Friday Night Steam.....

                                                                      

Grab a cuppa & enjoy - she's a real beauty!      

                                               The Santa Fe 3751

                                                                                4-8-4

                                                                   

Bio

Santa Fe (ATSF) No. 3751 is a type of 4-8-4 'Northern', steam locomotive which was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1927.

ATSF 3751 in 1999.

Uploaded by HenryDuckFan

History

Santa Fe 3751 hauled passenger trains toward the End of the Steam Era in the US in 1957 with the rest of its 4-8-4 "brothers" and remained preserved on static display until 1989, when the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society decided to rebuild and restore 3751 after being in such poor condition and suffering lack of maintenance and vandalism from the park it was originally displayed in. (Similar to SP 4449's dilemma.)
In 1991, 3751 returned to the rails with preservationists efforts as well as with the help of the Santa Fe. It's first excursion was pulling a mixed train of passenger and freight cars, which served as its "trial run" (or test run) to demonstrate or prove 3751's operating capabilities. Yet because of "his" age, 3751 stalled towards the end of its run, thus the need for having diesel locomotives assist the aging steam locomotive was actually necessary. Thus, a week after its first test run, 3751 was hauling its very first passenger excursion train; the California Limited; for the first time in many years with the help of 2 Santa Fe "Warbonnet" painted FP45's repainted and renumbered for excursion service with 3751.
Today, when on long distance excursion, 3751 is typically seen with one or more Amtrak P42DC type locomotives following. The diesel assitance is necessary for three reasons: protection, power, and dynamic braking. Protection against 3751 failing en route and tying up a mainline, providing HEP power for any following passenger cars, and utilizing the diesel locomotive's dynamic braking when going down steep grades.

Trivia/Facts

In August 2002, the locomotive went to Williams, AZ, for the annual NRHS convention.
3751 also doubleheaded with GCRY (Grand Canyon Railway) 4960 to pull a special charter train to the Grand Canyon and back.
In April 1995, Santa Fe 3751's original 5-Chime Freight whistle was replaced with it's new 6-Chime Passenger whistle, just 5 months before the BNSF merger.
Later in August 2002, Santa Fe #3751 and Grand Canyon #4960 triple headed with Grand Canyon #18.