It was primarily used to pull fast passenger trains before it was rebuilt by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in 1937 to be re-classified as an S-4a with Streamlining, and it was renumbered 4000 in the process.

The streamlining was removed during World War II, and the locomotive was later downgraded to secondary passenger and mail service.

The locomotive was donated to the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1963, and it remains on static display in Copeland Park, as of 2025.

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.

[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.

4000 and other 4-6-4's were subsequently retained as emergency backup power for when diesel locomotives broke down.

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.

[8] 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.