Last week we visited the New Mexico Steam group in Albuquerque and toured the restoration of the magnificent Santa Fe 4-8-4 steam engine, 2926. It will be the largest active steam locomotive other than the Big Boy and it is massive (although so is WM 1309). After languishing in a city park, following its 1953 retirement, it was moved to a warehouse area for restoration in the early 2000’s.
Virtually every part has been restored or rebuilt. And it now includes PTC with technology borrowed from the Big Boy restoration. It’s under the plastic in the photo. Our guide said the cost is near $6 million which I’m sure includes the value of donations. For instance, Timken replaced all the roller bearings at no cost (and paid for shipping!).
In a couple weeks it will move under steam a few hundred yards on the spur to a brewery. I’ll drink to that. Plans are to have it pull excursions (using equipment loaned from BNSF). First will be a short trips to Lamy. Later it will be an all inclusive trip to Las Vegas, NM for a weekend and accommodations at the beautifully restored former Harvey House hotel, La Castaneda.
This is one impressive engine. It was built in 1944 by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone, PA. Because of the war the Santa Fe couldn’t order diesels. So this was cutting edge steam technology at the time. Initially it hauled freight and all Santa Fe streamliners. It was rated for 100mph (83 inch drivers helped!). Early in restoration, our guide told us. an old timer said he was there when a late ‘Chief’ hit 112 mph to make up time.
Here is a PBS story on it.
Virtually every part has been restored or rebuilt. And it now includes PTC with technology borrowed from the Big Boy restoration. It’s under the plastic in the photo. Our guide said the cost is near $6 million which I’m sure includes the value of donations. For instance, Timken replaced all the roller bearings at no cost (and paid for shipping!).
In a couple weeks it will move under steam a few hundred yards on the spur to a brewery. I’ll drink to that. Plans are to have it pull excursions (using equipment loaned from BNSF). First will be a short trips to Lamy. Later it will be an all inclusive trip to Las Vegas, NM for a weekend and accommodations at the beautifully restored former Harvey House hotel, La Castaneda.
This is one impressive engine. It was built in 1944 by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone, PA. Because of the war the Santa Fe couldn’t order diesels. So this was cutting edge steam technology at the time. Initially it hauled freight and all Santa Fe streamliners. It was rated for 100mph (83 inch drivers helped!). Early in restoration, our guide told us. an old timer said he was there when a late ‘Chief’ hit 112 mph to make up time.
Here is a PBS story on it.
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