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 typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Build date1943-1944
Total produced30
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-8-4
 • UIC2′D2′ h2
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.80 in (2,032 mm)
Length120 ft 10 in (36.83 m)
Axle load77,500 lb (35,200 kg)
Adhesive weight293,860 lb (133,290 kg)
Loco weight510,150 lb (231,400 kg)
Tender weight464,700 lb (210,800 kg)
Total weight974,850 lb (442,180 kg)
Fuel typeOil
Fuel capacity7,000 US gal (26,000 L; 5,800 imp gal)
Water cap.24,500 US gal (93,000 L; 20,400 imp gal)
Firebox:
 • Grate area108 sq ft (10.0 m2)
Boiler102 in (2,591 mm)
Boiler pressure300 lbf/in2 (2.1 MPa)
Cylinders2
Cylinder size28 in × 32 in (711 mm × 813 mm)
Valve gearWalschaert
Valve typePiston valves
Performance figures
Maximum speed120 mph (190 km/h)
Power output4,590 hp (3,420 kW) @ 40 mph
Tractive effort66,000 lbf (293.58 kN)
Factor of adh.4.45
Career
OperatorsSanta Fe
Class2900
Numbers2900-2929
Retired1953-1959
PreservedSix (Nos. 2903, 2912, 2913, 2921, 2925 and 2926) preserved
DispositionFive on display and one (2926) operational, remainder scrapped

Today, six 2900s survive, with five units 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

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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 2,000 pounds. They have Timken roller bearings on all axles.[1] Between 1946 and 1948, they were then approved for 110 mph speeds with the Santa Fe's express passenger trains after being fitted with Timken roller bearing tandem side-rods, up from 100-mph when delivered with its original side-rods. However, anecdotes from retired drivers have hinted that the class was able to run at speeds of over 120 mph for miles.

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

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Six 2900s survived into preservation:

Roster

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Number Baldwin serial number Date built Disposition Notes
2900 69788 1943 Sold for scrap.
2901 69789 1943 Sold for scrap.
2902 69790 1943 Sold for scrap.
2903 69791 1943 On display at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois.
2904 69792 1943 Sold for scrap.
2905 69793 1943 Sold for scrap.
2906 69794 1943 Sold for scrap.
2907 69795 1943 Sold for scrap.
2908 69796 1943 Sold for scrap.
2909 69797 1943 Sold for scrap.
2910 69798 1943 Sold for scrap.
2911 69799 1943 Sold for scrap.
2912 69801 1943 On display in Pueblo, Colorado.
2913 69800 1944 On display in Fort Madison, Iowa.
2914 69802 1944 Sold for scrap.
2915 69803 1944 Sold for scrap.
2916 69804 1944 Sold for scrap.
2917 69805 1944 Sold for scrap
2918 69806 1944 Sold for scrap.
2919 69807 1944 Sold for scrap.
2920 69808 1944 Sold for scrap.
2921 69809 1944 On display at the Amtrak Station in Modesto, California.
2922 69810 1944 Sold for scrap.
2923 69811 1944 Sold for scrap.
2924 69812 1944 Sold for scrap.
2925 69813 1944 On display at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California.
2926 69814 March 1944 Operational in Albuquerque, New Mexico. On the National Register of Historic Places
2927 69815 1944 Sold for scrap.
2928 69816 1944 Sold for scrap.
2929 69817 1944 Sold for scrap.

References

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  1. ^ "Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 4-8-4 Locomotives in the USA".