Santa Fe 3751

01/02/2026

Did you catch this morning’s airing of the annual Rose Parade? If so, you likely saw a nice nod to Santa Fe steam that we think is worth highlighting!

ATSF 870, a 2-8-0 built by Baldwin in 1906, today sits on display in Santa Fe Springs, CA, with a boxcar and caboose. For this year’s float the City of Santa Fe Springs selected a design that featured the 870 and some decorative artwork on the tender.

This Consolidation type (2-8-0) locomotive was the first of five ( #101- #105) built in 1906 at a cost of $16,216.25 each for the St. Louis, Rocky Mountain & Pacific Railroad by Burnham, Williams & Co., an early incarnation of the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA. Despite its sweeping name, the StLRM&P operated entirely in northern New Mexico, mainly serving the coal fields around Raton Pass. It was taken over by the AT&SF in 1913 and operated as a subsidiary. The Santa Fe changed the name to the Rocky Mountain & Santa Fe in 1915 and renumbered the locomotives #870- #874.

In 1940, the Santa Fe sold three 2-8-0s ( #769, #870 & #874) to the Albuquerque & Los Cerrillos Coal Co., which operated a coal mine in Madrid, NM, connected by a branch line from the AT&SF at Waldo. As demand for coal fell off in the 1950s, however, the mine was shut and the branch line abandoned in 1959. #769 and #870 were left at Madrid sitting amid the remains of the mine operation.

In 1989, the City of Santa Fe Springs, CA, acquired #870. The locomotive was restored to its post 1924 Santa Fe appearance and moved to the current location in Heritage Park at 12100 Mora Drive.

01/01/2026

Riding Metrolink today? Have questions about your train, service updates or other inquiries?

You can ask the great social media team at Metrolink anything on this post that kicks off the new year featuring Santa Fe 3751!

Good morning! We’re here to answer your questions from 6:00 a.m. to 11 p.m. Stay informed about delays, cancellations, and service changes by subscribing to Metrolink Alerts at metrolinktrains.com/subscribe. You can also get real-time updates anytime at metrolinktrains.com/train_status/alerts

01/01/2026

Happy New Year from the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society and Santa Fe 3751!

We hope you'll join us in feeling an immense amount of pride of keeping the Santa Fe Railway's first 4-8-4 steaming as we look back on 2025. Over the course of this year, 3751 received plenty of maintenance from the crew who made sure to have her ready to attend Train Festival 2025 at Los Angeles Union Station Los Angeles in September. Over the course of the two-day event, 3751 was visited by more than 40,000 people and participated in two night photo shoots. By the second half of the last day of the event, our merchandise booth team was tuckered out as ALL our merchandise had been sold!

Besides the success of Train Festival, history was also made this summer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the SBRHS' dormitory car SBRX 2506 took to the mainline behind Santa Fe 2926 and traveled on the steel rails of the Santa Fe Railway's original route of the famed "Super Chief" as the 2506 headed to the 2926's primary worksite for its restoration to commence. This marked the first time in more than 70 years that this car had traveled behind Santa Fe steam on the mainline!

There were many other success for the SBRHS this year, and we look forward to many more to come as we prepare to enter the new year. Thank you to all our loyal supports and fans who continue to make what we do possible - it's through your donations, time and energy that our 1927-built product of Baldwin whistles on.

Join us as we continue to keep 3751 steaming!

https://www.sbrhs.org/

12/02/2025

🚂💙 It’s Giving Tuesday, and Santa Fe 3751 needs YOU!

Every mile she steams and every whistle she blows is powered by the passion of this community—and by the work of the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society (SBRHS). Your donation today goes straight toward keeping 3751 safe, compliant, and ready for future mainline adventures.

What your gift supports right now:
Positive Train Control (PTC) for 3751 – SBRHS is actively fundraising to purchase and install a full PTC package, a critical requirement for operating on today’s rail network. This is the big “go-forward” project to help 3751 lead excursions again.

Ongoing locomotive maintenance & inspections – Even in Southern California’s dry climate, preserving and operating a historic steam giant takes constant care and costly upkeep.

Refurbishing and maintaining support railcars & tools – The cars that travel with 3751 and support the crew are essential to every trip and are continually being improved and maintained.

Give today to keep the legend rolling:
➡️🔧 General / project donation: https://www.sbrhs.org/donate/make-a-donation.html

➡️🖥️ PTC Capital Campaign: https://www.sbrhs.org/donate/capital-campaign-2024.html

➡️💪 Become a yearly supporter/member: https://www.sbrhs.org/donate/membership.html

No amount is too small, and every gift is tax-deductible.
sbrhs.org

If Santa Fe 3751 has ever made you smile, pulled you into history, or inspired your love of railroading — this is a perfect moment to give back.

Thank you for helping keep 3751 steaming for generations to come. ❤️🔥

11/27/2025

As the year rolls on down the track, we want to pause and say thank you.

This Thanksgiving, the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society is grateful for our membership, our fans, and everyone who believes in keeping steam alive.

Wishing you a safe and joyful holiday. 🍂🚂

09/23/2025

What a weekend it was!

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to see Santa Fe 3751 as part of LA Union Station’s Train Festival 2025: LA’s Spirit in Motion. Seeing the smiles on thousands of faces is truly the highlight of our crews time every time we get the locomotive out for you to enioy.

Many of our fans, supporters and the general public enjoyed exclusive opportunities like the chance to tour 3751’s cab and purchase new and iconic merchandise at the official 3751 booth.

Thank you to our partners at Union Station Los Angeles, Amtrak, Metrolink, BNSF Railway, LARail.com, Pacific Railroad Society, Inc., Travel Town Museum Foundation and many others for all their efforts to make this wonderful event possible.

