The 1356: A new chapter begins
On the afternoon of December 13, Andrew Skibo, Mike Seitz, photographer Evan Laskowski and I met at Missoula’s Northern Pacific 1356. There, the City Parks and Recreation department issued Andrew a key to unlock the fence that surrounds the engine. Andrew is a most welcome addition to Friends: he has experience with steam engine restoration and he’s also a licensed contractor, so he can work on site.
Andrew measured and evaluated for weatherization and stabilization, and wrote up a new working plan. This marks the beginning of Engine 1356’s cosmetic restoration and the first maintenance she’s had in over 20 years.
The next Thursday, December 19th, Mike, Andrew, and I met with folks from Parks and Recreation to discuss a partnership between the City of Missoula and Friends of the 1356 for “fund raising and renovation of an Historic locomotive.” Our partnership agreement is now working its way through channels to the Mayor’s desk, to be signed in time for actual work on the engine to begin this spring.
The City of Missoula Parks and Recreation has been great to work with. They wrote some unexpected bonuses into the agreement: commemorative plaques, a kiosk, the right to reserve space at Railroad Park. We’re looking forward to events at the 1356 over the summer.
So begins a new chapter in The 1356’s history. Friends of the 1356 worked hard to assess and engage public interest. We got petitions signed, posted on social media, enlisted City Council, got our not for profit paperwork done and filed, and the 1356 is now on its way to restoration!
Most of the actual work on the engine can’t start until spring. Over time she’ll get a complete paint job, lighting, interpretive signs, bell and whistle restored, and a long term plan to keep the engine maintained. You can read the updated working plan here.
A lot of people have asked about working on the engine: we’re hoping to make that possible. It will have to be off site, and it’s probably not going to happen until next year. We’ll keep you posted. In the meantime there are other volunteer opportunities we’d like to explore, and we’d love your input. One close to my heart is a downtown historical before and after for kids, all about the railroad in Missoula—but that’s a subject for another post, coming up soon.
Friends of the 1356 has agreed to do all fundraising for this project, so we’re also working on that for both the immediate and long-term. We’ll be applying for grants and larger donations, but please know that small donations are both needed and very much appreciated. Thank you again for your support! Friends of the 1356 is a Montana registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.