Steam & Excursion > ATSF 2926 Steamed Up But Needs Help to Leave

As most know, the Santa Fe 4-8-4 had a mostly successful second steam up on July 29 except for safety valves that released at a lower pressure than the maximum of 290 psi. Other than that, testing of appliances and performance of blowdowns were successfully completed. After the safety's are adjusted, tested and reinstalled, the pistons will be installed so the engine can move under its own power. But there is a problem - The track and switches east of the 8th street crossing need serious work so as to be able to support the weight of the loaded engine and tender and the society is asking for help to pay for the $30,000 cost of the work.

Below are some pictures of the steam up and details of what is required to get the engine out of the engine house. 
To visit the website, use either of the links below:
http://www.nmslrhs.org
http://2926.us

1. Firing and safety procedures are checked before beginning the test.
2. The firebox is hot and steam is building!
3. Those not directly involved are sitting in the shade of the engine house.
There are numerous videos of the steam up at the July 29 photo page: http://nmslrhs.org/Photos/2019/07-29/index.html
And more of the story and photos at our Newsletter page: http://nmslrhs.org/Sidebar/NewsLetters/Library/Newsletter-2019-08-02.pdf



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/19 12:24 by Cumbresfan.

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Here is what is required to get the engine out of the engine house and across the 8th street crossing. Please help if you can:
http://nmslrhs.org/Help/howtohelp.php#donate



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/19 12:09 by Cumbresfan.

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when they get it out where will it run? I'd like to see it.

jethat Wrote:
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> when they get it out where will it run? I'd like
> to see it.

Progress is being made in that area but there are no details yet. When the new tool car arrives this fall, the engine must be moved out to allow the car to enter the property, so getting the track and switches in compliance is critical.

After viewing the latest posted info & pictures, I have one technical question; Just what the hell is a "root valve"??????

Thanks for posting this and bringing it to everyone's attention!

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Is there anyplace in Albuquerque where they can turn it ? When it's able to back out and get to main line trackage, will it be pointed north or south ?

Posted from Android

There's a wye in the BNSF facility, would think it's still in service.

Out

When NKP 765 was being rebuilt the first time in 1976 to 1979, there were no guarantees that anyone would let it run. It is a classic which- comes- first-the-chicken-or-the-egg situation. Someone has to take the chance or nothing will ever happen. Some railroads or operators will not take "talk" seriously. Talk is cheap. It is a gutsy proposition to get a mainline locomotive running again.

Posted from Android

When 2926 backs out of her rebuild spur and goes about 9 blocks east to the Amtrak/NM Rail Runner/BNSF mainline, she'll be headed north (eastbound), can then back  south to either the still functioning? turntable at the former ATSF backshops, or proceed farther to a  wobbly wye a few blocks south, at the beginning of the old Sandia Labs spur.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/19 20:22 by Abqfoamer.

Helped to dig out those same rails the day 2926 was moved to the rebuild site.

Shouldn't the conditions of the rails be though of before the fire up?

Abqfoamer Wrote:
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> When 2926 backs out of her rebuild spur and goes
> about 9 blocks east to the Amtrak/NM Rail
> Runner/BNSF mainline, she'll be headed north
> (eastbound), can then back  south to either the
> still functioning? turntable at the former ATSF
> backshops, or proceed farther to a  wobbly wye a
> few blocks south, at the beginning of the old
> Sandia Labs spur.

Now $30,000 for this bit of work and then what's ahead in getting to the "??" turn table or the wobbly wye?  Sounds like when she moves she better walk lightly wherever she treads and have the ability to retreat quickly, especially if these latter facilities aren't meeting specs.  Maybe the chicken has come before the egg!!

rrman6 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Abqfoamer Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > When 2926 backs out of her rebuild spur and
> goes
> > about 9 blocks east to the Amtrak/NM Rail
> > Runner/BNSF mainline, she'll be headed north
> > (eastbound), can then back  south to either
> the
> > still functioning? turntable at the former ATSF
> > backshops, or proceed farther to a  wobbly wye
> a
> > few blocks south, at the beginning of the old
> > Sandia Labs spur.
>
> Now $30,000 for this bit of work and then what's
> ahead in getting to the "??" turn table or the
> wobbly wye?  Sounds like when she moves she
> better walk lightly wherever she treads and have
> the ability to retreat quickly, especially if
> these latter facilities aren't meeting specs.
>  Maybe the chicken has come before the egg!!

Careful boys, fellow forumites do not like you questioning the timeline of how this project was and is being managed. 

