Northern Pacific locomotive No. 1364 outside the Toppenish station

Featured Exhibit

Northern Pacific No. 1364

Year Built

1902

Manufacturer

Baldwin Works

Dimensions

85 ft length

Total Weight

184,850 lbs

Top Speed

60 mph

From the archives

No. 1364 through the years

These historic photographs follow the locomotive from its working days with the Northern Pacific through its preservation journey.

Northern Pacific No. 1364 in a rail yard — **1938 — Seattle, Washington.**Northern Pacific No. 1364 at work in Seattle, more than three decades into its service life. By this time, the locomotive had received several modifications from its original configuration, reflecting the changes made throughout its years of service.

Front three-quarter view of Northern Pacific No. 1364 — **1943 — Auburn, Washington.**Northern Pacific No. 1364 during World War II, showing the locomotive with its headlight mounted on top of the smokebox. A cone-shaped shield was fitted around the headlight lens to restrict the amount of light visible from above, helping reduce the locomotive’s visibility to enemy aircraft during wartime blackout precautions.

Northern Pacific No. 1364 crossing a rail yard bridge — **Circa 1930s — Location unknown.**Northern Pacific No. 1364 sits on a turntable during its years assigned to the Tacoma Division. In 1931, the locomotive was temporarily assigned to the Seattle Division for service between Arlington and Black River.

Northern Pacific No. 1364 outside the boiler shop — **1953 — South Tacoma, Washington.**Northern Pacific No. 1364 at the Northern Pacific’s South Tacoma Shops, where it received a cosmetic restoration before being donated to the City of Tacoma. Following the restoration, No. 1364 was placed on display as a park locomotive at Point Defiance Park.

**1975 — Tacoma, Washington.**Northern Pacific No. 1364 at Nalley's Valley, where restoration work was attempted following its removal from Point Defiance Park.

Northern Pacific No. 1364 in its original configuration, circa 1910 — **1910 — Location unknown.**One of the earliest known photographs of Northern Pacific No. 1364, showing the locomotive in its original configuration. At the time, No. 1364 was equipped with a kerosene headlight and Vauclain compound cylinders, features that were later changed during its service life.

Restored locomotive being transported by rail — **February 13, 1994 — Mineral, Washington.**Northern Pacific No. 1364 and its tender loaded onto flatcars for their move to Toppenish. After more than 40 years on outdoor display and an unsuccessful restoration attempt, both had deteriorated significantly. This move marked the beginning of the Museum’s effort to restore No. 1364 and return it to operation.

Locomotive restoration work on a transport flatcar — **June 19, 1994 — Toppenish, Washington.**Northern Pacific No. 1364 arrives in Toppenish. After decades on display and a previous unsuccessful restoration attempt, the locomotive and tender arrived in poor condition, beginning the long process of returning No. 1364 to operation.

Northern Pacific No. 1364 receiving outdoor restoration work at the museum in August 1997 — **August 1997 — Toppenish, Washington.**Northern Pacific No. 1364 receiving restoration work outdoors at the museum before completion of the locomotive shop.

History of No. 1364

Construction and Design

Northern Pacific No. 1364 is one of forty Class S-4 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" steam locomotives built by Baldwin in 1902. Designed for both passenger and freight service, the S-4s became dependable branch-line locomotives after being rebuilt with simple cylinders in 1924 and fitted with superheaters in 1929.

Years of Railroad Service

No. 1364 served across western Washington and the Yakima Valley, handling freight, passenger, mail, and switching duties. In its later years, it worked in the Yakima Valley, including at Toppenish and Yakima. After 52 years of service, it was retired on January 1, 1954.

Life After the Northern Pacific

Rather than being scrapped, No. 1364 was donated by the Northern Pacific Railway to the City of Tacoma and placed on display at Point Defiance Park. The railroad refurbished the locomotive before its dedication in 1954.

Over the next two decades, exposure to the weather took its toll. Local volunteers, led by rail enthusiast Jack Anderson, began efforts to protect and restore the locomotive. In 1974, No. 1364 was moved from Point Defiance as part of plans to expand Tacoma's ferry terminal. Several moves and attempted restoration efforts followed before the locomotive eventually arrived at the Northern Pacific Railway Museum in Toppenish on June 19, 1994.

Restoration and Return to Steam

Museum volunteers began the long process of stabilizing and restoring No. 1364. After more than three decades of work, the locomotive returned to steam on January 1, 2026. On February 21, it moved under its own power in the museum yard for the first time in 73 years.

These milestones marked a major step toward returning No. 1364 to operational service and continuing its story as a working piece of Northern Pacific history.