The Chicago and North Western Railway's Class E-4 comprised nine coal-burning streamlined 4-6-4 "Hudson" steam locomotives built in 1937 by the American Locomotive Company's Schenectady Works for Passenger Services on the North-Western. They were distinctive for not only being the Only Streamlined Steam ordered by the Road, but also the Very Last New Steam delivered for the C&NW.
History and Design[]
In the late 1930's with the Chicago and Northwestern's Locomotive fleets consisting of mostly the Reliable 4-6-2 Pacific design in large quantities, the Northwestern thought up a new type of Steam Locomotive that would be more Powerful and faster to compete with the Ambitious "Crack" trains of it's Archrival the Milwaukee Road such as the Famous "Hiawatha" Trains. So the answer was to expand a new Type of Motive Power rather than upgrading a Pacific. In early 1937 the C&NW turned to the American Locomotive Company (Schenectady Plant) to construct Nine 4-6-4 "Hudson" type Locomotives for Fast Passenger Service between Twin Cities, MN to Chicago, IL originally. These units were fit with Enormous 84" Drivers driven by 25" x 29" cylinders powered by a relatively High Boiler pressure of 300 Lbs. PSI producing 55,022 Lbs. of Tractive Effort. These engines were fit with Baker Valve Gear and Streamlined with a similar Shrouding like the Commodore Vanderbilt of 1934 with the "Upside-down Bathtub style" but was painted Dark Green with Yellow Stripes, Numbers, Lettering, and Black Wheels with Trucks. All Units were placed in Service as Numbers #4001 to #4009.
Revenue Service (The Earlier years and the War)[]
Originally when first entering Service in April 1937, they were built to haul the road's famous "400" express passenger trains, but before they were even delivered the railroad's management decided that streamlined steam was the wrong direction and instead placed orders with General Motors Electro-Motive Division for new Diesel-Electric locomotives. The displaced E-4s instead worked other trains until they were withdrawn from service in 1953 and scrapped. The nine E-4s were almost identical in specification and purpose to the Milwaukee Road's six class F7 locomotives, and they were built by the same builder at the same time, yet they were different in almost every detail of design. The C&NW regarded them for Lines that had not as many speed Restrictions, although they were never allowed to Crack open a full throttle due to the many Curves on the Mainlines. During the War Two E-S Class Pacific's numbers #1617 and #1620 would also be Streamlined for these Secondary Services in December 1941 where all other Locomotives remained Unchanged. The E-4's were designed by ALCO to top an average of 120 Miles per Hour (193.1kph) although they often were reserved for Speeds between 65 to 85 Miles per hour based on the Lines. The C&NW's E-4's were kept Busy during World War II as H Class 4-8-4's and First generation EMD Diesel-Electric's powered the Mainline Passenger Trains of the "400s" Service.
Postwar Era and Retirements[]
After the War ended in September 1945, all Passenger services slowed down after the Collapse of the Wartime Rushes of Troops. The E-4's within they're Years of Service were barely ever Changed besides Addling Mars Emergency Lights on the Front above the main Headlight. With the Chicago and North Western expanding they're Passenger Runs out west, they all eventually had they're Mechanical Stokers removed and were Converted to Oil-Firing in 1946-1947 where that Fuel was more Readily available. The Conversions were all completed by 1948 with little costs and the Fleet remained fully Intact until four units were Retired in 1953 replacing them with newer Diesels more Retirements progressed until the End of Commercial Steam Operations in 1956 System-wide. However, only Two Units survived passed 1956 were the last two Built in the Class numbers #4008 and #4009 where they were Converted to Stationary Boilers in Escanaba, Michigan, for Ore-thawing Service to prevent Iron ore from Freezing Together. They were both last used in August 1961 when they were replaced by a newer and more Efficient Infrared Process. To keep them from Rolling since there was no Air in them for their Brakes, they were Welded to the Rails by their Wheels and C&NW Crews had to Scrap both of them on Site. The Scrapping Process was Completed by September 1961, unfortunately none of these Neat Machines survived into Preservation. 
Stock List[]
| Number | Builder | Serial | Year Built | Year Retired | Year Scrapped | Mars Warning Light Installed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4001 | ALCO-Schenectady | 68982 | March 1937 | 1953 | C. 1953 | Yes | Was First Production E-4 for the C&NW. |
| 4002 | ALCO-Schenectady | 68983 | March 1937 | 1953 | C. 1953 | Yes | |
| 4003 | ALCO-Schenectady | 68984 | March 1937 | 1954 | C. 1954 | Yes | |
| 4004 | ALCO-Schenectady | 68985 | March 1937 | 1956 | C. Late 1956 | No | |
| 4005 | ALCO-Schenectady | 68986 | March 1937 | 1953 | C. 1953 | No | |
| 4006 | ALCO-Schenectady | 68987 | March 1937 | By 1956 | Early 1961 | Yes | |
| 4007 | ALCO-Schenectady | 68988 | April 1937 | 1953 | C. 1953 | Yes | |
| 4008 | ALCO-Schenectady | 68989 | April 1937 | By 1956 | August 1961 | No | Used in Ore Steaming Service in Michigan, 1956-1961. |
| 4009 | ALCO-Schenectady | 69028 | April 1937 | By 1956 | August 1961 | Formerly | Used in Ore Steaming Service in Michigan, 1956-1961, was Last New Steam Locomotive built for the C&NW. |