Steam & Excursion > Santa Fe 2926 latest quarterly newsletter

I really enjoy readiing these, and look forward to them on their website. This one has been out for a while, and members will be mailed a paper copy if they haven't got it already. This issue has good article about completeing the boiler tube & flue project, with several photos & drawings. Also a basic, easy to understand explaination about how superheating works. It says they are anticipating a boiler hydro test maybe later this month, and then testing and installing the superheater units after that.  And, they also added a few new photos last week, so be sure and look at those too.  This restoration has been underweigh for 13+ years, and is on the home stretch finally. There are several big steam restoration projects going around the country right now, some with quite a bit of publicity, and this one is almost ready for it's day in the sun. So send them a check so you can say that you helped, they truly will appreciate it. They will need the money not just for finishing  the current restoration, but for operating expenses and maintenance after that.
http://nmslrhs.org/Sidebar/NewsLetters/Library/Vol-XIV-No-1.pdf

Where exactly do they plan to run it?  BNSF is not exactly what you would call "steamer friendly".

PHall Wrote:
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> Where exactly do they plan to run it?  BNSF is
> not exactly what you would call "steamer
> friendly".

What makes you say THAT? The 4449 nor the 261 have ever encountered any problems dealing with BNSF. Also, the 3751 seems to be doing OK for an occasional operation even in the massively congested LA Basin.

And if you go back through the Minutes of the monthly meetings, you'll see that BNSF stepped up at least once with $10,000 in grant money. Hard to imagine they would do that and then prevent it from running.
 

It's spur connects to State of New Mexico trackage, BNSF doesn't have much say.

Out

callum_out Wrote:
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> It's spur connects to State of New Mexico
> trackage, BNSF doesn't have much say.
>
> Out

Does New Mexico own the track yet? I thought they were re-considering the purchase due to the State's financial issues.

BNSF has been on and off their property about 3 times in the last 3 years. I suspect that they (or at least the local management) are aware that there is a steam engine at the end of the spur, since they have hauled it in and out of there several times, and supplied engines for display, also several times.

That doesn't sound, to me at least, like something you would do if you don't like the people and aren't planning on running their engine when it is finished.
 

It would seem to be that 2926 is in one of the best possible locations for future operation of any mainline steam in the country. They have a State owned railroad that their spir connects to. There is hundreds of miles of senic mainline in good shape with only two other trains to compete for track space with. There is a decent local population center to draw riders and tourists.
As long as Amtrak doesn't get rerouted and the Raton line taken out of service, and 2926 crews proves to be as good at operating as they are at restoration they have a bright future.
Of corse it may be easier getting time on the mainline from BNSF than who ever is in control of the railrunner trackage. Sometimes it is hard to work with local government agencies so hopefully they have got friends in the government.