwaukee's Olympian Hiawatha.

After Amtrak hit there was service along the NP route for several years but was terminated around 1979. There has always been talk of reviving this service as most of the line is more picturesque than the GN Empire Builder route to the north.

Scott

I found this personalized tribute by Ron Nixon's daughter, Jeannine. It will help to provide some context to Mr. Nixon's work.

http://www.storylinetrains.com/the1356.htm

Craig Lacey

Sure enough. More elaborate than the NP. Nice tower and well maintained. Apparently home now to the Boone and Crockett Club.