The Santa Fe 2900 Class was a series of 30 "Northern" type steam locomotives built between 1943 and 1944 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) for Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad (ATSF) and pulled freight and passenger trains until retirement in the early to late-1950s.
Today, six 2900s survive, with five engines on static display and one, No. 2926, has been restored to operating condition in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fully restored in July 2021, it is considered to be the largest and heaviest operating 4-8-4 type steam locomotive in the world.
History Being built during World War II, wartime shortages of lightweight metals resulted in ordinary metals being used for their construction. This resulted in the class being the heaviest 4-8-4s ever built. They outweighed their nearest rivals by over 2,000 pounds. They have Timken roller bearings on all axles. Between 1946 and 1948, they were then approved for speeds with the Santa Fe's express passenger trains after being fitted with Timken roller bearing tandem side-rods, up from 100-mph when delivered with its original side-rods. However, anecdotes from retired drivers suggest the class could run for long periods at speeds of over .
Though they were designed to haul passenger trains, wartime exigencies required that they also haul fast freight until the war ended. After the war, they hauled passenger trains such as the Chief, Scout and Grand Canyon Limited. After diesels took over, the class was retired by 1959.
Preservation Six 2900s survived into preservation: 2903 is displayed at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois. 2912 is displayed at the Pueblo Railway Museum in Pueblo, Colorado. 2913 is displayed at Riverview Park in Fort Madison, Iowa. 2921 was originally displayed at Beard Brook Park in Modesto. It is now displayed at the Modesto Amtrak Station in Modesto, California. 2925 is displayed at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California. 2926 moved from Coronado Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1999 to the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society (later renamed to New Mexico Heritage Rail) there; then moved locally for rebuilding to operating condition. Restoration was complete in July 2021, and is currently operational. On October 1, 2007, No. 2926 was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Roster NumberBaldwin serial numberDate builtDispositionNotes2900697881943Sold for scrap.2901697891943Sold for scrap.2902697901943Sold for scrap.2903697911943On display at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois.2904697921943Sold for scrap.2905697931943Sold for scrap.2906697941943Sold for scrap.2907697951943Sold for scrap.2908697961943Sold for scrap.2909697971943Sold for scrap.2910697981943Sold for scrap.2911697991943Sold for scrap.2912698001943On display in Pueblo, Colorado.2913698011944On display in Fort Madison, Iowa.2914698021944Sold for scrap.2915698031944Sold for scrap.2916698041944Sold for scrap.2917698051944Sold for scrap2918698061944Sold for scrap.2919698071944Sold for scrap.2920698081944Sold for scrap.2921698091944On display at the Amtrak Station in Modesto, California.2922698101944Sold for scrap.2923698111944Sold for scrap.2924698121944Sold for scrap.2925698131944On display at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California.292669814March 1944Operational in Albuquerque, New Mexico.On the National Register of Historic Places2927698151944Sold for scrap.2928698161944Sold for scrap.2929698171944Sold for scrap.
References