On May 4, 2024, the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society, or the New Mexico Heritage Rail as it’s now called, the restorers of AT&SF 2926, let the horse out of the barn for the first time this year. The excursion? Twelve hundred feet to the east to Tractor Brewing where it will spend the morning being admired by the citizens and railfanners of Albuquerque and surrounding locations.
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe 2926 is a class "2900" 4-8-4 type steam locomotive built in May 1944 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. It was used to pull passenger and fast freight trains, mostly throughout New Mexico, until it was retired in 1953. Three years later, it was donated to Coronado Park in Albuquerque for static display.
In 1999, it was purchased by the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society to be rebuilt for operational purposes. After over twenty years of restoration work, 2926 moved under its own power on July 24, 2021, becoming the world's heaviest operational 4-8-4 and the sole operating class 2900 locomotive among the remaining six in existence. It will eventually be used for mainline excursion service between Albuquerque and…, well who knows.
Join us on this first Saturday in May as we catch it backing out of the barn for the journey to Tractor Brewing!