What locomotives did the AT&SF store in each roundhouse.

TheDukeofDank · **Joined:** Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:40 pm **Posts:** 43

I've been reading about the story of how 4-8-4 2925 and 2-10-4 5021 were stored in hopes of creating a museum to house both them and other ATSF locomotives. As well as how Prarie 1010 and The Little Buttercup were stored at Renodo Junction near LA for a similar potential purpose.

That led me to wonder if anyone had a complete list of the locomotives, both steam and diesel, that the AT&SF kept for themselves.

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2023 4:09 pm

Mid-management types of the Santa Fe were responsible for the preservation of the diesels which were stored in either Belen or Albuquerque, New Mexico (can't remember where). They desired to have examples of this early diesel locomotives preserved some where. Also there were the 2925 and the 5021.

The story that I heard was that their cover was blown when they arranged for the 1010 to be moved from Los Angeles to New Mexico. Upper management was surprised and asked what was going on. Reportedly the "big wigs" accepted what was being done, but not the behind the scenes way it was being done.

Later the Santa Fe did consider restoring the 2925 to service similar several other railroads in the 1970s and moved it to the Cleburne, Texas, shop for examination. Also a group of employees identified possible heavyweight era cars that were still on the property (many in MW service) that could be used for a train. Nothing happened with this concept.

The 2925, the 5021 and the diesels were gifted in 1986 to the California State Railroad Museum. Some of these subsequently were gifted by CSRM to other locations when it was rationalizing its collection to the available space. By example the FM diesel switcher that was equipped with a steam generator for working the Chicago coach yard was presented to Illinois Railway Museum.

With the locomotives CSRM received a whole boxcar of documents, drawings, etc. of all sorts that are now part of the CSRM library collections.

One of the passenger cars on the possible list of cars was a former parlor-observation car 1204 which was one of Art Dubin's "Classic Railroad Cars." The car was gifted to Orange Empire (now Southern California) Railway Museum.

Txhighballer · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:49 am **Posts:** 770

Brian Norden wrote:

Mid-management types of the Santa Fe were responsible for the preservation of the diesels which were stored in either Belen or Albuquerque, New Mexico (can't remember where). They desired to have examples of this early diesel locomotives preserved some where. Also there were the 2925 and the 5021.

The story that I heard was that their cover was blown when they arranged for the 1010 to be moved from Los Angeles to New Mexico. Upper management was surprised and asked what was going on. Reportedly the "big wigs" accepted what was being done, but not the behind the scenes way it was being done.

Later the Santa Fe did consider restoring the 2925 to service similar several other railroads in the 1970s and moved it to the Argentine, Kansas shop for examination. Also a group of employees identified possible heavyweight era cars that were still on the property (many in MW service) that could be used for a train. Nothing happened with this concept.

The 2925, the 5021 and the diesels were gifted in 1986 to the California State Railroad Museum. Some of these subsequently were gifted by CSRM to other locations when it was rationalizing its collection to the available space. By example the FM diesel switcher that was equipped with a steam generator for working the Chicago coach yard was presented to Illinois Railway Museum.

With the locomotives CSRM received a whole boxcar of documents, drawings, etc. of all sorts that are now part of the CSRM library collections.

One of the passenger cars on the possible list of cars was a former parlor-observation car 1204 which was one of Art Dubin's "Classic Railroad Cars." The car was gifted to Orange Empire (now Southern California) Railway Museum.

The 2925 was actually moved to the shops in Cleburne, Texas to be evaluated for service and from what I was told, it would have taken relatively little to get her back in service at the time. Both the 2925 and 5021 were moved around the yard quite a bit to keep them loose and the 5021 was in pretty good shape at the time as well.

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2023 12:49 am

Txhighballer wrote:

The 2925 was actually moved to the shops in Cleburne, Texas to be evaluated for service and from what I was told, it would have taken relatively little to get her back in service at the time. Both the 2925 and 5021 were moved around the yard quite a bit to keep them loose and the 5021 was in pretty good shape at the time as well.

Thank you for the correction. I was working from memory; and probably should have said to one of the shops.

I am correcting the original post.

Thanks, again.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Wed Mar 01, 2023 11:10 am

If I recall correctly,CSRM was unprepared to accept the collection and left the pristine locomotive unprotected in an open yard. The usual suspects descended on the locomotives and began picking off artifacts and red metals. I hope that story is incorrect, but that's what I understand to have been the case.
Imagine, an oil fired 2-10-4 basically ready to run. From possibility to merely a sweet dream.

davew833 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 01, 2023 11:38 am

Ostensibly, the "jewelry" from #2925 and #5021 was removed and safely stored by CSRM. The boiler jackets were removed and the cabs welded shut, but they've both been sitting outside for over 30 years now. After being heavily graffitied CSRM gave them a black dip paint job a few years ago and moved them closer to the museum, but, IMHO, they've no better than most park locomotives now. Things are only original once.

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Thu Mar 02, 2023 8:12 pm

Richard Glueck wrote:

If I recall correctly,CSRM was unprepared to accept the collection and left the pristine locomotive unprotected in an open yard. The usual suspects descended on the locomotives and began picking off artifacts and red metals. I hope that story is incorrect, but that's what I understand to have been the case.
Imagine, an oil fired 2-10-4 basically ready to run. From possibility to merely a sweet dream.

My understanding is that Santa Fe was looking for a home for the collection, etc. and reportedly considered several museums. At least one non-government one in California and maybe others across its service area. Some of these may have had more secure locations; but, other aspects outweighed the openness of the Sacramento yard.

Yes, the SP yard in Sacramento was not secure and a number of large out-door objects (i.e. railroad cars & locomotives) suffered. We all wonder, if another site with appropriate cash donations, etc in support of the ATSF collection would have been better.

Ken Middlebrook · **Posted:** Fri Mar 03, 2023 1:35 am

Richard Glueck wrote:

If I recall correctly,CSRM was unprepared to accept the collection and left the pristine locomotive unprotected in an open yard.

The donation occurred during the SF/SP merger application. CSRM accepted the equipment donation with the understanding that the Sacramento Shops would be turned over to the museum after the merger. The shops would have provided indoor space for the collection. The merger application was denied.

What locomotives did the AT&SF store in each roundhouse.

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