A 1927 steam locomotive, that was upgraded to meet modern standards to run on current commercial track.
Here in this video, it is running on mainline UP tracks outside of Los Angeles just two months ago with a modern LA commuter locomotive and some old passenger cars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SmTn7TvucM&feature=related
Check out some of the other youtube videos, especially the ones running along the Pacific ocean coast, A scene very rare in the 21st century.
She may be soon headed to a new home in New Mexico were conditions will permit more operating time.
Dave
Dave
Interesting comment. Do you know something about the use of the 3751 and the 2926 on the 150th train for NM??
It probably could run more but is this a rumor or are they considering both locomotives for that special train to tour New Mexico in 2012?
Thanks
CZ
CZ:
“Trains and Locomotives” had a terrific video of 3751 last week, hauling a train from Los Angeles to Williams, AZ, for a railfan gathering some years back. One bee-YOU-ti-ful locomotive, IMO. The video featured some fascinating high-desert Arizona scenery, the forests around Williams, and then a return trip through Ash Fork via Phoenix and the old ex-Santa Fe Arizona and California route from Phoenix to Cadiz.
That’s quite a locomotive! BLI did an HO model of her some years back, I have one. I don’t model Santa Fe (I’m a Rio Grande kind of guy), but she still puts in some mileage over my layout as an Honored Guest. IMO she’s a very handsome example of a 4-8-4, rebuilt or not.
Tom [:)]
Guys–the rebuilding to “modern steam locomotive standards” occurred during the late 1930’s or early 1940’s–Santa Fe increased the driver size and boiler pressure to get more horsepower out of her and her sisters. Also, roller bearings were added along with improved valve gear…
Other than some minor improvements to meet current Amtrak safety standards, she is as she appeared in actual service during the 1940’s and 1950’s–excepting she did receive a brand new boiler jacket to replace the dented up jacketing which survived from her regular service career.
John
Guys–the rebuilding to “modern steam locomotive standards” occurred during the late 1930’s or early 1940’s–Santa Fe increased the driver size and boiler pressure to get more horsepower out of her and her sisters. Also, roller bearings were added along with improved valve gear…
Other than some minor improvements to meet current Amtrak safety standards, she is as she appeared in actual service during the 1940’s and 1950’s–excepting she did receive a brand new boiler jacket to replace the dented up jacketing which survived from her regular service career.
John
I talked to some people involved with working on bringing 3751 up to modern standards and they told me there was a lot of effort and changes that was needed to allow her to operate on modern mainline track of the major railroads. You seem to be saying that there was hardly any changes needed, if I’m reading you correctly.
In reading some of the above posts, one might get the impression (as I did upon reading them) that the engine appears physically different than when she ran “back in the day”.
What I’m saying is that to my eyes she looks very much as she would have appeared “back in the day”.
I do not doubt that some safety changes (updated brakes, etc.) were needed and made–and I’m no steam expert–but I’m also quite sure that most of those changes were more internal and have minimal if any effect on the outward appearance of the locomotive.
From a purely civil engineering standpoint, modern mainline track has gentler curves (both horizontal and vertical) and grades than back in the day, so I’d think the engine would not have needed many changes to operate on modern mainline track, but perhaps I’m wrong if they were hoping to take it places it couldn’t go before–then they’d have to improve lateral motion–but I never read or heard of them doing anything to improve lateral motion of the drivers on that engine.
If I’m getting it wrong, please feel free to correct me.
John
Actually, I’d like to see a photo of her when she was originally delivered from Baldwin, with the smaller drivers and Elesco feedwater heater.
I know Santa Fe was big on Elesco’s, mostly mounting them on the pilot deck under the boiler. Does anyone know if that’s how they were mounted on the 3751? Anyone got a photo?
Just curious.
Tom [:)]
Don’t know how to spot an Elesco, or any feedwater heater for that matter, but 3751 was delivered with Elesco as was typical Santa FE practice at the time.
Here is a link to some history of 3751
3751 is a real beauty. I’ll never forget her first test run. I was sitting at home when I heard a steam whistle. Thought I was going insane. But I later found out that was her first test run pulling a string of piggybacks.
Tom
My references books show the early 3751 class to have several variations and different appliances.
The 3751 as delivered with coal tender. It was converted to oil prior to the 1937 rebuild which really changed this locomotive. There are pictures in some books of the 3751 with the oil tender but still having the 73" drivers.
This is the 3752 after the first rebuild in 1937 but this engine was converted later in 1948 with poppet valves, being the only one modified with the special valve setup. It also was modified with a SA feedwater heater at that second rebuilding.
CaZephyr:
Whoa! Are we talking MAJOR REBUILD or what, LOL? That first photo looks like one of the Santa Fe Mountains with an added wheelset on the trailing truck. [:O] And the second photo, with the deck-mounted Elesco raised onto the smokebox top to make way for the pump-shields, looks incredibly handsome (I’m an Elesco Freak, understand). It also looks as if the two sandboxes were combined in the first rebuilding.
That loco just gets more fascinating the more I see photos of its conversions! Santa Fe must have thought highly of the basic loco to continually update it.
Thanks.
Tom [:)]
I agree with you Tom. The as delivered 3751 did look like a regular mountain on the SF. That locomotive made a change that is unreal. Even the height of the boiler is different since the new frame and drivers called for some revisions.
The articles say that the dispatcher rewrote the tonage ratings for the rebuilds since it was almost a whole new locomotive. The rebuilding program in 1937 was the largest change overall when they received new frames, new drivers and extension on the smoke box to accomodate the longer wheelbase. I will post one of the 3752 with the poppet value modification.
CZ
This is the best modification made to the class. It is reported this locomotive could handle about 15 to 20% more train than any of the other 3751 class and do it better. Just what the book says.
[IMG]http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy345/Trainsforyou/Mod
There are builder photos and blueprints in SANTA FE: BIG THREE OF STEAM, but also complete fuel/water, even axle grease consumption data! Not to be excluded are complete performance results before and after rebuilding and as a coal burner and a oil burner. My copy is old enough that dad brought it home from one of his overseas deployments during Vietnam! Alas I don’t recall where my copy is now or who the publisher is (or was).
An interesting book that also pays hommage to the 2-10-4 and 4-6-4, if you enjoy statistics, developement data, and in depth coverage of the evolution of Santa Fe steam , you’ll enjoy this book.
Happy hunting!
Dave