HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe 3751 is a preserved class "3751"
4-8-4 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles, eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles and four trailing wheels on two axles. The type wa ...
" Heavy Mountain" type
steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, Fuel oil, oil or, rarely, Wood fuel, wood) to heat ...
built in May 1927 by the
Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) was an American manufacturer of railway locomotives from 1825 to 1951. Originally located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it moved to nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania, Eddystone in the early 20th century. The com ...
in Eddystone (Philadelphia), Pennsylvania for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway (ATSF). No. 3751 was the first 4-8-4 steam locomotive built for the Santa Fe and was referenced in documentation as type: "Heavy Mountain", "New Mountain", or "Mountain 4-wheel trailer". No. 3751 served in
passenger A passenger is a person who travels in a vehicle, but does not bear any responsibility for the tasks required for that vehicle to arrive at its destination or otherwise operate the vehicle, and is not a steward. The vehicles may be bicycles, ...
duties until being retired on August 23, 1953. The locomotive was then placed on display in
San Bernardino San Bernardino ( ) is a city in and the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, the city had a population of 222,101 in the 2020 census, making it the List of ...
until it was restored to operating condition on August 13, 1991. It is currently located in the Central City East neighborhood of
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
and has been listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
since October 4, 2000. It holds the distinction of being the oldest surviving 4-8-4 type steam locomotive in the world. The locomotive is currently owned and operated by the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society, which uses the locomotive to haul occasional mainline excursion trains. However, a federally mandated 15-year inspection put it out of service in 2017. No. 3751's overhaul was completed in September 2022, and it returned to service that month.


History


Revenue service

Built in May 1927 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW), No. 3751 was BLW's and the Santa Fe Railway's first 4-8-4 type, costing $99,712.77.. Tests showed that the new locomotive was 20% more efficient and powerful than the 3700 class 4-8-2 ''Mountain'' types, which at the time were Santa Fe's most advanced steam locomotives. Santa Fe adopted the terminology "Heavy Mountain", "New Mountain", or "Mountain 4-wheel trailer" as notation for this new 4-8-4 type and continued the numbering sequence of the 3700 class Mountains by numbering the first 4-8-4 3751. In 1936, the locomotive was converted to burn oil and was given a larger tender that holds of water and of fuel oil two years later. No. 3751 was also present at the grand opening of Union Passenger Terminal in Los Angeles on May 7, 1939, pulling the ''Scout'', one of Santa Fe's crack passenger trains as it arrived from Chicago. It was the first steam locomotive to bring a passenger train into Union Station. In 1941, 3751, along with the other 13 locomotives in its class, received major upgrades that included: replacing the original spoked
driving wheels On a steam locomotive, a driving wheel is a powered wheel which is driven by the locomotive's pistons (or turbine, in the case of a steam turbine locomotive). On a conventional, non-articulated locomotive, the driving wheels are all coupled tog ...
with boxpok wheels, a new frame, Timken roller bearings on all axles, and more. That same year, it achieved its highest recorded speed at . It continued to be a very reliable working locomotive until August 23, 1953, when it pulled the last regularly scheduled steam-powered passenger train on the Santa Fe to run between Los Angeles and
San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
; this was its last run in revenue service before being put into storage at the Redondo Junction roundhouse, where it sat until being officially retired from active service in 1957. On May 14, 1958, it was placed on display in
San Bernardino San Bernardino ( ) is a city in and the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, the city had a population of 222,101 in the 2020 census, making it the List of ...
.


Restoration

In 1981, the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society was formed with intentions of restoring and operating 3751. Four years later, it achieved its goal when 3751 was sold to it for one cent with the condition that the SBRHS must restore and operate the locomotive. In 1986, 3751 was moved from its display to California Steel Industries, where it was restored at a cost of $1.50 million. On August 13, 1991, it moved under its own steam for the first time in thirty-eight years. It made its first excursion run on December 27, 1991, running with two Santa Fe EMD FP45s and 16 passenger cars on a four-day trip from Los Angeles via Barstow to
Bakersfield Bakersfield is a city in and the county seat of Kern County, California, United States. The city covers about near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, which is located in the Central Valley region. Bakersfield's population as of the ...
. Since then, it has been utilized for a large number of excursions and special trips, and for display at many events.


