It was built in November 1900 by the Brooks Locomotive Works as part of the E-25 class for the Wisconsin Central as No.

In 1909, the Wisconsin Central leased by the Soo Line Railroad,[1] and from there on, the locomotive was renumbered 2645.

Its last revenue freight assignment occurred on October 29, 1952, and it was afterwards donated to Frame Park in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where it remained on static display until 1972.

That year, it was moved to the nearby ex-Chicago and North Western station that eventually became a restaurant.

The following year, a realignment of ex-C&NW trackage was made for a new connection on the Wisconsin Central mainline, and the Wisconsin & Calumet Railroad ordered the locomotive to be moved, so when volunteers arrived at Waukesha, they quickly prepped the locomotive for movement to North Freedom on its own wheels.