It is 2021 and after a lot of hard work from the volunteers, 2926 was fired up and moved under its power in 68 years. Can’t wait for this engine on excursions!
2926 is actually a bigger and more modernized engine that has many improvements over the 3751. Probably the two biggest improvements are the bigger tender and roller-bearing equipped side rods.
+CoasterFan2105, I Hope You Can Upload a "Steam Locomotive 2926 Restoration" RU-vid Video on your RU-vid Channel. It will be Awesome. And Hello, By The Way. 🚂🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋
The entire run of the Santa Fe 2900 class 4-8-4's were impressive. I saw them work on the ATSF lines in L.A., San Diego and San Bernardino. This restoration is a true work of art.
One 4-8-4 UP FEF 3 could star and haul 88 fully loaded Iced Perishable cars. It took 3 GP-20's to do the same thing. BUT.. stops for water by steamers.
I've visited your site twice, and can't wait to come back, now that assembly is well under way. I wear my 2926 hat each and every day. What a thrill to see her coming back to life. Great job, guy and gals!
This is a spectacular look back into history for Albuquerque and for our US rail systems. My grandfather worked in Albuquerque for the Santa Fe rail system for 46 years as a machinist. My grandfather was meticulous at keeping notes where he ordered parts for this and other engines. To this day I have his notes with engine part numbers and the original black & white photo of the workers sitting on engine 2926. This documentary and restoration project would make him very proud. Thank you to all!
Great story. Are any of your relatives crane operators or oilers? I know a couple of folks with IUOE 953 who live in the Albuquerque area with the same last name as yours.
2926 is getting closer and closer to hitting the rails again! I can't wait to see her and 3751 double heading over Raton Pass and over Cajon Pass in the future. It's good time to be a rail fan now that Union Pacific 4014 will be running again soon and to witness these awesome engines pounding the rails again! Imagine seeing 3751,844,2926,700,and 4449 all together at the same place at the same time, WOW!!!!
It would be really cool to see SP&S 700, SP 4449, UP 844, Milwaukee Road 261, NCST&L 576, N&W 611, Santa Fe 3751, and Santa Fe 2926 together at the same place at the same time!
I had the opportunity to visit ABQ and the 2926 restoration some time back. The craftsmanship, dedication and perserverance of the tremendously skilled volunteers is something to see.... and to support. They have my support, and I hope yours. Let's get fire back in this boiler soon! Best wishes to every volunteer!
I was there in late 2018 but didn't get a chance to come by I was in Clovis then dropped off at Amtrak Albuquerque Depot. I did get a chance to walk down and see the old shop complex, I might make it out there again to see her run I'm crew on SP 2472
One of the many reasons that 2926 is an excellent candidate to return to steam is that in 1944 Santa Fe teamed up with The Timken Company to install roller bearings on all axles and the connecting rods, and also replaced the early, heavy connecting rods with modern (at that time) "lightweight" connecting rods. The Timken Company has recently completly rebuilt all the bearings that needed it, and DONATED the wonderful service!!! Thanks to our freinds at Timken...!!!
Thanks and best wishes to the great team of volunteers who are restoring this beautiful steam locomotive... and best wishes for the thousands of miles that are ahead...!!!
Santa Fe 2926 the largest 4-8-4 northern steam locomotive soon to be in operating condition. Albuquerque, New Mexico is where it is located, owned by the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society, and it got a steam up last year in 2018!!!!!!!!! Soon the 2926 will be powering excursions when the finishing touches is complete. This will be the only 2900 northern that can be operational. Help us continue to restore the big northern for the next steam up and back to service today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If Pentrex or Railway Productions do a straight to DVD movie about 2926's first run, I do like to see it be narrated by Morgan Freeman and music composed by James Horner.
This is a brief history of the maintenance repairs for the 2926, it is great to see that a second Santa Fe rr 4-8-4 type has been restored to operation along with the 3751. Now that the repairs for the 2926 have been completed, i am eager to see how this locomotive will perform while operating in passenger excursion service.
Iam a big fan when it comes to steam in operation I plan to work one in service someday like maybe when iam 30 I don't know yet maybe even locomotives like F7A 38C
Makes me think of the old days when you blew your nose it was black yet if I was not so old I would rebuild again and operate passenger locomotives once again. I hope that both AT&SF 4-8-4's will be back in service once again. I love it.
I think they might actually do that. I remember reading once a while back in an article on the internet about 2926's restoration that the two group's are discussing the possibility of either running 3751 out to New Mexico, or bringing 2926 to the west coast and doing a double-headed excursion trip here in California. If it happens and the trip runs in California, I'd bet it would most likely be from Los Angeles to San Diego, LA to Bakersfield, or possibly LA to Barstow and back.
I was wondering whether 4-8-4s made it to San Diego, especially up twisting Sorrento Grade. Then I discover your photo of a 2900 in front of San Diego station.
I love hearing the story our State Locomotive. Whenevwr i can i try to share it with others. May i have permission to use the old footage of 2926 roaring past the camera? Im making a video telling about 2926 and her story and where she is today..
Thanks for your great observations and comments, Kristina...! I'm happy to honor your grandfather's work, and that of many others, with our video. If you would, please send me an email at frostfree2@aol.com I'd like to talk with you about the very historic notes that you have...! Thanks! Jim
Scottiedog13 Honestly, I like smaller engines. Nothing bigger than a 4-8-8-4. In fact, I think 2926 is better in appearance. 4-8-4's were easier to maintain anyway.
yeah that'd be cool cause its a part of our california RR history and we cant let it rot in a park filled with homeless people and drug dealers like it is now.
Kevin Metz You don't know how happy that makes me knowing you brought up 2921 to those guys working on 2926. I really hope that they'll come here and finish and redo everything that was done in the late 90s. She really has fallen into disrepair and needs help if we want to keep her from turning into a scrapheap. I'd love for one day to see her move under her own power.
Bronywithguns870 I'm sure anyone who's been around the "surviving" 2900s and 5000s would want to see them fixed! I think 2925 is probably in worse condition than 2921. 5021 is also a gem being abused in Sacramento.
yeah once 500 is back in operation in 3-4 years. 400 is to be done within 2 years so we'll see after that. The newer management at TSRR is a lot better now.
bravo pour cette belle histoire au moins la vapeur est encore bien vivante aux états unis pas comme en france ! pourtant on est toujours en train de vous copier ?!...
As a self appointed "Central Scrutinizer", (Frank Zappa), I couldn't help but notice that the numbers on her tender, (at 6:28 in), appear to be a weak comparison to her original livery. Anybody's thought's ? (Sorry for "fly-specking" and no big deal).
Guys 2926 and 3751 are different engines for 1 3751 has 80" drivers and is a class 2 4-8-4 build after the class1 4-8-4 or the 2900's the 3700's are a different class and size
you do realize that I'm not doubting her pulling ability but her ability to travel likely far west over towards 3751 just so all could even triplehead. 2926 isn't that far away from where 3751 is as compared to 3415. Friction bearings is another thing keeping her from coming way over here. a 2926 3751 doubleheader is not at all far off reality, a 2926, 3751, and 3415 tripleheader is. Believe me I'd love to see as much as you but you gotta think realistic here.
Yeah, deleted my original comment as the reply stack got too hectic. And if I had a Santa Fe steam engine, I'd still prefer painting the road number on the sides of the cab instead of the A.T. & S.F.