Western Railroad Discussion > Toto Tuesday: 3415 greets the new season!

By tradition Memorial Day weekend is when the Abilene & Smoky Valley’s darling steam engine, the former Santa Fe 4-6-2 Pacific makes her first runs of the year. She then makes weekend runs regularly once a month until just after Labor Day in the fall. Follow along as ‘mg8711’ & I celebrate her return to service for the 2016 season:

Rise & shine!
1. & 2 Abilene & Smoky Valley 3415, the ex-AT&SF 4-6-2 sits inside her ‘barn’ along former Rock Island branch line trackage in Abilene. She is about …

3. … to be extracted by A&SV #4, an ex-Hutchinson & Northern Alco S-1.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/16 13:27 by santafe199.

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Warming up.
4. It’s a quarter after 7 and the 3415’s fire has been lit. Now it’s a matter of waiting for her boiler pressure to build up. Meanwhile the sun is climbing in the eastern sky.

5. There is ample time to do a complete walk around photo study of the area, which includes shooting a few images from the artsy side of things.

6. I climbed up into the cab and had a pleasant chat with a volunteer gentleman who rose early and made the 90” drive over from Topeka. As we spoke he made occasional adjustments. We both watched the 3415’s boiler pressure steadily rise.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/16 12:46 by santafe199.

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Almost ready.
7. & 8. The sun is now high enough to warm the 3415’s skin while her inner fire has her boiler pressure very close to an operational 190 lbs.

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An attention-grabbing moment.
9. & 10. “Houston, we have a problem!” In truth, neither crewman seemed to be overly concerned as a bit of combustible residue burned off under the firebox. The fire burned itself out after several seconds.

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A grand entrance.
11. It’s Showtime! The 3415 makes her graceful entrance with a stroll across Cedar Street.

12. At Buckeye Ave/KS hwy 15 the 3415 is preceded by a flagman, as seen here looking south through the windshield of my faithful rig, ‘Willie III’.

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Coupling up, loading up.
13. The 3415 slips down the main past the excursion train she will be taking over to nearby Enterprise. Once she arrives at Enterprise, she will run around her charges and pull the train backward to Abilene.

14. I’m standing on the boardwalk of one of “Old Abilene Town’s” historic display buildings watching the 3415 back onto her train. Get your tickets!

15. As she has done so many times since 2009, the 3415 backs onto her train. The Eisenhower Center grounds are on the left hand side of this beautiful 4-6-2 as she sits loading passengers.

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One more look before departure.
16. Outside the old Rock Island depot the 3415 + train takes on passengers. Inside the depot you can study her history.
(16 photos taken May 30, 2016 in Abilene, KS)

Thanks for looking!
Lance Garrels
santafe199

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Thanks for a great series showing off a beautiful locomotive!

Larry

Lance -

What a beauty. Thanks.

Walter​

Awesome pics! That locomotive needs to be somewhere where she can stretch her legs. 10 mph track doesnt seem good enough for the speeds she was designed for, although still better than sitting in a park. Lol

Good photo coverage.  Glad we have one in this area.
 

I went out there a year ago with the grandboys, I put up my $100, and enjoyed a cab ride over to Enterprise and back. Money well spent, even at ten mph (a little better in places). Enjoyed the relaxing pace, and visiting with the crew. Doesn't seem like a exciting trip, but where else in the world can you ride a real, full sized Santa Fe 4-6-2 for a couple of hours, any where, at any price ? (thanks for the coverage, I know they appreciate it, and hopefully others will get out there and take the ride)

Great essay, Lance!