The Santa Fe 2900 Class was a series of 30 4-8-4 type steam locomotives built between 1943 and 1944 for Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad and pulled freight and passenger trains until retirement in the early to late-1950s.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 2900 Class
Eastbound freight on the Santa Fe pulled by Santa Fe 2914 on August 22, 1952.
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Build date 1943-1944 Total produced 30
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-4  • UIC 2′D2′ h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 80 in (2,032 mm) Length 120 ft 10 in (36.83 m) Axle load 77,500 lb (35,200 kg) Adhesive weight 293,860 lb (133,290 kg) Loco weight 510,150 lb (231,400 kg) Tender weight 464,700 lb (210,800 kg) Total weight 974,850 lb (442,180 kg) Fuel type Oil Fuel capacity 7,000 US gal (26,000 l; 5,800 imp gal) Water cap. 24,500 US gal (93,000 l; 20,400 imp gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 108 sq ft (10.0 m2) Boiler 102 in (2,591 mm) Boiler pressure 300 lbf/in2 (2.1 MPa) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 28 in × 32 in (711 mm × 813 mm) Valve gear Walschaert Valve type Piston valves
Performance figures Maximum speed 120 mph (190 km/h) Power output 4,590 hp (3,420 kW) @ 40 mph Tractive effort 66,000 lbf (293.58 kN) Factor of adh. 4.45
Career Operators Santa Fe Class 2900 Numbers 2900-2929 Retired 1953-1959 Preserved Six (Nos. 2903, 2912, 2913, 2921, 2925 and 2926) preserved Disposition Five on display and one (2926) operational, remainder scrapped

Today, six 2900s survive, with five sets on static display and one, No. 2926, has been restored to operating condition in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When it was fully restored in July 2021, it is considered to be the largest operating 4-8-4 type steam locomotive in the United States.

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 2000 pounds. They have Timken roller bearings on all axles.[1]Between 1946-1948, they were then approved for 110-mph speeds with the Santa Fe's crack passenger trains after being fitted with Timken roller bearing tandem side-rods: up from 100-mph when delivered with its original side-rods.

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 is now displayed at the Modesto Amtrak Station in Modesto, California. The locomotive is no longer on display at Beard Brook Park.
• 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 there; then moved locally for rebuilding to operating condition. Restoration is largely complete as of July, 2021, though work is continuing. On October 1, 2007, No. 2926 was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Roster

• 
  2921 in Modesto
• 
  2921 drive wheels

References