By Railfan & Railroad Staff

Santa Fe 2926, the 4-8-4 that was restored to operating condition in 2021, will be making a “short but oh-so-sweet” inaugural run to an Albuquerque brewery less than a mile from where it was rebuilt. The event on Saturday, May 6, will be the first time the locomotive has left the restoration shop area in 20 years and the first time its run more than a few feet under its own power since the steam era. 

The New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society has been working on the locomotive for two decades. ATSF 2926 was built by Baldwin in 1944 and retired after just nine years of service. 

While the locomotive can run, the track that surrounds it in Albuquerque is mostly lightly-used industrial trackage, which can’t handle a heavy 4-8-4. Over the last few years, the non-profit has worked on track and a crossing that needed to be rebuilt directly behind their shop. Now that those projects have been completed, they can get to Tractor Brewing at 1800 4th Street NW. Eventually, the group wants to get the locomotive on a state-owned main line so the big Northern can truly strut its stuff. 

The locomotive will be on display at Tractor Brewing from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. The locomotive will return to its home shop shortly after 4 p.m.