| Santa Fe 3751 | |
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| ATSF 3751 leads an employee special westbound through Streator, Illinois, in 1992 | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | Baldwin Locomotive Works |
| Serial number | 60004 |
| Build date | 1927 |
| Configuration | 4-8-4 |
| Career | Santa Fe |
| Retired | August 23, 1953 |
| Current owner | San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society |
| Disposition | operates in occasional excursion service |
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Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Steam Locomotive No. 3751
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| Location: | 2435 E. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, California |
| Built: | 1927 |
| Architect: | Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railwa; Baldwin Locomotive Works |
| Governing body: | Private |
| NRHP Reference#: | 00001178[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | October 04, 2000 |
Santa Fe 3751 is a restored 4-8-4 steam locomotive that was originally owned and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It is located in the Central City East neighborhood of Los Angeles, California and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Built in 1927 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, 3751 was Baldwin's and the Santa Fe's first 4-8-4. Tests showed that 3751 was 20% more efficient and powerful than Santa Fe's 4-8-2 3700 class steamer, which at the point was the Santa Fe's top of the line steamer. In 1936, the engine was converted to burn oil. Two years later, the locomotive was given a larger tender able to hold 20,000 gallons of water and 7,107 gallons of fuel oil. In 1941, along with other 4-8-4s, 3751 received major upgrades including: 80-inch drive wheels, a new frame, roller bearings all around, and more. That same year, it achieved its highest recorded speed at 103 mph. It continued to be a very reliable work locomotive until 1954, when it pulled the last steam powered passenger train out of San Diego on August 23, on its last revenue run. Later that year, it was officially retired from the roster and placed on display in San Bernardino. In 1981, the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society was formed with intentions of restoring and operating 3751. Four years later, they achieved their goal when 3751 was sold to them with the condition that the SBRHS must restore and operate the locomotive. In 1986, 3751 was moved from its display to California Steel Industries, where it was restored at a cost of $1.5 million and in 1991, operated for the first time in 38 years. Since then, it has done countless excursions and special trips and gone to many events.[2]
The locomotive is currently owned by the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society, the organization that performed the restoration.
The 3751 made its first excursion in December 1991 following its completed restoration. The 3751 and two Santa Fe FP45s led 15 passenger cars from Los Angeles.
The year 1992 had 3751 on its largest assignment so far, as the engine ran the entire route of the Santa Fe Transcon route between Los Angeles and Chicago. The engine spent 18 days traveling over nearly 1000 on home rails.
The 3751 was a participant in Railfair '99.
In 2000, 3751 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
A second locomotive of the same class has also been preserved, AT & SF Locomotive 3759. It too is listed on the NRHP.
In 2002, the 3751 ran an Amtrak excursion from Los Angeles to Williams, Arizona to participate in the 2002 NRHS Convention. The excursion ran over Metrolink, Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway, and the Arizona and California. The engine also ran on the Grand Canyon Railway for an excursion on the former Santa Fe's "Grand Canyon" line. The event including double and tripleheading with Grand Canyon Railway's own steam engines.
In 2008, 3751 ran on the Surf Line for two excursions. The first, on June 1, was a public excursion which left 30 minutes late due to a delayed Metrolink train and arrived 4 hours behind schedule, mostly caused by the single-track railroad south of CP Avery, or the Mission Viejo station. However, it was history in the making, as no steam engine had traversed the Surf Line since the 1976 American Freedom Train, and many proud Southern California residents turned-out to watch. The train was turned at Miramar Wye, 15 miles north of San Diego station. The second excursion was a private car special, passing San Clemente at 9:30 AM. However, a trespasser was struck at CP Avery, delaying all trains up to 3 hours. 3751 passed CP Avery at around 9:00 PM. Still, this excursion was enjoyed by many, even catching the eye of railfans as far north as Simi Valley.
In May, 2010, the 3751 returned to the Surf Line for a third excursion, pulling eight Amtrak cars and a few dome cars, attracting large crowds to see it in action. In order to alleviate issues with turning the train, the excursion was split over two days: south to San Diego on May 1, and north to Los Angeles the following day. This proved successful, as 3751 was on time into San Diego the first day and sustained only normal delays northbound, thus proving this excursion to be the most successful yet. Proceeds from this trip will be used for the annual $50,000 cost of maintaining and storing the locomotive. [3] The engine also was in Los Angeles for "National Train Day".