Santa Fe 3751 In A Modern World

[Erie Lackawanna]

A litte more scanning to share, and then I'm going to stop for awhile to take a rest.  Here are two shots of 3751's trip from San Bernardino to LA on June 13, 2004.   First shot is at LAUPT.  

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=249179

Second is taken a little earlier at Covina.  

http://freericks.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1302033

Thanks for looking, and corrections are welcome.  

Charles Freericks

[Modelcar]

.....Very nice.  Sure looks like one at Kingman {in a park}, I saw years ago....even climbed up into.

[Erie Lackawanna]

There's a lot of them in parks.  Albaquerque, Wichita, and Modesto that I know of.  The latter two were both in pretty bad shape when I saw them (although the Wichita one was 24 years ago, so that may be old news).

[ChuckCobleigh]

Loved the shots.  Had the chance to see the beast on its visit to San Diego this June, though unfortunately I was as red as the interior of its bell by the end of the day.  Ouch!  Got to see it high ball through Old Town station on the way back to LA, stepping out quite nicely because they were several hours late leaving SD.  It was worth the couple of days worth of skin pain, though.

[chad thomas]

Nice shots as usual Charles, thanks for shareing. My dad and aunt were on that train. From what i hear it was a poorly planned trip and a big dissapointment, but I'll let him tell it if he wants to chime in.

[trainfan1221]

As long as there are those of us who still care there will always be room for this engine, and other historical ones, in this modern world.  Good stuff as always, EL.

[wgnrr]

That's one thing that bothers me about the 3751.

When I see the pictures of it running recently, it just doesn't mean anything to me. A steam engine, with a few Amtrak engines, a consist of new Amtrak cars, concrete ties, and modern signals. 

What is the difference between the 3751 and a F7 in that enviroment? Besides the fact it steams, very little different.

The 3751 would be better off at a museum or railroad that can actually preserve the history of the engine...but now ending with it. The 261 group has accomplished that, by having a fleet of authentic or mock-up Milwaukee Road cars. It's actually possible on their trips to relive the memories of what steam railroading was once like. Riding behind the 3751 is like riding behind any normal Amtrak train. Even a train of private cars would be better.

Well, that's that. Overall, I'm led to understand that financial difficulties make the engine not run often. At least they can do that when they can.

Phil

[K. P. Harrier]

About that 2nd photo link ... What was 3751 doing in Covina?  That is not a Santa Fe town, is it?

[Erie Lackawanna]

About that 2nd photo link ... What was 3751 doing in Covina?  That is not a Santa Fe town, is it?

 No it's not.

 The train ran back to LA on Metrolink's San Gabriel sub, which is a combination of the ATSF's Second District (San Bernardino to Pomona), the Pacific Electric's San Gabriel Valley Line (two parts) and the Southern Pacific's Baldwin Park Branch (through Covina) cobbled together into a single line.

[K. P. Harrier]

About that 2nd photo link ... What was 3751 doing in Covina?  That is not a Santa Fe town, is it?

 No it's not.

 The train ran back to LA on Metrolink's San Gabriel sub, which is a combination of the ATSF's Second District (San Bernardino to Pomona), the Pacific Electric's San Gabriel Valley Line (two parts) and the Southern Pacific's Baldwin Park Branch (through Covina) cobbled together into a single line.

Erie Lackawanna:

That's what I suspected.  Thanks.

Do you know if BNSF has trackage rights on Metrolink thru Covina in lieu of the old severed Second District, or does the 3751 organization contract out with Metrolink directly to use their line?

K.P.

[K. P. Harrier]

.....Very nice.  Sure looks like one at Kingman {in a park}, I saw years ago....even climbed up into.

Modelcar:

The one in Kingman, AZ is of the same class as 3751, and numbered 3759.

So, we have a connection.  We've both been to the same place!

K.P.

[Southwest Chief]

.....The 261 group has accomplished that, by having a fleet of authentic or mock-up Milwaukee Road cars. It's actually possible on their trips to relive the memories of what steam railroading was once like. Riding behind the 3751 is like riding behind any normal Amtrak train. Even a train of private cars would be better.

Phil,

Problem is there aren't too many Santa Fe cars available out there.  Amtrak purchased practically the entire fleet.  After Amtrak got through with them they now would take a bundle of money for the few that are available for sale to get into rail ready service.  Not sure if any of the Alaska Big Domes are still available, but only one is needed for a correct Santa Fe consist.  Several of the other surviving cars in good operational condition are privately owned.  And the largest fleet of rail ready Santa Fe cars is still a part of the BNSF business train (the ones that Amtrak never got).

Here's a photo of 3751 in a somewhat realistic looking consist (just imagine the coaches are lettered for and are of Santa Fe heritage):

3751 Visits the Grand Canyon Railroad

And she looked pretty dang good to me in this consist, just imagine the GE's are F Units and 3751 is a helper.  (I was actually at this spot in the photo when she went by):

3751 Santa Fe appreciation special

You should be happy there is an operational Santa Fe historical locomotive.  There are not too many out there.  The Santa Fe (and continuing with the BNSF) pushed for progress thus, unlike a few of the other big Western railroads, very little of the past remains in operational condition.

.....Very nice.  Sure looks like one at Kingman {in a park}, I saw years ago....even climbed up into.

Quentin,

The one in Kingman is 3759.  She looks a lot like her more fortunate sister 3751  Here is a photo link for 3759:

Santa Fe 3759

And I even tried to replicate 3759 for the computer game Microsoft Train Simulator on a route that includes Kingman.

Here's what I ended up with:

MSTS 3759

[Erie Lackawanna]

That's what I suspected.  Thanks.

Do you know if BNSF has trackage rights on Metrolink thru Covina in lieu of the old severed Second District, or does the 3751 organization contract out with Metrolink directly to use their line?

K.P.

Union Pacific has trackage rights on the old SP and PE parts of this line and BNSF has trackage rights on the old Santa Fe parts.  BNSF also has trackage rights on Metrolinks Pasadena Sub, which is the rest of the old Santa Fe Second District from Pomona west to Arcadia (or so).  West of that, the track is gone, until you get to just east of Pasadena, where it becomes the LA Metro Rail Gold Line.

This run was arranged through Metrolink.

[videomaker]

 Charles,

 Maaaaaan ! Those are some FIIIIIIIINE pics my friend..Well done !