We’re already looking forward to the next one!

09/20/2025

We’re all set for an exciting evening taking photos of Santa Fe 3751, tool cars and Travel Town’s REA truck at LA Union Station.

There’s still some room to participate in tonight AND tomorrow’s separate photoshoots if you’re interested!

To learn more and register today, visit: https://www.sbrhs.org/news/rail-fest-2025-photo-shoots.html

09/19/2025

We’re all steamed up and ready to head to Union Station Los Angeles this afternoon…and look who is coming with us!

SBRX 3463, our original 3751 tool car, and SBRX 1161, the new 3751 tool car, will also be in attendance of this weekends event.

We are set to arrive at Union Station this afternoon sometime early afternoon - along with another special guest from BNSF Railway.

Please note that the display area is closed to the general public today and will open tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. as part of Train Festival 2025: LA’s spirit in motion.

We’ll see you there!

09/11/2025

What's better than one night photoshoot opportunity with Santa Fe 3751...how about two?

In addition to our first night photoshoot at Union Station Los Angeles with Santa Fe 3751 and the Travel Town Museum Foundation's very own 1945-built, Railway Express Agency truck, the SBRHS is pleased to announce a second night photoshoot at LA Union Station on the evening of Saturday, September 20, 2025.

Step back to 1945 and capture a moment in living history at Los Angeles Union Station.Enjoy rare access to photograph Santa Fe 3751 under atmospheric evening lighting, complete with posed shots alongside the locomotive crew.

The shoot will be guided by Alex Gillman, renowned railroad photographer and President of SBRHS. Alex’s extensive experience—including features in Amtrak, BNSF, Metrolink, and TTX publications, TRAINS Magazine, Railfan & Railroad Magazine, and more—will ensure every participant, regardless of experience level, will walk away with the perfect shot.

Tickets are $75 per person (plus any applicable taxes and fees). Space is limited—secure your spot earl

https://www.universe.com/events/saturday-night-photo-shoot-with-santa-fe-3751-september-20-2025-tickets-10B2Z9

To register for the first nght photoshoot with the REA truck, visit:

https://www.universe.com/events/friday-night-photo-shoot-with-santa-fe-3751-september-19-2025-tickets-WHC03D

This year’s photoshoots align with Train Festival 2025: LA’s Spirit in Motion, happening at Union Station on September 20–21, 2025—a free, public celebration of rail heritage featuring exhibits, tours, model trains, family activities, and more.

09/10/2025

We're excited to announce an exciting fundraiser night photo shoot of Santa Fe 3751 at Union Station Los Angeles with the Travel Town Museum Foundation's beautifully restored, 1945-built Railway Express Agency (REA) truck!

Join us on the evening of Friday, September 19, 2025, for the rare opportunity to step back in time and photograph the meeting of Santa Fe 3751 and Travel Town's REA truck for the first time since 2013. Using professional lighting to set the stage, the 3751 and REA truck will be posed in a number of scenes along with reenactors dressed in period attire.

Sign up for this one-of-a-kind photoshoot today! To register today and learn more details, visit:

https://www.universe.com/events/friday-night-photo-shoot-with-santa-fe-3751-september-19-2025-tickets-WHC03D

All funds from this photoshoot help keep the 3751 steaming. Be sure to stop by the following two days as Santa Fe 3751 participates in this year's Train Festival 2025: LA's Spirit in Motion at LA Union Station!

09/03/2025

Steam returns to Downtown Los Angeles!

On September 20 and 21, Santa Fe 3751 will participate in Union Station Los Angeles's Train Festival 2025: LA's Spirit in Motion event open 10AM - 6PM daily. Joining the 3751 for this free, family-friendly event will be other rail equipment displays from Amtrak, Metrolink, BNSF Railway and LARail.com.

Inside the breathtaking 1939-built depot will be model train layouts, architecture, arts & culture tours, pop-up booths with lots of swag and other fun giveaway items! Don't miss this chance to see the locomotive that pulled the first named, Santa Fe passenger train into LA Union Station on its opening day more than 85 years ago.

The official 3751 merchandise booth will also be on hand with all new items and cab tours will be available for purchase. Every dollar helps to keep the 3751 steaming!

For more information on Train Festival 2025, visit: https://www.unionstationla.com/happenings/train-festival-2025/

03/09/2025

Snaking its way downgrade on the world famous Tehachapi Loop for the second time since it's restoration, Santa Fe 3751 leads the BNSF Railway 4419 and a short train of SBRX 3463, eight boxcars and the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners, Inc. private cars "Overland Trail" and "Tioga Pass" on a hot June 14 in 1999 on its way to RailFair 99’ at the California State Railroad Museum.

Photographer Kevin Stevens captured this wonderful image from a nearby hilltop that also shows a section of an eastbound (railroad south) Union Pacific freight train that was waiting in the siding at Walong for the steam special to pass before continuing the climb to the the summit of Tehachapi.

The Tehachapi Loop is a world-renowned engineering marvel located in Kern County, CA. Completed in 1876 as part of the Southern Pacific Railroad’s route through the Tehachapi Mountains, the loop was designed by civil engineer William Hood to help trains navigate the steep grade between Bakersfield and Mojave. This spiral track, approximately 0.73 miles long, allows trains to gain elevation gradually by making a complete circle, crossing over themselves via a tunnel.

The loop remains a vital part of the Union Pacific Railroad system and is a popular site for rail enthusiasts. Due to its historical significance and innovative design, it was designated a California Historical Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

All photo rights reserved to Kevin Stevens. For uses of this photo, please contact Mr. Stevens at the website listed at the bottom left of the image.