Santa Fe 3415

Santa Fe 3415
ATSF No. 3415 passing by some cattle walking in Abilene, Kansas
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer John Purcell Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 51861 Build date June 1919 Rebuilder Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Rebuild date February 1942
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2  • UIC 2'C1'h Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 74 in (1.880 m) Wheelbase 35.25 ft (10.74 m) ​  • Engine 72.06 ft (21.96 m)  • Drivers 13.67 ft (4.17 m) Axle load 61,350 lb (27.8 t) Adhesive weight 179,550 lb (81.4 t) Loco weight 300,950 lb (136.5 t) Tender weight 233,720 lb (106.0 t) Total weight 534,670 lb (242.5 t) Fuel type New: Coal Now: Oil Water cap. 12,000 US gal (45,000 L; 10,000 imp gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 66.80 sq ft (6.206 m2) Boiler pressure 200 psi (1.38 MPa) Feedwater heater Elesco Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 269 sq ft (25.0 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 25 in × 28 in (635 mm × 711 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Loco brake Air brake
Performance figures Tractive effort 40,203 lbf (178.8 kN) Factor of adh. 4.47
Career Operators Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad Class 3400 Number in class 16th of 50 Numbers ATSF 3415 Retired 1954 Preserved December 9, 1955 Restored November 11, 2008 Current owner Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad Disposition Undergoing 1,472-day inspection and overhaul
References:
ATSF Steam Locomotive No. 3415
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	411 South Elm Street., Abilene, Kansas
Coordinates
Built	1919
Built by	Baldwin Locomotive Works
NRHP reference No.	12000203
Added to NRHP	April 16, 2012

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe 3415 is a preserved 3400 class 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive, built in June 1919 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF). It was retired in 1954, it sat in Eisenhower Park in Abilene, Kansas, until 1996. At that point, it was put on display in the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad (ASV) yard. In 2005, restoration work began to restore the engine to operating condition, restoration work was completed in 2008 and the engine began hauling excursion trains on the line. It is the only operating steam locomotive in Kansas and is one of four Santa Fe steam engines still operating in the U.S.

History

Revenue service

No. 3415 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in June 1919 as the sixteenth member of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway's (ALCO) fifty 3400 class locomotives. The 3400 class was designed by John Purcell, and this was also the last class of 4-6-2s bought by the Santa Fe. The class was similar to the United States Railroad Administration's Heavy Pacifics in its tube and flue counts, but it was also fitted with a grate area similar in size to the USRA's Light Pacifics, and it was delivered with driving wheels close in size to the latter. The first forty locomotives initially burned coal, but were later converted to burn oil while being rebuilt between 1936 and 1947.

The 3400 class locomotives were initially assigned to pull top-tier heavy passenger trains at high speeds throughout divisions with moderate grades, and No. 3415, in particular, pulled such trains through the Kansas City-La Junta and Newton-Galveston divisions. On December 31, 1934, No. 3415 suffered a broken bell ringer valve while in Carrollton, Missouri, and one crew member was injured. After the Santa Fe invested in adding diesel locomotives to their roster, No. 3415 was reassigned to pull freight and mail trains throughout Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, until it was retired in 1954. The Santa Fe subsequently donated the locomotive to the city of Abilene on December 9, 1955, for static display in Eisenhower Park.

Preservation

In April 25, 1996, the city of Abilene decided to redevelop the park, and they removed No. 3415 from its display location and donated it to the nearby Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad (ASV), who put it on display near their depot. In August 2005, the ASV decided to restore No. 3415 to operating condition for use on their tourist excursions. The locomotive was moved inside the ASV's locomotive facility, and restoration work was started by Wasatch Railroad Contractors from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Excursion service

No. 3415 was test fired on November 8, 2008 and made its first movements under its own power there days later for the first time in fifty-four years, it made its first excursion run the following year on May 23, 2009, for the next twelve years it subsequently pulling tourist trains over the ASV's ex-Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific trackage between Abilene and Enterprise. However, it was limited to operate at fifteen miles per hour, due to the rails lacking the strength to support trains that traveled at higher speeds.

After the end of the 2022 operating season, No. 3415 was originally supposed to be taken out of service for its 1,472 inspection and rebuild, which was required by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). However, in February 2023, the FRA unexpectedly informed the ASV that they had one year left to operate No. 3415 before the inspection and rebuild had to take place. The railroad subsequently used the locomotive to pull additional trains for their 2023 operating season, including some trains that were dedicated to the railroad's 30th anniversary in June. No. 3415 made its last run on October 7, 2023, before being taken out of service for its federally mandated 15-year overhaul. The railroad plans to have No. 3415 back in steam again for America's United States Semiquincentennial in 2026.

Historical significance

No. 3415 was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 2012.

External links

• Steam Locomotive - ATSF 3415