KRQE Albuquerque: https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-m ... d-running/

• Santa Fe 2926, 4-8-4 (BLW 69814 / 1944)

New Mexico Steam Locomotive Railway Historical Society: http://www.nmslrhs.org/

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Roller bearing equipped, and beautiful in every way. Congratulations 2926 crew! I visited while she was still having a boiler patch applied in 2010. THis is a terrific inspiration to all steam restorers.

Simply early dieselization is the reason why.

Remember that a lot of Santa Fe locomotives were retired around this time were leased to work elsewhere. Most of the latest 2-10-4’s were sent to work for the PRR in Ohio, and some of that class were even kept on, while the larger heavier 2900’s did not see the same luck because they were primarily passenger locomotives.

Here’s a very, very old article about the history of 5021 in its latest years. It’s a good read.

http://atsf.railfan.net/atsfpres/atsf5021.html

HI All
This is where, all the hard work pays off, the first Steam up, then the first movement under Steam. All I can say is Congratulations to the members and volunteers behind the operation.

Video by Arkansas Locomotive Works: Santa Fe #2926 Steam Locomotive First Moves!

CONGRATULATIONS to AT&SF #2926 !!! That sure is an awful lot of engine, it must have taken a container full of Super Hard Shell Turtle Wax to make her look so nice and shiny, too. What I don't get is the complete absence of mud dauber nests showering from the stack --- every time I've been present for one of these revival operations, the first exhaust stroke on each side very visibly evicts colonies of these critters that have lived for many years inside the cylinders, valves, and steam passages. Truly amazing and gorgeous, I can't wait to see her for myself.

CHICO LIVES !!!

It's really a shame there aren't more places for large locomotives like that to run, even more so at track speed.

Looks great, so happy to see her under power and also hope they'll get to run her (and like many, would love to see a double header with 3751).
The WW2 American Campaign and National Defense Medal ribbon stickers on the cab are, I suppose, a nod to serving on the home front during WW2 and Korea? I think that’s more than a bit of a stretch. I’m into military history MORE than I am into trains (not to mention a veteran as well) but I must admit I’m not a big fan of that. I just hope this doesn't become a permanent thing like UP 4014's "Big Boy" painted on the smokebox...

I'm sure this has been asked and answered, but does 2926 have a carbon steel boiler? I think ATSF was replacing nickle steel boilers and had several new ones sitting around when they dieselized that weren't used.
That may have been why some of the 2900s retired a little earlier.

The purchase of 25 new carbon steel boilers to replace the nickel steel originals was meant for the prewar 5001 class 2-10-4's, 3460 class Hudsons, and the 3765 and 3776 class 4-8-4's. They weren't intended for the 2900's, which like the wartime 5011 class of 2-10-4's, received carbon steel boilers due to wartime shortages (A blessing in disguise).

Only 21 of the 25 replacement boilers were eventually applied to this family of 37 locomotives, with the program halted after the 5008 received her new boiler in October 1953.



Santa Fe was mostly dieselized by the end of 1953, so it makes sense she didn't see further service (I imagine official retirement came a few years later, with some modern Santa Fe steam staying on the books into at least 1959).

In April of 1953, corporate ordered managers to prepare to eliminate all steam servicing facilities except between Argentine-Clovis, where 101 modern 4-8-4's and 2-10-4's were to handle through freights.

By October of 1953, 17 of the 2900's were in service in the Argentine-Waynoka freight pool and four others were assigned to Belen helper duty, with the remaining 9 stored. The belief at that point was that 1953 would end with approximately 50 4-8-4's and 2-10-4's in service.

But thanks to a traffic slump and the delivery of 12 A-B-B-A sets of F7's, not a single Santa Fe steamer was in service on the last day of 1953 (The Cleburne shop switcher got the day off so that claim could be made in the annual report). In January 1954, corporate issued instructions that stored steamers were only to be reactivated for emergencies.

The delivery of 80 new diesels in 1954 solidified the end of any plans for regular Santa Fe steam action and classified steam repairs ceased in early May with the closure of the Albuquerque shop. Remaining steam would only be revived for seasonal rushes and the Belen helper pool.

That first call to duty came in May of 1954, the first of four annual revivals before the final curtain call came (And the leasing of 12 of the 5011's to the Pennsy in April of 1956). 1955 was the last "good" year, with demand enough to even dust off some 2-10-2's for yard duty at Clovis and Amarillo and a handful of Mikes for local service in Kansas. And for the last couple of revivals, helper service was their sole duty.

Hopefully that sheds some light on why there actually isn't anything surprising in the least with the 1953 date for when she last operated.

https://railfan.com/with-santa-fe-2926- ... B2o4islKug

Questions on where 2926 could run are now being answered

It appears that from the article there are plans to get the locomotive to operate on the previously discussed locations, but also over Raton pass. And that BNSF is “warm to the idea of letting the 4-8-4 run on it.”

Very interesting.