Steam & Excursion > ATSF 2926, 2019 End of Year Update

Our CMO, Rick Kirby, provides a lengthy end of year update that I will link below. I won't summarize but the good news is that after two decades of work, and barring any completely unexpected problems, 2926 will be rolling on its own power in the spring!

December 28, 2019 Year End Work Status

Back on Track - Coming to Life after 20-years of work, New Mexico Magazine article

Link to 2926 home pages:
http://nmslrhs.org/
or:
http://2926.us

Photos:
1. Engine after rollout 12/21/19 awaiting workers and visitors.
2. Engine 12/22/10 (note the gentleman at far right)
3. Engine 01/04/20 (through the miracle of Photoshop, he appears again! Nope, it's a real photo!)



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/20 17:34 by Cumbresfan.

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Great photos of a gorgeous locomotive, it is truly a "beautiful beast"!
SR2

2926 certainly looks sharp.
ALLEN

Cumbresfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Our CMO, Rick Kirby, provides a lengthy end of
> year update that I will link below. I won't
> summarize but the good news is that after two
> decades of work, and barring any completely
> unexpected problems, 2926 will be rolling on its
> own power in the spring!
>
> December 28, 2019 Year End Work Status
>
> Back on Track - Coming to Life after 20-years of
> work, New Mexico Magazine article
>
> Link to 2926 home pages:
> http://nmslrhs.org/
> or:
> http://2926.us
>
> Photos:
> 1. Engine after rollout 12/21/19 awaiting workers
> and visitors.
> 2. Engine 12/22/10 (note the gentleman at far
> right)
> 3. Engine 01/04/20 (through the miracle of
> Photoshop, he appears again! Nope, it's a real
> photo!)

Good Luck in 2020- Locomotive looks real sharp.

Regards,

David

Now comes the really big question. Where are they going to run it?
Seems sad to work for over 20 years and not be able to see it work.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Now comes the really big question. Where are they
> going to run it?
> Seems sad to work for over 20 years and not be
> able to see it work.
Most likely, it will be a regional or short line railroad at this point.  Just my guess unless the Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) officials have a heart and are willing to allow it to run on their line.  Who knows, strange things sometimes happen?  My best wishes to all who are involved, Happy New Year and let's just hope for the best.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

krm152 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 2926 certainly looks sharp.
> ALLEN

Lots more pictures at the Newsletters link:

http://nmslrhs.org/Sidebar/NewsLetters/Library/Newsletter-2019-10-28.pdf

A state agency owns the track that its' spur connects to, what am I missing on the "where will it run" question?

Out



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/20 11:14 by callum_out.

Thanks for all the updates, Mr. B.  We appreciate 'em.

Good to see that after he wrapped up his Christmas duties, Santa returned to his REAL job in ABQ.  ;-)

-John

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A state agency owns the track that its' spur
> connects to, what am I missing on the "where will
> it run" question?
>
> Out

Don't know the answer to your inquirey but the bigger wonder is if the deal to run on the Amtrak route to Glorieta Pass and beyond was nixed due to no
more extra trains by Amtrak.  If thats the case I think they are out of luck due to the insurance issue, that Amtrak provided folks for special trains, etc.  Between insurance, and PTC, and unfriendly railroads mainline steam seems pretty dead right now.  Only exception is UP as they have their own railroad to run 4014 and 844!  Wish the 2926 people could find a place to run this nice engine, but I doubt they have anything concrete at this point. Best of luck though.  I got to see 3751 to Chicago in 1992.  Nice engine!

Greg Scholl
http://www.gregschollvideoc.om
 

There's a wye at Santa Fe that could be reinstalled, run it up and back.

Out 

Don't know for sure, but I'm sure they are working on a place to run her, or they already have it worked out. Things like that you keep close hold until it's time.

4449 and 3751 both could run on the mainlines in the past, but not anymore.
Heck 3751 is lucky if it can run all the way to Fullerton on the BNSF.

