ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Restored Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 2926 made about a half-mile move down the spur track from its restoration site to a local brewery on Saturday, May 6, 2023, drawing thousands of onlookers for a fundraising event. The movement was the first time in 20 years the engine, built by Baldwin in 1944, has moved outside of its work site. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller declared the day “Steam Locomotive 2929 Day,” and cab tours and all merchandise offered by the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society sold out, making the trip to Tractor Brewing Co. a highly successful event.
“Today, I would imagine most of the guys [from the historical society] feel elated and exhausted at the same time,” said Mathew Casford, chief of rail operations for the nonprofit organization. “This was a dress rehearsal for things to come.”
The locomotive performed great, requiring only minor adjustments, according to Casford. All the city, state, and Rio Metro Regional Transit District leaders who were partners in the event came away from it with complete satisfaction, he said.
The next logical step in future operating opportunities for No. 2926 is currently in the works, including a possible visit to the Alvarado Transportation Center — a multimodal transit hub for Amtrak’s Southwest Chief and the Rail Runner Express commuter system in downtown Albuquerque. In the meantime, the NMSL&RHS will drain both the boiler and tender, and ultimately flush out any remaining water and condensation to prevent rust and corrosion.
“It’s all about trying to outwit the rust that’s going to develop because everything was hot and steaming,” Casford explained.
For more information, visit the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society website.
— Updated at 1:00 p.m. CDT with comments from historical society’s Mathew Casford. Trains.com’s Lucas Iverson contributed to this report.
So, is there a train of former Santa Fe passenger cars waiting to be pulled by No. 2926 as on past excursions?
Congratulations to all involved. In Memory of Harley Tucker former member of the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society.
John S. Reed who would be proud and to bad Stan Kistler could not photo this event RIP both these great ATSF men.
Apparently, according to multiple accounts, the brewpub was closed during the occasion!
Can’t have a violation of Rule G, after all……………….