Excursion service

The locomotive is currently owned by the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society, the same organization that performed the initial 1986 restoration. In August 1992, the 3751 was found on its largest assignment so far, as the engine ran the entire route of Santa Fe's Transcon route between Los Angeles and
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
with three (and later two) Santa Fe GE Dash 8-40CWs. The engine spent 18 days traveling over in both directions. This run would include travelling to
Topeka Topeka ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County, Kansas, Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeaste ...
,
Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
to attend that year's Topeka Railroad days, where the locomotive was briefly displayed near
Union Pacific The Union Pacific Railroad is a Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United States after BNSF, ...
4-6-6-4 In the Whyte notation for classifying steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, a 4-6-6-4 is a railroad steam locomotive that has four leading wheels followed by two sets of six coupled driving wheels and four trailing wheels. 4-6-6-4's are comm ...
No. 3985. On April 22–23, 1995, 3751 was displayed in the Riverside Sunkist Orange Blossom Festival in Riverside. On December 31, 1996 when Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe merged with
Burlington Northern Railroad The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States–based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1995. Its historical lineage begins in the earliest days of railroad ...
to form
Burlington Northern Santa Fe BNSF Railway is the largest freight railroad in the United States. One of six North American Class I railroads, BNSF has 36,000 employees, of track in 28 states, and over 8,000 locomotives. It has three Transcontinental railroad, transcontine ...
(BNSF), the locomotive retained the same number. The excursion was operated again on April 20–21, 1996. In June of 1999, the locomotive participated in Railfair '99. On the way to the fair, 3751 along with a BNSF GE Dash 9-44CW and mixed train of a tool car, nine then later eight BNSF boxcars and two passenger cars, from Los Angeles to Sacramento via San Bernardino, Barstow, Bakersfield, and Stockton. On the return trip to Los Angeles, the 3751 pulled another mixed train with eight covered hopper cars. In October of 2000, 3751 was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
, much like sister engine No. 3759. The locomotive has been displayed at Fullerton Railroad Days in
Fullerton, California Fullerton ( ) is a city located in northern Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 143,617. Fullerton was founded in 1887. It secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and S ...
a number of times. In August of 2002, 3751 operated an Amtrak excursion train from Los Angeles to
Williams, Arizona Williams () is a city in Coconino County, Arizona, Coconino County, Arizona, United States, located west of Flagstaff, Arizona, Flagstaff. Its population was 3,023 at the 2010 census. It lies on the routes of U.S. Route 66 in Arizona#Historic Ro ...
to participate in the 2002
National Railway Historical Society The National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) is a non-profit organization established in 1935 in the United States to promote interest in, and appreciation for the historical development of Rail transport, railroads. It is headquartered in Phila ...
(NRHS) Convention. The excursion ran over Metrolink, BNSF, and Arizona and California Railroad tracks. After arriving in Williams, the locomotive pulled some excursions and photo run-bys on the Grand Canyon Railway (GCR) between Williams and the Grand Canyon Village, including a doubleheader with GCR 2-8-2 No. 4960 and a tripleheader with GCR 2-8-0 No. 18. No. 3751 also pulled some of GCR's Pullman passenger cars for a photo charter requested by Goodheart Productions. In 2008, 3751 ran on the Surfline route for two excursions from Los Angeles to San Diego. The first on June 1 was a public excursion. The excursion made the locomotive the first steam locomotive to run on the Surf Line since the 1976 American Freedom Train, it was also the first steam powered passenger train to make the run between Los Angeles and San Diego since 3751 last traveled the line in 1953. The train was turned at Miramar Wye, 15 miles north of San Diego station. The second excursion was a private car special on September 21. In May of 2010, the locomotive returned to the Surf Line for a third excursion from Los Angeles to San Diego, pulling eight
Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
