Santa Fe 3751 has always been a popular locomotive to photograph, even back in its early days with the Santa Fe Railway. This included times that the locomotive traveled outside of California, such as on this day when 3751 found itself posed on the turntable at the Santa Fe’s Albuquerque, NM, roundhouse with almost the roundhouse staff. Today, Albuquerque serves as the home base for Santa Fe 2926, owned and operated by our sister organization, New Mexico Heritage Rail. In the not too distant future Santa Fe 2926 will once again ride the original turntable that 3751 is pictured here sitting on. Help us keep the 3751 steaming! Consider making a tax-deductible donation today at www.sbrhs.org (fb)

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. (fb)