I thought I would share this picture of Reading 4-8-4 2100 on a flatcar in Toronto. Although I had some initial misgivings over its potential high center of gravity, to my knowledge no incidents occurred during transport to the west coast. I'm thinking 3751 could be transported the same way.

The boiler and sand dome were empty when shipped, so there's a lot of air above the drivers, where the center of gravity is.

You know, I never considered the boiler was empty when they moved her. I wish somebody would bring her back home.

Is the Santa Fe 3751 a lot bigger and heavier than these Reading 2100's?

the Santa Fe engine is about 31,000 lbs heavier, at least in working order it is.

The eastern 4-8-4s were generally smaller than the western ones. This was often due to the overhead and side clearances that they had to be built for.

The Santa Fe diagram for the 3751 class, reproduced at the rear of Iron Horses of the Santa Fe Trail, shows rail to top-of-stack as being 16'-0" with the stack extension taking it to 18'-6-1/2". Top of cab roof hatch (closed) being 15'-11-1/2".

I have seen new locomotives moved on these cars with the trucks following on a standard TTX flat. In moving a steam locomotive one must keep in mind that removing the boiler is not a big deal if a knowledgeable set of hands are involved. In most all rebuilds taking place in europe removing the boiler is near to step one.

Jason

Now that's what I was talking about. The height is what worried me, however. She would be just about at the height of a double-stack. Would one of the transformer well cars work? (I know there's an actual term for them, not sure whether that's it.)
Unmounting the boiler is a lot of work for a trip. Better to send her intact if possible.

How would it generate the needed revenue on the trips east and back? Could you sell cab rides?
Talking lot of money here.

My apologies, I was talking in reference to moving none functioning power....specifically via truck. This obviously would not work for the 3751. The QTTX flatcar looks like it would though. Much time between now and then, I'm sure Jason can work something out.

Why this continued obsession with finding any and every way possible for the 3751 to go to the Trainfest? Let it go.

Because it isn't only 3751 and it isn't only this year's Trainfestival. Moving ANY steam equipment ANY distance is going to become more and more problematic as RR road foremen and other managers lose the concept of what steam is, does, requires and can manage.

If we can find a solution this time that is beneficial to everyone involved, it will set a precedent for future movements. That's why we need to look at alternatives that seem unlikely at first glance. It may be time to think about a dedicated engine transport car, or rather engine and tender transport cars, that could travel on regular trains. It may be time to look over the whole US railroad map, identify low-density lines and suggest them when proposing any steam move even if it does take longer to get from Point A to Point B. It may be time to figure the weight of any equipment likely to travel and know what would be necessary to move her fifteen miles, a hundred miles, five hundred miles, under steam, dead in tow...most of the operators already know this, but we don't have good backup plans in place yet. Until recently, backups haven't been that necessary. Sometimes we can wish a rich uncle would throw money at the problem and make it go away, but sometimes money isn't the problem--time, or geography, or supply problems may be.

If we don't plan for the day when not a single mid-level manager knows what a steam locomotive looks like, nobody will know what a steam locomotive looks like. On the other hand, if fuel prices keep going up, coal and wood-fired boilers may look pretty good.

If you have read some of my previous postings regarding the subject of moving rail equipment most of your post would have been unnecessary, I think it would be called "preaching to the choir".

I simply do not think that in this particular case that the planning and execution of a flatcar or barge or truck or Martian spacecraft trip for 3751 could be done in the few months remaining before Trainfest.

HI All

I would like too know , where is she getting moved to, , thank you, Pat

Um...as of 12/30 Jason said:

As of now it is "suspended". Other options are being discussed.

Yes, it's probably a considerable long shot. But not exactly impossible. Whether new route, new timing, or a flatcar move. We can probably rule out anything that requires disassembly.

Steve