New Mexico Railroad Days
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Santa Fe No. 2926 will be under steam to attend New Mexico Railroad Days at Albuquerque’s downtown Rail Yards – a former ATSF facility with sections redeveloped for venue purposes, and future home for the restored 4-8-4. Organized by the locomotive’s owner, the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society (DBA New Mexico Heritage Rail), the free event is scheduled on Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“These events help draw people to areas they may not have been to before and to gain new experiences,” said John Roberts, president of the non-profit organization. “We plan events like this to bring public awareness to our project and our goals, educate the visitors about the history of locomotives, stimulate interest in railroad history, and encourage becoming a volunteer member to help support the current and future needs of the organization.”
According to the press release, the 4-8-4 will depart on Sept. 30 at 8 a.m. from its restoration site on 8th Street for the ferry move to 1st St., along New Mexico Rail Runner Express’ Albuquerque Subdivision – Sawmill Spur. The locomotive will then traverse the ex-ATSF Transcontinental main line for the first time since 1956 to reach the BNSF Railway freight yard near the Rail Yards Market at 777 1st St.
No. 2926 will depart on Oct. 1 shortly after the event for the return trip. “We are really happy that NMDOT’s leadership [New Mexico Department of Transportation] has provided us the opportunity to make these trips,” Robert explained.
New Mexico Railroad Days will headline No. 2926 with accessible cab tours for the public. Equipment from Rail Runner, BNSF, and Amtrak have also been invited to participate in the festivities. A private night photo session titled Steam at the Albuquerque Rail Yards is scheduled for that Saturday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and will be led by award-winning photographer Steve Crise.
For more information, visit the New Mexico Heritage Rail website.
A very impressive locomotive, I sure hope we get to see it on a mainline pulling a passenger train at speed.
Santa Fe 2926 is a former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway class 2900 4-8-4 type steam locomotive, built in 1944 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone (Philadelphia), Pennsylvania. It was used to pull passenger and fast freight trains, mostly throughout New Mexico until it was retired from revenue service in 1956. It was subsequently donated to a park in Albuquerque for static display. In 1999, it was purchased by the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society to be rebuilt for operational purposes. After over twenty years of work, the restoration was finally completed, and No. 2926 was steamed up again on July 24, 2021. It will eventually be used in mainline excursion service between Albuquerque and Las Vegas, New Mexico.
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