It has been a long pandemic year and it won’t be over until the AT&SF 2926 sings with her steam whistle. The NMSL&RHS Board of Directors decided to delay our next steam up until all of our friends and members can witness together the 2926 move under steam power for the first time since 1953. In the meantime, small Covid Safe crews continue to work. The first principle for 'All Employers' in the 73 pages of New Mexico’s Covid Safe Practices is to “limit operations to remote work to the greatest extent possible.” Thus, administrative functions for the NMSL&RHS are done off site. Things that must be done at the restoration site have included work on new insulation and jacket segments for the boiler, installation of the electrical systems, repairs on the #3939 tool car, casting metal parts and more. These are ongoing. Visitors and bull sessions will not be allowed until the Public Health Orders are relaxed.

Watch the website home page for updates as the pandemic situation changes. News, re-opening and a steam up will be posted as the situation demands. When the day comes, we’ll light a fire in the boiler with a ball of kerosene soaked covid-19 face masks. It will be a great day in the 2926 restoration saga.

Born in May 1944 the AT&SF 2926 ran a million miles in the American Southwest before being retired in an Albuquerque City park in 1953.   Rescued from that park in 2000 the giant steam locomotive is being restored to operation by the all volunteer crew of the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society.