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Mid-Continent Railway Museum

North Freedom, Wis.

Text: Mid-Continent Railway Museum. A historical and educational experience. Images of railway cars, people, and Mid-Continent logo.
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Author Archives: Rebecca

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C&NW #1385 Homecoming Celebration

Mid-Continent Railway Museum Posted on July 9, 2025 by RebeccaJuly 9, 2025

C&NW #1385 Homecoming Celebration Details

After several years away, the Chicago & North Western #1385 steam locomotive is finally returning to Mid-Continent Railway Museum to complete the final steps of its restoration. To celebrate this monumental event, we will be hosting a #1385 Homecoming Ceremony for the locomotive at the museum. Starting at 4:30 PM on Saturday, July 12th you can…

🎉 Watch the #1385 arriving at our museum depot on its flatcar
🎤 Hear speeches from our museum project leaders
📸 Snap a group photo and witness the banner breakthrough
🍿 Enjoy snacks and drinks that will be provided throughout the event

PLUS… Bid in our silent auction for a “#1385 Cab Experience” ticket!

This ticket will allow the highest bidder to enjoy a private tour of the locomotive, fire it with coal, and blow the whistle during a future test run in the museum train yard! All proceeds will go to finishing the #1385’s restoration and eventual operation in 2026. The rules of the “C&NW #1385 Cab Experience” Auction are listed below.

We would also like to welcome everyone back to the museum on Monday, July 14th at 9:00 AM to witness the locomotive being lifted back onto the tracks and paired with its tender.

Rules of the “C&NW #1385 Cab Experience” Auction

The C&NW #1385 Cab Experience Auction will be a sealed-bid charity auction held at the 1385 Homecoming Celebration. Here’s what that means…

How to Bid:

Bids are entered by making a donation in support of the C&NW 1385 project. Regardless of whether you win the auction prize or not, you still get to enjoy the good feeling that 100% of your donation is directly supporting the goal of finishing 1385’s restoration back to operation.

Bids are made privately in a sealed envelope at the Homecoming event on July 12th or by using a bidding link/QR to be provided in person at the homecoming event. Credit/debit/PayPal bids will be made using the secure PayPal platform and do not require a PayPal account.

Only one bid is allowed per person – so make it your best offer! Bids cannot be combined or added to once submitted.

Bidding closes at 6:30 PM CDT on Saturday, July 12th. At the close of the bidding period, the individual that submitted the highest bid/donation wins the 1385 Cab Experience prize.

Mid-Continent will not be listing the current high bid while bidding is open.

The sealed bids/donations will be reviewed and the winner notified within 48 hours of the close of bidding. The winner will remain confidential. The amount of the winning bid will be announced.

All bids/donations will receive a donation acknowledgement at the end of the year tax year, per Mid-Continent’s donation acknowledgement policy. The winning bidder will receive a donation acknowledgement for the amount of the donation less the Fair Market Value of the award. The Fair Market Value of this prize is $300.00

Additional terms and conditions:

There is no minimum bid.

In the event there is a tie for the highest bid, the names of the tied individuals will be placed into a hat and drawn to determine the winner of the auction.

The exact date for redeeming the prize is to-be-determined because the steam locomotive project is still in progress. We are working diligently to complete the necessary fundraising and work to reach the phase of #1385’s restoration where test runs can begin. Mid-Continent will work with the winner to arrange a date for the #1385 Cab Experience that works for both parties. If for any reason the prize cannot be awarded or a mutually agreeable date is not available, the winner will be provided a Mid-Continent Railway Museum gift card equal to the Fair Market Value and redeemable toward any publicly available tickets.

Posted in C&NW #1385 Status Updates, News

Wishing The Montana Western #31 A Happy 100 Years!

Mid-Continent Railway Museum Posted on June 24, 2025 by RebeccaJune 24, 2025

🎉 We’re wishing our Montana Western #31 (AKA Great Northern #2313) a happy 100 year anniversary this year! 🎉

Its newly restored model 106A Winton engine has been returned to Mid-Continent and is now back inside the gas-electric motor car. This engine restoration could not have happened without all of your support!

In order to become fully operational, more work is needed on the radiator and roof of the motor car. If you would like to donate to help the MW #31 run again, please click the link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=QTV4WC3WB2Y8E

If you are interested in learning more about the Montana Western #31 and its historical and mechanical significance, please visit its roster page on our website: https://www.midcontinent.org/equipment-roster/dieselother-locomotives/montana-western-31/

Posted in Montana Western #31, News

Montana Western #31 – Winton Engine Restoration Has Been Successfully Completed

Mid-Continent Railway Museum Posted on May 30, 2025 by RebeccaMay 30, 2025

The mechanical and cosmetic restoration of our model 106A Winton engine has been successfully completed and will be shipped back to Mid-Continent! Watch the engine start up below.

This is a huge step in preserving the Montana Western #31 for future generations to learn about and enjoy. We would like to thank you all for your support in completing this restoration!

For more information on the motor car this engine belongs to, please press the button below.

Montana Western #31
Posted in Montana Western #31, News

“Last Spike” Ceremony

Mid-Continent Railway Museum Posted on May 18, 2025 by RebeccaMay 18, 2025

Yesterday we celebrated the completion of our 3 million dollar rail relay and infrastructure overhaul with a “Last Spike” ceremony!

Donors and special guests were invited to ride the first train of the 2025 operating season, marking the start of a new chapter for our railway. At the end of the line, attendees gathered for a series of speeches from Mid-Continent President Andy S., Wisconsin State Assemblyman Tony Kurtz, our Roadmaster Dave B., and Superintendent of Engineering Nick V.

The event concluded with the ceremonial driving of a final golden spike, symbolizing the official completion of the project.

This massive overhaul would not have been possible without the incredible support of our generous donors and the dedication of our volunteers and members. Thank you to everyone who played a part in making this project a reality. We’re excited for future generations to enjoy this historic line for decades to come!

Posted in News, Rail Relay

Engine House Track #2 Update

Mid-Continent Railway Museum Posted on May 12, 2025 by RebeccaMay 12, 2025

Another rail related update from Mid-Continent! On the weekend of May 3rd and 4th, we replaced the wooden ties and pit timbers on track #2 inside our Engine House! The pit area is critical infrastructure to perform locomotive servicing and regular maintenance making its upkeep integral.

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Mid-Continent Railway Museum
P.O. Box 358
E8948 Museum Road
North Freedom, WI 53951
Office phone: 608-522-4261
or 800-930-1385
E-mail: inquiries@midcontinent.org

Recent News

  • C&NW #1385 Cab Experience Auction Results
  • C&NW #1385 Homecoming Celebration
  • Wishing The Montana Western #31 A Happy 100 Years!
  • Montana Western #31 – Winton Engine Restoration Has Been Successfully Completed
  • “Last Spike” Ceremony
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