cars and a few dome cars, attracting large crowds. In order to alleviate issues with turning the train, the excursion was split over two days: south to San Diego on May 1, and north to Los Angeles the following day. This proved successful, as 3751 was on time into San Diego the first day and sustained only normal delays northbound, thus proving the excursion to be the most successful yet. The weekend after the trip to San Diego saw the engine in San Bernardino for National Train Day and the 2010 San Bernardino Railroad Days festival. It has made annual runs to San Bernardino for the Railroad Days Festival in April or May since the initial trip. In May 2012, 3751 powered a six-day excursion from Los Angeles to Williams, Arizona, as part of the centennial celebrations of Arizona's statehood. As part of the excursion, another special round-trip doubleheader to the Grand Canyon and back was run with 3751 and GCR 4960. The train also operated over the Arizona & California Railroad on the way to Williams and on the return trip to Los Angeles. Three weeks before the trip to Arizona, the engine also made the trip east to attend the San Bernardino Railroad Days Festival for the third year in a row. In May of 2013, 3751 ran on a fourth trip to the San Bernardino Railroad Days Festival. In May 2015, 3751 made an appearance at Fullerton Railroad Days 2015 in
Fullerton, California Fullerton ( ) is a city located in northern Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 143,617. Fullerton was founded in 1887. It secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and S ...
, making it the first time since 2008 to appear at this event. From April 30 - May 1, 2016, the 4-8-4 was on display again and left Fullerton two hours late due to rail traffic. From May 6–7, 2017, she was on display yet again for the last time for a few years as she went into a three-four year restoration. She was on display at Union Station's Summer Train Fest on July 15, 2017 before being overhauled. 3751's overhaul was estimated to be completed in 2021, and on August 10 of that same year, No. 3751 was test fired right before the 30th anniversary of the locomotives' first return to steam, as well as the 40th anniversary of the SBRHS. In March-April 2022, No. 3751 was equipped with the new
Positive train control Positive train control (PTC) is a family of automatic train protection systems deployed in the United States. Most of the United States' national rail network mileage has a form of PTC. These systems are generally designed to check that trains a ...
(PTC) system. Afterwards, on September 24 and 25, 2022, No. 3751 participated in the ''Amtrak Track Safety'' community event at the Fullerton Transportation Center. Since 2023, every September, No. 3751 alongside Amtrak GE P42DC No. 203 and an EMD F125 at the Los Angeles Union Station for the "Los Angeles Union Station Rail Safety Event". Occasionally, there have been guest stars (e.g. Santa Fe EMD SD45-2 No. 5704, which is currently owned by the Southern California Railway Museum) that serve alongside the said locomotives at the "Los Angeles Union Station Rail Safety Event".


Surviving sister engines

* 3759 is displayed at Locomotive Park in Kingman, Arizona. * 3768 is displayed at Great Plains Transportation Museum in Wichita, Kansas. * 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 is 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 Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...
in 1999 to the New Mexico Heritage Rail; then moved again for restoration to operating condition, which was completed in 2021.


Historic designations

*
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
br>#NPS–#00001178


See also

*
List of Registered Historic Places in Los Angeles This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places in the city of Los Angeles. (For those in the rest of Los Angeles County, refer to National Register of Historic Places listings in Los Angeles County, California.) Current listings ' ...
* Santa Fe 1316 * Santa Fe 3415 * Grand Canyon Railway 29 * Southern Pacific 2479 * Southern Pacific 4449 * Union Pacific 844


References


Further reading

*


External links

{{Commons category, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 3751
San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society
official website 3751 Baldwin locomotives 4-8-4 locomotives Individual locomotives of the United States National Register of Historic Places in Los Angeles Railway locomotives on the National Register of Historic Places Railway locomotives introduced in 1927 Rail transportation on the National Register of Historic Places in California Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States Preserved steam locomotives of California