I haven’t seen anything in here about the 2926 recently. Their webpage shows the engine moving from the barn outside using compressed air from this past week with them saying the intention is to fire it up and move it on steam this coming week. It’s awesome to see her getting real close to being ready to run!

Joe

Very neat!

It seems like it's been "very close" for several years now.

Has the organization secured a place to run it?


Les

Where they plan to operate the engine has never been said, as far as I can tell - but in a recent update on their web site, they made a reference to working out an agreement with the local commuter railroad (New Mexico DOT) - so possibly that is what they are planning.

I thought I heard something in the past about it potentially running to Las Vegas NM. Don’t quote me on that though.

So I just looked at Las Vegas, NM on Google Maps. There appears to be a large roundhouse adjacent to the BNSF yard there, but no turntable nor lead tracks to it. The nearest wye that I could spot is in Lamy, NM, quite a ways to the south, and one leg of it has what appears to be a very sharp curve.

Here’s an article mentioning it possibly running to Las Vegas, NM and the Grand Canyon

https://www.newmexico.org/nmmagazine/ar ... enovation/

I definitely could see the 2926 operating on the rail runner lines. I don’t know what the weight limits are on the Santa Fe Southern but I would assume the 2926 is too heavy for that line.

Does it still have the Honda gasoline generator mounted up under the cab?

Very pleased to see this latest update. I’ve been following this project for several years, I would like to make the trip west to see in action when it’s finally running.

There is supposedly a verbal invitation outstanding to both 2926 and 3751 by the Grand Canyon Railway that, if they can ever manage the hard part of getting to Williams, they will be welcome for several trips or months or whatever of operation.

There is a precedent, mind you--Milwaukee 261 spending months at Steamtown before returning west after the Steamtown "grand opening" and 1995 NRHS Convention.

The ultimate "wet dream" of the foamers, of course, would be for BOTH to show up at the same time, but that would probably take a National NRHS Convention to do............ hmmmmmmmmmmm.................

We stopped by while in Albuquerque several years ago. I was deeply impressed with the progress and dedication of the crew. The locomotive is huge! Can't wait to see it running.

One thing you need to remember about the crew doing the restoration of 2926. Most of them worked at for the National Energy Lab at Los Alamos building Nuclear Weapons. They are not going to half rear end the job. They are going to do it right the first time and make sure that when it is done the next time it needs a 1472 inspection that it can be done faster than you can blink. From what I can gather about what they did during this one if something was in doubt it was replaced.

A lot of them also taught/worked at New Mexico Tech in Socorro.
They are a fantastic group and I always enjoyed visiting whenever I was in ABQ.

Apparently today, 2926 was fired up and is in the process of reaching operating pressure. It is expected to move within the next few hours.

For the record, and using mileage in an old Official Guide, it's about 68 miles from Albuquerque to Lamy, New Mexico and approximately 132 miles from Albuquerque to Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Great to see video of the 2926 moving on its own power over the short section of track outside of its Shop building there in Albuquerque.

Les