Santa Fe 2926 facts for kids
| Santa Fe 2926 | |
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| Santa Fe No. 2926 on display at Coronado Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico | |
| Power type | Steam |
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| Builder | Baldwin Locomotive Works |
| Serial number | 69814 |
| Build date | March 1944 |
| Rebuild date | 1999–ongoing |
| Configuration | 4-8-4 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Driver diameter | 80 in (2,032 mm) |
| Length | 120 ft 10 in (36.83 m) |
| Axle load | 77,500 lb (35,200 kg) |
| Weight on drivers | 293,860 lb (133,290 kg) |
| Locomotive weight | 510,150 lb (231,400 kg) |
| Tender weight | 464,700 lb (210,800 kg) |
| Locomotive and tender combined weight | 974,850 lb (442,180 kg) |
| Fuel type | Oil |
| Fuel capacity | 7,000 US gal (26,000 L; 5,800 imp gal) |
| Water capacity | 24,500 US gal (93,000 L; 20,400 imp gal) |
| Boiler pressure | 300 psi (2.1 MPa) |
| Fire grate area | 108 sq ft (10.0 m2) |
| Cylinders | 2 |
| Cylinder size | 28 in × 32 in (711 mm × 813 mm) |
| Power output | 4,590 hp (3,420 kW) at 40 mph (64 km/h) |
| Tractive effort | 79,968 lbf (355.72 kN) |
| Factor of adhesion | 3.67 |
| Last run | December 24, 1953 (revenue service) |
| Retired | 1956 (revenue service) |
| Current owner | New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society |
| Disposition | Undergoing restoration to operating condition, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico |
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ATSF Locomotive No. 2926
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 Location in New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1600 Twelfth St. NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1944 |
| Architect | Baldwin Locomotive Works |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000388 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 1, 2007 |
The Santa Fe 2926 is a very special steam locomotive. It was built in 1944 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, often called the Santa Fe railway. This huge train belongs to a group called the "2900 class" and is a "4-8-4 Northern" type. These locomotives were the heaviest and largest of their kind built in the United States.
The Santa Fe 2926 was a hardworking train. It carried both fast freight and passengers, traveling over one million miles! Its last trip for the railway was on December 24, 1953. In 1956, the locomotive and a caboose (the last car on a freight train) were given to the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was to celebrate the city's 250th birthday, and the train was put on display in Coronado Park.
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A Long Journey: From Park to Restoration
For many years, the Santa Fe 2926 was a static display in Coronado Park. This means it just sat there for people to look at. But on July 26, 1999, something exciting happened! The city sold the locomotive to the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society. This group wanted to bring the giant train back to life.
Moving the Giant Train
Moving such a huge locomotive is a big job! On June 23, 2000, a company called Messer Construction moved the train to a special BNSF Railway track near Menaul Boulevard. Then, in May 2002, the railway moved it again to its current spot. This is where the Society is working hard to restore it.
Bringing a Giant Back to Life
The New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society is working to make No. 2926 run again. When it's finished, it will be the largest "4-8-4 Northern" type steam locomotive in the United States that can actually operate! Right now, the Norfolk & Western 611 holds that title.
In January 2018, people hoped the restoration would be finished by the end of that year. Volunteers from the Society had already spent over 166,000 hours working on the project. They also spent more than $2.8 million to fix up the train.
First Fire in Decades
A huge step happened on August 20, 2018. The boiler of Santa Fe No. 2926 was fired up for the first time in 63 years! This was a big moment, showing that the train was getting closer to running.
The locomotive was supposed to have its first test run on March 20, 2020. This would have been the first time it moved on its own power since 1953! However, this event and most other restoration work had to stop because of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico. It will likely be a few more months until the 2926 can run again.
When it's ready, the Santa Fe 2926 might take part in special events. It could even run alongside another 4-8-4 type train, No. 3751. It might also visit the Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona.
A Special Recognition
On February 11, 2016, the New Mexico State Legislature officially recognized the Santa Fe No. 2926 steam locomotive. They passed something called House Memorial 100, which said that this train represents how railroads helped New Mexico grow.
The locomotive has also been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since October 1, 2007. This means it's an important historical item in the United States.
- House Memorial 100
