Revenue service

Between 1930 and 1935, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) ordered twelve S-4 class 4-6-4s from the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as well as one from their own West Burlington, Iowa shops, and they were numbered 3000–3012.^[1] No. 4000 was numbered 3002 at the time, being the third locomotive of the class, and it was designed to pull the CB&Q's premier passenger trains across the road's system, such as the Chicago Limited between Chicago, Illinois and Denver, Colorado, and the American Royal between Chicago and Kansas City, Missouri.^[2]

As the 1930s progressed, the CB&Q also purchased a fleet of diesel locomotives from the Electro-Motive Corporation (EMC) as the first locomotives to ever be built with aerodynamic streamlining, and they were used to pull the CB&Q's newer trains that would become known as the Zephyrs. However, some of these units would occasionally break down, and a conventional steam locomotive would be needed to take its place, resulting in the train to be de-streamlined from the front end, and the train wouldn't go as fast as the Zephyrs were designed to go. To that end, the CB&Q decided to streamline one of their own steam locomotives as back-up power for their diesel units; in late 1936, No. 3002 was taken to the CB&Q's West Burlington shops to be rebuilt with the application of a new valve gear frame, a middle Boxpok driving axle, lightweight roller bearing rods, roller bearing trailing bogies, and tender bogies. The locomotive also became the very first steam locomotive to be shrouded with stainless steel streamlining in the United States.^[1]

With the modifications increasing the locomotive's tractive effort to 47,700 pounds and top speed to over one hundred miles per hour, No. 3002 was reclassified as an S-4a, and it was renumbered to 4000. It was also given the official name Aeolus, being named after an ancient Greek God of the same name, as the CB&Q was giving Greek names to most of their Zephyr locomotives. After rolling out of the shops in April 1937, No. 4000 was reassigned to provide as an emergency backup locomotive to pull the Zephyr trains, such as the Denver Zephyr, the Silver Streak Zephyr, and the General Pershing Zephyr. No. 4000 received a classmate in 1938 in the form of No. 4001, which was also an S-4a that was shrouded with the "shovel-nose" streamlining. Eventually, No. 4000 was also nicknamed after a Popeye cartoon character "Big Alice the Goon", as a result of the locomotive's official name having a slight resemblance to "Alice".^[3]

The streamlining on the S-4as were removed in 1942,^[4] as the CB&Q was contributing to the World War II effort by scrapping most of their unnecessary equipment in favor of the war's steel drive. No. 4000 was also reassigned again to pull heavier trains that would carry military soldiers and military equipment. Once World War II ended, the CB&Q began investing in adding additional diesel locomotives to their fleet, and they began to dieselize their passenger trains.^[5] The CB&Q dieselized their entire passenger fleet on September 26, 1952, and No. 4000 and other 4-6-4's were subsequently retained as emergency backup power for when diesel locomotives broke down.^[5][6]

Excursion run and preservation

On July 1, 1956, No. 4000 was used to pull a railfan special train out of Chicago.^[7] The locomotive subsequently pulled another trip out of Chicago on September 2.^[7] With the success of the early fan trips, the CB&Q's president, Harry C. Murphy, eventually decided to start a steam excursion program on the railroad that would last until it was cancelled by a new president in 1966.^[8][9] Despite having pulled some of the 1956 fan trips, however, No. 4000 never took part in the program; the program mostly consisted of 2-8-2 No. 4960 and 4-8-4 No. 5632.^[8] Instead, No. 4000 spent six years sitting idle in Galesburg before it became secured for preservation. With the desire to preserve pieces of railroad history, a group of railroaders and enthusiasts in La Crosse, Wisconsin organized and founded The La Crosse Short Line Railroad Company.^[10] They requested the CB&Q to donate Aeolus to the city of La Crosse for static display in Copeland Park, a stadium park that takes place in North La Crosse.^[11]

After a two-year fundraising campaign, the locomotive was cosmetically restored and towed to its new home in Copeland Park along with a Milwaukee Road caboose on August 19, 1963. Subsequently, the locomotive has remained on outdoor static display, being exposed to the elements.^[12][13] Throughout the 1990s, a group of volunteers gathered to cosmetically refurbish the locomotive to make it look as good as it did during its revenue career. As of 2024, No. 4000 remains in Copeland Park while under the care of the 4000 Foundation.^[14][15] Occasionally, the foundation will host special events that take place around No. 4000's display site.^[16] Although there are no future plans for the locomotive to be brought back under steam, No. 4000 is in good enough condition to be rebuilt for operational purposes.