Located on an industrial siding in Albuquerque, the volunteers for the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society have been working for over 20 years to restore the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe locomotive 2926 to operating condition. ATSF 2926, a 4-8-4 “Northern,” is one of 30 in the 2900 series built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

The 2900s are the largest in their class and are the last steam locomotives built for ATSF. 2926 was built in 1944 and after its retirement in 1953, was donated to the City of Albuquerque in 1956, where it was put on static display in Coronado Park (not far from the restoration site) for over 50 years. Being exposed to the elements and enthusiastic children and adults during that time created additional challenges for its restoration, but ATSF 2926 ran under its own steam power for the first time in 66 years in July of 2021.

As of May 2022, ATSF 2926 was nearly complete and the organization is working with government officials and businesses to move to the next phase of their plans, which is to provide passenger excursions pulled by 2926. The size, grandeur, and mechanical complexity of this unique and culturally and historically important locomotive must be experienced up close and in person.