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C&NW Steam Locomotive Roster: Post 1900

Last revised: September 28, 2024

By: Adam Burns

As a result of its Midwestern profile the classic Chicago & North Western did not require exceptionally large wheel arrangements and rostered no articulated designs.

Its steam locomotive roster consisted primarily of 2-8-2s, 2-8-4s, and 4-8-4s (dual service) for heavy freight assignments while 4-6-4s, 4-6-2s, and 4-4-2s handled passenger consists.

In addition, smaller 4-6-0s and 2-8-0s handled lighter passenger and freight duties.  Interestingly, the C&NW's nine streamlined Hudsons it received from Alco in 1938 were not only beautiful machines and nearly identical to the Milwaukee Road's in both performance and styling but also constituted the final new steamers the railroad ever purchased.

The C&NW, an integral player in America's railroad saga, traces its origins to 1848 with the chartering of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, the first to serve Chicago. This seminal project laid the groundwork for a vast network that would eventually stretch across 10 states in the Midwest and West, embedding itself into the fabric of America's industrial expansion.

In 1864, the C&NW was officially organized, absorbing the Galena and Chicago Union and several other lines to increase its reach. By pioneering innovations and steadily expanding through acquisitions, such as the pivotal purchase of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway in 1882, the C&NW cemented its status as a formidable force.

The railway was distinguished for its robust freight services and efficient passenger trains, including prominent routes like the "400" series, which set the benchmark for speed and service with its Chicago to Twin Cities connections.

While the mid-20th century saw the C&NW thrive, post-World War II changes disrupted traditional railroad business models. The advent of interstate highways, trucking competition, and shifting economic landscapes prompted reorganization efforts and eventually led to its merger discussions.

In 1995, Union Pacific acquired the C&NW, integrating its extensive network and retiring the iconic C&NW identity. Despite its dissolution, the legacy of the Chicago and North Western Railway endures, remembered for its pivotal role in shaping the transportation infrastructure of the American Midwest.

The below roster features denotes the railroad's fleet in the post-1900 era.  In addition, subsidiary Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha's fleet is also included.  Steam survived on the C&NW in regular service until May 10, 1956 when the last 4-6-2 handled its commuter assignment.

Chicago & North Western 4-6-4 #4009 (E-4) appears to have a mail train at Council Bluffs, Iowa on June 23, 1953. This locomotive was one of nine acquired from Alco in 1938 (#4001-4009) to handle the railroad's new streamliners. Externally, the beautiful steamers were almost identical to Milwaukee Road's famous F-7's. Originally built to burn coal they were converted to oil in 1946-47. Soon after this photo was taken the group was retired and scrapped.

Switchers

Freight Locomotives

Passenger Locomotives

Dual Service

Sources

• Drury, George H. Guide To North American Steam Locomotives: Revised Edition. Waukesha: Kalmbach Books, 2015.

• Hilton, George.  American Narrow Gauge Railroads. Stanford:  Stanford University Press, 1990.

• Kelly, John.  Chicago & North Western, Photo Archive:  Passenger Trains Of The 400 Fleet.  Hudson:  Iconografix, 2006.

• Morrison, Tom. American Steam Locomotive In The Twentieth Century. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2019.

• Murray, Tom.  Chicago & North Western Railway.  Minneapolis:  Voyageur Press, 2008.

• Schafer, Mike. Classic American Railroads. Osceola: MBI Publishing, 1996.