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Wheels Museum

4 days ago

Wheels Museum
Trains magazine issued the following story on the 2926. Here is a link to the original story with some wonderful pictures. You can subscribe to their magazine too: bit.ly/46fxgt5ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — “At 9:01 a.m. on Sept. 30, I opened the switch to the main line and No. 2926 backed out under its own power for the first time since it was in steam back in 1953,” proudly stated by Mathew Casford, chief of rail operations for New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society (DBA New Mexico Heritage Rail), which owns the locomotive. “At that moment, the society had fulfilled their charter that they set out to do 25 years ago.“The engine is restored and on the main line.”There was a feeling of elation among the NMHR crew and volunteers as Santa Fe steam locomotive No. 2926 and tool car No. 3939 attended the Rail Yards’ New Mexico Railroad Days on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1., in downtown Albuquerque. The highlight from the weekend is obvious, a round-trip ferry move out of the locomotive’s restoration site at 8th Street, traversing New Mexico Rail Runner Express’ Albuquerque Subdivision – Sawmill Spur – and ultimately the ex-ATSF Transcontinental main line. “Our biggest issue was the track getting out to the main and that’ll be addressed before we go out again,” Casford explained. “But everything performed as we expected to.“There’s no one else out there in the country today that’s run a 2900, so we’re all learning as we go. We took it easy, lots of communication, lots of lessons learned, and our main goal is to get better each time.”In a world of Positive Train Control (PTC), Casford confirms that both the locomotive and tool car traveled unassisted as the system was not active during the mainline section of the trip. “The limits that we have in our joint-use agreement with the New Mexico Department of Transportation [owners of the 124-mile main line through Albuquerque] were restricted limits at restricted speeds,” he said. “We do have the same PTC [LeaPTC] system that the Union Pacific Railroad has on Big Boy No. 4014.“It was designed, developed and installed on both locomotives by one of our members, John Howard.”While the system on No. 2926 was not in use during the run, it did receive a stand-alone test and demonstration for BNSF Railway personnel during the weekend. Events like New Mexico Railroad Days continue to set the stage for additional “dress rehearsals” for the locomotive and crew.Steam locomotive at nightA private night photo session titled Steam at the Albuquerque Rail Yards was held on the evening of Sept. 30, 2023, with No. 2926, led by award-winning photographer Steve Crise. Alex Gillman photoThe mainline running may have stolen the show, but the center stage was still at the Rail Yards Market – a former ATSF facility with sections redeveloped for venue purposes, and future home for No. 2926. Railroad Days headlined the 4-8-4 with accessible cab tours for the public and the Saturday night photo session while garnering support from Rail Runner, BNSF, and Amtrak with their displayed equipment. “The parking lot which can handle up to 8,000 people was packed with cars,” Casford said. “We’re building up and trying to maintain support so when the time comes, we can make the home as good as it can be at the Rail Yards.”Having returned to its current home of 20-plus years on Sunday afternoon, winterizing No. 2926 will begin by the volunteers. This includes completely draining the boiler and tender with compressed air, adding anti-corrosive additives to the superheater units for rust prevention, lapping valves, and ultimately checking off a new punch list in preparation for 2024. “They will have plenty to do and looking forward to getting into it.”The same will be said for Casford as he continues to build relationships with the parties involved. “This coming week, my schedule is full of debriefing phone calls with various agencies and departments to talk about what went well, what we didn’t like, what we like to do differently, and make everything better for the next time,” he said.No. 2926’s story continues, now with new and exciting pages ready to be written. However, if there’s a certain page Casford wishes to personally keep bookmarked, it’ll be the afternoon of Oct. 1. “Going home [from the Rail Yards after the event], I was the engineer and was able to surprise my father with a cab ride,” he relates. “The fireman was my younger brother.“What makes this so unique and special is my family owns a 1.6-scale, live-steam model of No. 2926, and my grandfather was a die-hard Santa Fe fan. He passed away years ago, but I know he was watching the three of us.”Photo: Santa Fe No. 2926 traverses the ex-ATSF Transcontinental main line under steam for the first time since 1953 to attend New Mexico Railroad Days on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1., in downtown Albuquerque. In the background is the former locomotive facility with sections redeveloped for venue purposes and a future home for the restored 4-8-4. Alex Gillman photo ... See MoreSee Less

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Wheels Museum

Wheels Museum is a 501(c)3 organization in the Albuquerque Rail Yards dedicated to collecting, preserving, and creating educational exhibits about the history of transportation in Albuquerque and New Mexico with emphasis on the impact on the development of the area. Our collections embrace the history of the railroads, the impact of the rail yards on Albuquerque, as well as automobiles, horse and wagon, and other modes of transportation.

Wheels Museum is open Monday – Thursday from 9 am to 12 pm and on Saturday and Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm. Note: As museum hours are subject to change without notification and may be different during special events, please call (505) 243-6269 prior to your visit.  

Wheels Museum is located on the site of the historic Santa Fe Railroad Shops in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. Built-in 1914, the Albuquerque shops serviced steam locomotives operating on the Santa Fe Railroad.

Wheels Museum is currently housed in what the Santa Fe Railyards once referred to as The Storehouse, a long and narrow structure built in 1914, in which was kept an enormous inventory of all manner of parts and supplies for the larger maintenance shops and the entire Santa Fe railroad system in general. Please call (505) 243-6269 or e-mail: info@wheelsmuseum.org for more information.

