TOPPENISH, Wash. — Former Northern Pacific 4-6-0 No. 1364 moved under its own power for the first time in 73 years on Feb. 21, according to a Facebook post from the Northern Pacific Railway Museum. The initial run caps a decades-long restoration effort by museum volunteers.
“This moment represents years of hard work by our volunteers, staff, supporters, and community partners,” the museum stated in its Facebook post.
No. 1364 was built in 1902 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works at a cost of $16,787.59 ($634,929.05 in 2025 dollars). It was one of 40 class S-4s ordered with Vauclain compound drive cylinders, which proved to be a maintenance headache for the railroad. In 1924, No. 1364 and the other S-4s were converted to a simple cylinder arrangement. The class received superheaters in 1929. Following these modifications, the S-4s became well liked locomotives, working branch lines on the Northern Pacific’s west end. Most of the class, including No. 1364, logged more than 50 years of service until displaced by diesel power. No. 1364 was removed from the roster on Jan. 1, 1954.
For decades, No. 1364 has been on static display or stored following several restoration attempts. After retirement, the Northern Pacific refurbished the locomotive and donated it to the city of Tacoma in 1954 for display in Point Defiance Park. In 1974, the group Trains, Inc. moved the locomotive to a leased siding in nearby Nallys Valley. The intent was an operational restoration. Without funding and after finding more rust than anticipated, this effort failed when the siding lease expired in 1979. No. 1364 was moved from the Nallys Valley location to Tacoma’s tidal flats, where it sat in the salt air for six years. Then in 1985, the locomotive was transferred to the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad near Mineral, Wash., and left in pieces on a siding. Finally, in 1994, No. 1364 was moved to Toppenish, Wash., where the current restoration effort began. Beyond work on the locomotive, there was one significant final hurdle — the organization did not have an indoor shop facility and the weather continued to take its toll on the project. Finally, in 2001 a shop building was acquired and No. 1364 moved inside for the balance of the restoration.
The museum indicates No. 1364 will operate on its tracks for events. An operational schedule will be announced shortly via its Facebook page.
For more information about the Northern Pacific Railway Museum and No. 1364, visit its website.
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