“That was our goal, ‘Steam in 2018,’ and we did it,” says Chief Mechanical Officer Rick Kirby of the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society.
The last time No. 2926 felt an oil fire in its belly was in 1956 when the locomotive retired at the age of 12 after a million miles of dual-service running. Outshopped in 1944, the engine represented the apex of locomotive development as the Santa Fe began buying diesel power.
For three days historical society crews nursed the fire checking appliances, plugs and with a roar blowing out the steam tubes. On Tuesday, boiler pressure topped out at 260 psi, short of its operating pressure of 300 psi but enough to claim victory in a preliminary round leading to operational status.
As expected, problems arose although they are considered minor: a few leaks, valves that need to be tighter, a finicky extender that wouldn’t raise the smokestack, a bent blowdown nipple and inconsistent fuel flow from tender to fire box. An attempt to blow the whistle on Tuesday revealed water in the line and produced a sound compared to a sick moose.
“Your first steam-up is always a punch-list-development session,” says Sam Lanter, retired chief mechanical officer of the Grand Canyon Railway.
The Grand Canyon Railway, which re-built and operates ex-Chicago, Burlington & Quincy No. 4960, was one of a number of steam programs that helped support the No. 2926 restoration. That included mechanical work such as machining and truing crossheads, being a ready source of knowledge and advice, and providing training for historical society volunteers.
“They’ve got a good bunch of guys here,” Lanter says, adding he was impressed by amount of data the team gathers from sensors installed in the locomotive.
The first fire had been planned for early June until a routine shove of No. 2926 into its engine house stalled when an H beam holding rail over the work pit shifted and derailed the tender truck. It was two weeks before Hulcher Professional Services could rerail the engine, and the historical society then set about repairing and bolstering the pit.
A special guest on Wednesday was Medardo “Uncle Mel” Martinez, who during his 44 years as a machinist with the Santa Fe ran No. 2926 onto the transfer table at the Albuquerque Shops and once took it to the roundhouse. Born into a railroad family in San Marcial, N.M., a railroad town wiped away by back-to-back floods of the Rio Grande in 1929, he is now 92.
“I worked on it before they put it in the park,” Martinez says. “It’s wonderful to be here. This brought back wonderful memories for me.”
Martinez had little difficulty climbing the stairs to the cab and taking a seat at the throttle. He says he’s looking forward to riding behind No. 2926 when operations begin.
When that will be is an open question given Amtrak’s new antipathy toward excursions with privately owned cars. The historical society had been counting on operating through Amtrak for its insurance coverage and steam-qualified engineers.
For now No. 2926’s crew is letting the engine slowly cool before attacking the new punch list. Work sessions are scheduled every Saturday and Wednesday morning with visitors welcome.
The next steam-up is expected in about two weeks.
Meanwhile the crew is also finishing work on the new company store after tearing down the old one in June to make way for Hulcher’s heavy rerailing equipment. Also in progress are preparations for the locomotive’s annual open house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29.
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What a marvelous achievement, congratulations! Watching hat mighty 2926 alive means even a bit more to me than that famous UP 4014 project. Well done so far! Whish all the luck to the club for the future activities leading to steaming on BNSF rails. The club once promised – and delivered to the point, great!
W
She certainly looks wonderful; I lived just north of Albuquerque for several years and worked near the park where the big 4 8 4 was slowly turning into a “park engine’.
The ultimate excursion would be from her home to LaJunta Co. over Glorietta and Raton passes.
I hope between the state of New Mexico, BNSF, and Rail Runner ; insurance and other issues can be worked out.
This Amtrak decision not to operate special and excursion trains is just plain dumb.
The fact they operate with your and my tax bucks is even a better reason to cover the running these trains.
And as long as I am dreaming the thought of BNSF letting her run brings me to the tracks from Dodge City east. Highway 50 runs next to the main for miles and would provide great shots similar to those taken of UP 844 between Denver and the Wyoming border along highway 85.
While we are dreaming what happened to the matched set of Santa Fe cars that the Indiana Rail Museum had at Nobelsville: wouldn’t that be a sight.
As a New Mexico resident I must say this is great to hear. I think it would be neat to see a double-header of ATSF 2926 and 3751. Two Santa Fe giants together again, that would be some sight.
The volunteers and members who have been working so hard for so many years deserve a big pat on the back for sticking with it, even when things seemed to be always going wrong. Since Amtrak is an “unknown”, maybe BNSF would step forward and allow the engine out on the mainline for at least a few test runs. We can only hope.
Wow, wow, wow!
A handsome steam engine.