NKP779 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When NKP 765 was being rebuilt the first time in
> 1976 to 1979, there were no guarantees that anyone
> would let it run. It is a classic which- comes-
> first-the-chicken-or-the-egg situation. Someone
> has to take the chance or nothing will ever
> happen. Some railroads or operators will not take
> "talk" seriously. Talk is cheap. It is a gutsy
> proposition to get a mainline locomotive running
> again.
>

Yeah, but that was before everyone sat around on internet forums complaining endlessly and asking questions they have no desire to help answer. I can just imagine the endless posts in a late 1970's interenet with the broken record repeating over and over "Where will it run?"

C'mon, fixing that piece of track isn't any big deal and 30 grand in this day and age sounds about right. This
thing has enough tail wind that once it's running the politicos will do what's needed to get the Rail Runner board
in line and provide some help on the insurance. ABQ (the city) can use all the help it can get!

Out

rrman6 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Abqfoamer Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > When 2926 backs out of her rebuild spur and
> goes
> > about 9 blocks east to the Amtrak/NM Rail
> > Runner/BNSF mainline, she'll be headed north
> > (eastbound), can then back  south to either
> the
> > still functioning? turntable at the former ATSF
> > backshops, or proceed farther to a  wobbly wye
> a
> > few blocks south, at the beginning of the old
> > Sandia Labs spur.
>
> Now $30,000 for this bit of work and then what's
> ahead in getting to the "??" turn table or the
> wobbly wye?  Sounds like when she moves she
> better walk lightly wherever she treads and have
> the ability to retreat quickly, especially if
> these latter facilities aren't meeting specs.
>  Maybe the chicken has come before the egg!!

Not sure how "wobbly" the wye is. Amtrak turns trains there if they have to terminate in ABQ for some reason. Also last year's BNSF shipper special passenger train turned there. If the 2926 turns there, the engine will take up only a short distance of the tail segment.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/19 10:51 by Cumbresfan.

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After viewing the latest posted info & pictures, I
> have one technical question; Just what the hell is
> a "root valve"??????

I had to look it up too. It's a mechanical engineering term; from a Google search:
"... a generalized definition is the first isolation valve in a branch or system. Could be a sub-header off the main steam line or the first isolation valve for pressure/instrumentation tubing."
"... 'root valve' is just a term used as to indicate the first isolation valve following a take-off from a larger header. ... the term has been used for vents, drains, and instrumentation."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/19 11:06 by Cumbresfan.

Cumbresfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> HotWater Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > After viewing the latest posted info & pictures,
> I
> > have one technical question; Just what the hell
> is
> > a "root valve"??????
>
> I had to look it up too. It's a mechanical
> engineering term; from a Google search:
> "... a generalized definition is the first
> isolation valve in a branch or system. Could be a
> sub-header off the main steam line or the first
> isolation valve for pressure/instrumentation
> tubing."
> "... 'root valve' is just a term used as to
> indicate the first isolation valve following a
> take-off from a larger header. ... the term has
> been used for vents, drains, and instrumentation."

Thanks, but it sure is an odd usage in the railroad steam locomotive technical terms. Apparently, they are referring to the main turret steam supply valve, which virtually every steam locomotive has. It is designed to shut off the steam supply to the turret, in order to fix a possible leaking system supply valve stems.

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cumbresfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > HotWater Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > After viewing the latest posted info &
> pictures,
> > I
> > > have one technical question; Just what the
> hell
> > is
> > > a "root valve"??????
> >
> > I had to look it up too. It's a mechanical
> > engineering term; from a Google search:
> > "... a generalized definition is the first
> > isolation valve in a branch or system. Could be
> a
> > sub-header off the main steam line or the first
> > isolation valve for pressure/instrumentation
> > tubing."
> > "... 'root valve' is just a term used as to
> > indicate the first isolation valve following a
> > take-off from a larger header. ... the term has
> > been used for vents, drains, and
> instrumentation."
>
> Thanks, but it sure is an odd usage in the
> railroad steam locomotive technical terms.
> Apparently, they are referring to the main turret
> steam supply valve, which virtually every steam
> locomotive has. It is designed to shut off the
> steam supply to the turret, in order to fix a
> possible leaking system supply valve stems.

Take a look at the named valves shown in the August 2 newsletter and in the video link below. I'm a novice and also not on site so I appreciate your explanatory comments.
http://nmslrhs.org/Photos/2019/07-29/ChangeAirToSteam.html