Journal Staff Report
Friday, May 3, 2002
Old steam locomotive and city landmark Santa Fe 2926 will be headed down the tracks once again.
The locomotive has been sitting on railroad siding near Menaul since it was moved from Coronado Park in the summer of 2000.
But the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society announced Thursday that it will move the machine Saturday.
The move is made possible by two federal agencies and the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway, according to a news release.
The General Services Administration and the Bureau of Indian Affairs have made available siding facilities for the locomotive on property between Eighth and 12th streets, just south of Interstate 40.
The move will allow restoration to begin on the machine, which was delivered in 1944 to the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. In 1956, the locomotive was donated to the city and was placed on display at Coronado Park. It has been declared a city landmark.
Moving the locomotive will allow the society to begin restoration work on it.
The move will begin about 8 a.m. at Menaul between First and Commercial streets. It is expected to take several hours to ease the big engine onto the main line and move south to a spur that will take it west to Eighth Street.
The public is welcome to watch but should be aware that the railroad right of way is restricted property. Spectators will be allowed to watch only from specified areas.