LOS ANGELES. — Santa Fe steam locomotive No. 3751’s appearance at last weekend’s Los Angeles Union Station Train Festival 2023 saw multiple firsts. It was the first public outing for the locomotive this year, the first visit to the passenger terminal since 2017, and the first public night photo session since returning to service in 2022.
On Friday, September 8, the Baldwin-built locomotive steamed from its home at Redondo Junction to the nearby 8th Street Yard in preparation for the ferry move to Union Station. No. 3751 arrived the following morning with Amtrak’s B32-8WH diesel No. 509 as an escort.
“No. 3751 performed flawlessly on this outing to Los Angeles Union Station,” said Alex Gillman, vice president for the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society, which owns the locomotive. “The steam crew completed the locomotive’s hydrostatic inspection with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) prior to this outing, meaning that No. 3751 is fully certified for another year of operations.”
Displayed at the far west platform on Sept. 9 and 10, the 4-8-4 sat nose-to-nose with former Santa Fe SD45-2 diesel No. 5704, recently restored in its bicentennial scheme and currently in transit to its new home at the nearby Southern California Railway Museum. Additional equipment in attendance were private railcars Tioga Pass (former Canadian National business car) and National Forum (former Union Pacific sleeper), as well as locomotives and rolling stock from Amtrak, Metrolink, BNSF Railway, and LA Metro. However, it was No. 3751 that played a starring role with cab tours and strong sales in merchandise, according to Gillman.
“We estimate roughly 10,000 people attended this past weekend’s Train Festival event,” he explained. “Which clearly shows the public’s interest in today’s railroad operations, history, and safety.”
No. 3751 returned to Redondo Junction on Sunday evening to take part in one final event. Capping off the weekend was the locomotive’s first night photo session since completing its FRA 1,472-day inspection and boiler recertification in 2022. As a headliner for the sold-out spectacle was No. 3751 positioned on the ex-ATSF turntable that was refurbished by Amtrak.
Regarding upcoming maintenance and future operating opportunities, Gillman states, “Beyond regular preventative maintenance tasks, No. 3751 stands ready to roll for whatever the next outing may be.”
For more information, visit the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society website.
Neat locomotive, I remember seeing it running up AT&SF’s now BNSF’s central valley CA line in the late 1990s at track speed and it sure sounded great. If they ever get to double head it with the 2926 that will be even more amazing.
It is a NORTHERN type not MOUNTAIN type.
Check the weblinks below when you have time!
https://www.sbrhs.org/equipment/santa-fe-3751/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe_3751
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Restored with pride, joy and tradition. Operated with passion, hope and determination.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe 3751 is a class 3751 4-8-4 “Heavy Mountain” type steam locomotive built in May 1927 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone (Philadelphia), Pennsylvania. No. 3751 was the first 4-8-4 steam locomotive built for the Santa Fe and was referenced in documentation as type: “Heavy Mountain”, “New Mountain”, or “Mountain 4-wheel trailer”. No. 3751 served in passenger duties until being retired in 1953.
The locomotive was then placed on display in San Bernardino until it was restored to operating condition in 1991. It is currently located in the Central City East neighborhood of Los Angeles and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2000. It holds the distinction of being the oldest surviving 4-8-4 type steam locomotive in the world.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
You know what’s better than an ATSF 4-8-4? TWO ATSF 4-8-4s. Just an observation.
The turnout this past weekend at LAUS was very impressive. The waiting time to get to the outside exhibits reached an hour and a half at times, but people were patient and event staff (paid and volunteer) managed everything with style and grace. There’s no shortage of enthusiasm for trains (from Z-scale models all the way to the 3751) in Southern California!