Located on an industrial facing in Albuquerque, New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society volunteers have been working for more than 20 years to restore Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe locomotive 2926 to working order. ATSF 2926, a 4-8-4 “Northern” , is one of 30 examples of the 2900 series built by Baldwin Locomotive Works.
The 2900s are the largest of their class and are the last steam locomotives built for ATSF. 2926 was built in 1944 and after retirement in 1953, was donated to the City of Albuquerque in 1956, where it stood on static display in Coronado Park (not far from the restoration site) for over 50 years. Being exposed to the elements and enthusiastic children and adults during this time created additional challenges for her restoration, but ATSF 2926 ran on her own steam for the first time in 66 years in July 2021.
As of May 2022, ATSF 2926 was nearing completion and the organization is working with government and corporate officials to move into the next phase of their plans, which is to offer passenger excursions pulled by 2926. The size, grandeur and mechanical complexity of this unique and culturally and historically significant locomotive must be experienced up close and in person.
