Help restore Missoula's Northern Pacific 1356

Here's an update with some excellent news on the 1356 restoration: We now have a signed partnership agreement with the City of Missoula! Now we need your help to continue.

Friends of the 1356 was formed in the fall of 2024 to promote the restoration of historic Northern Pacific steam engine 1356. We have been working with the City of Missoula on a partnership agreement to do that work. In the meantime we took beginning steps at the engine, with permission from Missoula Parks and Rec. An agreement has now been signed by Mayor Andrea Davis, and we are in business for real! Now that we have that agreement in hand and the weather's warming up, we need your help to raise capital to start work on time!

The fact that this is happening is in large part due to the generosity of the community. Donations paid first for promotional materials to document community support, for maintaining a website, then for the 501(c)3 application, and for insurance so our agreement could be approved: basically everything that kept us going. We couldn't have done it without you.

In December we began doing work for weatherization and maintenance. We also ordered a stack cap, headlight lens replacement, and letter boards, which we now have in hand. By June, we plan to implement the first two phases of our plan, which includes refurbishing the bell, tying in to city electric for lighting, installing that soon-to-be-lighted headlight lens.

According to our agreement, we need to have funds in hand before we can begin. The amount we're looking to raise here will cover that, along with operational expenses. Meantime we're applying for grants and doing other fundraising for the later, more expensive, phases, like a complete paint job. In the interim, we could really use your help.

Visit Missoula1356.org to read more about this famous engine, and thank you in advance! You are not obligated to give gofundme a tip, of 17% or any other amount. You may also donate through our website, Missoula1356.org, or through the mail to Friends of the 1356, Post Office Box 1356, Missoula, Montana, 59806.

Friends of the 1356 is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation, and your donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Thank you again for caring about this historic engine! We hope to see you this spring and summer at Missoula Farmer's Market in Burlington Northern Plaza, in front of the old Northern Pacific depot where the 1356 is on display!