This is so awesome! I remember seeing it on display in Coronado Park when I lived in Albuquerque. To see it moving under it's own power is breathtaking.
From KOAT 7 Albuquerque:
Once upon a time, it was a workhorse for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. But it's been 67 years since ATSF Steam Locomotive 2926 went anywhere under its own power — that is, until Saturday.
Restored with loving care over two decades under the aegis of the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society, this massive piece of machinery — the world's rigid frame steam locomotive, according to a news release — looked shiny and new as it bellowed steam in preparation for the brief trip from 8th Street NW to 4th Street NW.Society president John Roberts was ebullient.
"So what we have going on today is a really momentous occasion for us," Roberts said. "We've been working for over 20 years and today, we take it outside of our restoration gate for the first time."
Their destination was Wells Park next door to Tractor Brewing.
"We've touched, repaired, painted, redone almost everything on the locomotive," Roberts said. "We're following a Federal Railroad Administration requirements. We're upgrading equipment where we need to, but then we load this up with about 10,000 gallons of water total, you know, a few thousand gallons of fuel oil, light it up and then you wait for 6,500 gallons of water to boil."
Dan Nicolini of Tucson, Arizona, got involved with the project 15 years ago after hearing about it while changing flights at the Albuquerque Sunport.
"And I thought, they're restoring a 484 Santa Fe engine — I want in on that. And I came down here and signed up, and I have come here to Albuquerque quite a few times over the last 15 years," Nicolini said. "Certainly not as much as the locals. These locals are just diehards."
A minute or two later, Nicolini put the project in perspective.
"You know, New Mexicans have a great heritage in many areas. And this is just, you know, a new part of New Mexico history." he said.
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