Steam & Excursion > ATSF 2926 group to relocate operations

I'm surprised this hasn't gotten mentioned on this board yet, but last week ATSF 2926 members got an end-of-year email that explains increased haste in moving restoration operations to the former Santa Fe railyards. The current US GSA access lease expires today (December 31) and as of 12/23 NM Heritage Rail had not received any information from the GSA as to renewal or extension. In anticipation of possible cancellation or only a short term extension, the group is rapidly making plans to move operations to the SF railyard including getting cost estimates for moving the conex boxes, engine shed and other items to the new location. The group is also awaiting final approval of the draft access agreement with the city of Albuquerque for occupancy of the site. 

In the past two years the current site has been subject to problems created by others. On the north side the former BIA buildings that provided some protection from intruders were vandalized by homeless persons and one set on fire. All have now been demolished leaving just a high fence with razar wire to prevent illegal access. On the south side, the neighboring lumber yard received a lease from the NM DOT to expand its yard over the unused Sawmill spur north to the restoration site fence. This eliminated most all of the onsite parking even for regular volunteers. Unfortunately on an adjacent street there is a drug clinic and many homeless congragrate there and outside the 2926 entrance.

The good news in the email is that the group has rotated from restoration to planning as an active rail operating entity. The focus then becomes on test operations at speed and future passenger operation. Empahsis is on establishing policies and procedures that allow interface with operating railroads including NMDOT and BNSF, PTC, and meeting federal government requirements along with providing insurance for passenger operation.  As the email says, moving from restoration to preparation and adoption of necessary operational plans will "strengthen the organization, improve safety and professionalism, and position NMHR for long-term success.”

A link to the entire end-of-year email is available on the NM Heritage website:
https://2926.us/
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/25 11:35 by Cumbresfan.

Containers are easy to move, but relocating a 3200 square foot building is not trivial.

 

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

Not trival indeed. I expect they will establish a concrete footprint at the new location,disassemble and move sections. The new location in the yard will be carefully chosen as they plan to build a full roundhouse and repair facility there in the future.

An intresting video posted a few days ago:: "The Cumbres and Toltec - a NM Heritage Rail Love Letter." The story of how three young men fell in love with C&T steam, learned the trade and now volunteer with the 2926 organization.

https://youtu.be/PUcUW6QAraw?si=VJX725LsZJttS0UU

Does the location of the turn table  line up well with the proposed building?

Hopefully this works out ASAP, it sucks their current location is not a good place anymore, the lumber yard's understandable, the homeless problem, that always sucks!

Cumbresfan Wrote:
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> Not trival indeed. I expect they will establish a
> concrete footprint at the new location,disassemble
> and move sections. The new location in the yard
> will be carefully chosen as they plan to build a
> full roundhouse and repair facility there in the
> future.

Does New Mexico not require building permits for this? In California you have to go through a lengthy, expensive plan check process before you can get a permit. 

 

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

The permit problem shouldn't be to bad. It's city owned property and the permit would come through them. What could be a problem going forward is remaining buried foundations. They are considering use of ground penetrating radar to locate buried roundhouse foundations, work pits and utility lines, and are a requesting a quote for the work (I've had some experience with that, coincidently at an old railyard. It produced inconclusive results and we ended up using a backhoe to expose the buried lines we were looking for). There have been several environmental investigations at the site showing some areas of concern. They will need to review and evaluate the results before deciding on the placement of permanent structures.

tomstp Wrote:
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> Does the location of the turn table  line up well
> with the proposed building?

I don't know if they have chosen a location for the Conex boxes and the relocated engine shed.