The Restored It, And the Ran it On the Main Line!

They say strange things happen during the full moon, and we’re in Albuquerque underneath one as we find something that hasn’t been seen here since the 1950s makes an appearance along the former Santa Fe Main Line as Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe 4-8-4 Restored Northern runs on the main line for the first time under steam since her fire was dropped on Christmas Eve 1953.

After a lengthy restoration that began in 1999 when she was removed from Albuquerque’s Coronado Park and capped off with its fire once again lit in 2021. The 2926 moved out of the gate of the restoration facility onto the Sawmill Spur for the first time in May of 2023.

On September 30th of the same year, she finally got a chance to break out of the spur when she rounded the curve and entered what is now the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Albuquerque Subdivision and headed next to the former Santa Fe locomotive shops where the locomotive would have been serviced when in revenue use.

On display for New Mexico Railroad Days, she came down with a baggage car, a work-in-progress conversion to a tool car. Next to the 2926, Amtrak brought in P-42 #203, painted to promote Operation Lifesaver, a program to prevent grade crossing collisions, and had it on display along with a newer BNSF wide-nose General Electric Diesel.

Join us as 2926 ventures out (@YardLimit caught it leaving the day before). We’re kinda delayed in block even though we never get above restricted speed so that distant signal won’t matter. We’re on NMRX which if you’re a CoasterFan, you’ll see similar equipment. So be a virtual Railfan and join us.