Wheels Museum

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Wheels Museum does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

12 Comments

  1. The WHEELS Museum is a FREE hidden gem in the center of Albuquerque. It is a perfect place to take kids, out-of-town visitors, and anyone wanting to learn more about “wheels” that have helped shape the New Mexico we know today.

    Visit Monday – Thursday 9-12, and Saturday and Sunday 10 – 2.
    1100 2nd Street SW

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  2. I have a very old metal lathe that I would like to donate to the museum. My late father-in-law willed the lathe to me many years ago. He thought the lathe what is manufactured in the early 1900s. The lathe is about 10 feet long. I can provide pictures.

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  3. We plan to visit in the spring and notice what looks like conflicting hours. I’ll check prior to visiting. I was the first keypunch operator at the rail yards starting in 1969.

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  5. This was so fun! The volunteers were very patient and gracious with our curious 4 year old. I suggest you add some toy train related items to their gift shop. We had a great time. 3 from Texas

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  7. Thank you to Randall, Henry, and Tom for providing so much information for us as we toured the museum. It was a wonderful experience.

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  8. The Wheels Museum is a gem in the middle of the city’s Rail Yards. The collection has evolved from a majority of space dedicated to model train sets to a wide variety of wheeled vehicles from antique bikes to old fire engines and finally to a horse drawn milk wagon from Albuquerque’s past.
    As a model train nut I visited the museum and was hooked – volunteering for a time and displaying one of my model train sets there.

    For the past many years The Wheels Museum has invited the Film Tech students from CNM (Central NM Community College) to film in the museum and to use the facility as a base camp while they shot in the Rail Yards. These are very generous people – The Wheels Museum deserves support !!!

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Events

Do you have a few hours each month to help the Wheels Museum? Volunteers are needed so the Museum can be open more; run the model railroad trains, also help needed with events, marketing, fund raising. Call Leba Freed at (505) 243-6269.

Saturday, October 21 2-4 pm. “The Great Wheels Museum Train Robbery!” Dr. Ronald Lah of the Wheels Museum with a group of local history reenactors will present the program. It will include:
Screening with discussion of the 1903 film, “The Great Train Robbery,” and the “Lawmen Train Cars” that were developed for rapid deployment after a robbery.

Discussion of the historic Socorro and San Marcia, New Mexico train robberies, and the accuracy of train robbery depictions in movies like “Butch Cassidy and the Sun Dance Kid.”

Reenactment of an Old West train robbery staged in and around the Wheels Museum’s train coach car.

Donors to the Wheels Museum Fundraiser are encouraged to take a seat in the train coach and present your donation when the "Train Robbers" go through the car. Visitors are encouraged to wear some period style Old West apparel like bowler and feathered hats and bonnets, pin-stipes, vests, and boots.

Only non-functional firearm props will be used in the re-enactment. Admission is Free: Donations gratefully accepted. Phone: (505) 243-6269 to RSVP.

Saturday, October 28, 2-4 pm. Headset Dance Party. Dance wearing headsets to a great variety of musical choices. Admission Free, but donations are gratefully accepted.

Saturday, November 4, 11 am. “A History of Albuquerque Comedy or How I Got My Kicks on
Route 66.” Ronn Perea. Ron's presentation will give you a unique insight into a part of Albuquerque
Culture and we promise you that you will laugh out loud throughout his talk. Admission is Free: Donations gratefully accepted. Phone: (505) 243-6269 to RSVP.

Saturday, November 4, 2 pm. "Albuquerque History Challenge: Education and Fun" Roland Pentilla is an Albuquerque historian who frequently conducts downtown walking tours on behalf of the
Albuquerque Historical Society and Historic Albuquerque, Inc. Come to experience our own “Jeopardy” version of Albuquerque history complete with raffle prizes for the correct answers. Admission is Free: Donations gratefully accepted. Phone: (505) 243-6269 to RSVP.

Saturday, November 25, 10 am. “Walter steps up to the plate”. Author Sue Houser discusses her book about twelve-year-old Walter wants to spend the summer of 1927 watching his beloved Chicago Cubs play baseball. Instead,Walter must leave everything he knows and loves to accompany his mother to Albuquerque, New Mexico, a place he has never been to live with relatives he has never met. Admission is Free: Donations gratefully accepted. Phone: (505) 243-6269 to RSVP.

Railyard Worker Commemorative Plaques. Honor a loved one who worked on the railroad, honor a WHEELS volunteer or honor the WHEELS Museum. WHEELS is now selling plaques with name plates for $100.00 per name.  Keep the memory of these people alive in perpetuity with a gorgeous wooden plaque with brass name plate. Thank those who made our city and state successful, built the railroad, continue to work to preserve our history and create our future. The plaques will be displayed in the Community Room at WHEELS.

Contact Paulette Miller Weir who is graciously supporting the project and has volunteered to orchestrate this work. Her phone number is (505) 227-3270.  Please send checks for $100.00 per name and a few other words such as dates of birth or death or job held to WHEELS Museum, PO Box 95438 Albuquerque, NM 97199 or contact Ms. Miller Weir for any questions.  We can also accept credit cars payment by calling WHEELS-6269.