Santa Fe 4-6-2 3415, the Baldwin built in 1919 and operated by the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad in Kansas, is on track to return to service by Labor Day 2027.
The locomotive has been out of service since 2023 and is presently the subject of a major overhaul with the help of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s show crews. The paid crew members from Durango are being assisted by volunteers in Kansas.
“Santa Fe 3415 is an important icon for Abilene, the State of Kansas, and the storied history of the steam power that built our nation’s agricultural and manufacturing infrastructure,” said A&SV President and General Manager Ross Boelling. “The 2024 Kansas Legislature named our engine an official icon of Kansas to commemorate the role of railroads in building Kansas, and the Santa Fe Railroad in particular as a legacy Kansas company. We’re eager to get the engine back up and running so we may continue to live up to this mission.”
Formed in 1993, Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad operates a mix of historic equipment and motive power on the former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific track between Abilene and Enterprise, Kan. The railroad has been operating 3415 since 2009.
—Justin Franz