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There's a wye at Santa Fe that could be
> reinstalled, run it up and back.
>
> Out 

Reinstalled is not the word. It would have to be completely rebuilt with new cut and fill dirtwork. Also, some of the land may now be in private hands causing further issues.

Here is its location if you want to check it out:
35.657053° N
-105.965204° W



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/20 10:46 by Cumbresfan.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 4449 and 3751 both could run on the mainlines in
> the past, but not anymore.

Well that isn't exactly true. Yes, neither 4449 nor 3751 are able to operate passenger excursions, under Amtrak insurance, on the main line, but that didn't prevent BNSF management from using 4449 on their un-occupied executive train, in order to make a "I-Max movie",between Vancouver, WA and Wishram, WA, in 2018. Now, 3751 is a different story, since she is down for her FRA mandated 15 year boiler re-certification, plus both BNSF and UP rail lines in southern California are way too busy for steam excursions.

> Heck 3751 is lucky if it can run all the way to
> Fullerton on the BNSF.

My thought is that the 2926 operation could be a real feather in the cap of the state of New Mexico, they could use some positive
PR. They've been short for years on their contractual support for the C&TS but the 2926 would be a local and positive connection
to ABQ. Let's see how smart they are before Intel leaves.

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My thought is that the 2926 operation could be a
> real feather in the cap of the state of New
> Mexico, they could use some positive
> PR. They've been short for years on their
> contractual support for the C&TS but the 2926
> would be a local and positive connection
> to ABQ. Let's see how smart they are before Intel
> leaves.
>
> Out 

Oh, the CATS hasn't been doing too badly recently with their capital requests for engines and trackwork. Last year they got what they needed and this next year (starting July 1), who knows. Just yesterday state revenues were estimated to decrease by $100 million dollars. Horrors!!

Of course we still will have an estimated $700 million surplus due to oil and gas revenues (NM is #3 in the country in energy production). So I don't think C&TS will do too badly in this year's short 30 day legislative session starting on the 21st.

Maybe, but NM was zero to well short for years, CO was carrying the load on the funding. The line is close or slightly above revenue neutral but
depends on state funds for major and equipment expenditures.

Out 

gregscholl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> callum_out Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A state agency owns the track that its' spur
> > connects to, what am I missing on the "where
> will
> > it run" question?
> >
> > Out
>
> Don't know the answer to your inquirey but the
> bigger wonder is if the deal to run on the Amtrak
> route to Glorieta Pass and beyond was nixed due to
> no
> more extra trains by Amtrak.  If thats the case I
> think they are out of luck due to the insurance
> issue, that Amtrak provided folks for special
> trains, etc.  Between insurance, and PTC, and
> unfriendly railroads mainline steam seems pretty
> dead right now.  Only exception is UP as they
> have their own railroad to run 4014 and 844!
>  Wish the 2926 people could find a place to run
> this nice engine, but I doubt they have anything
> concrete at this point. Best of luck though.  I
> got to see 3751 to Chicago in 1992.  Nice
> engine!
>
> Greg Scholl
> http://www.gregschollvideoc.om

At the AAPRCO annual meeting in ABQ lat fall, Amtrak was asked if their no special trains rule was completly hard and fast. Their response was that they would consider a special train request if the train was run on one of their regulary scheduled routes. I received an email yesterday that Amtrak has approved a special AAPRCO train from Chicago to Albany next fall then off Amtrak to Vermont. If this actually comes to pass, it indicates Amtrak has become more flexible (likely because of the big $$$ they will receive). That would mean that a special Amtrak train using 2926 might be approved on the BNSF owned section of track from Lamy to the turning wye at French (track west of Lamy to ABQ is owned by NMDOT). Be optimistic!

Gee wiz, wouldn't Amtrak want to get some revenue for that line that only sees two trains a day? Oh, yeah, I forgot, they don't think like a business.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com