The New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society (NMSL&RHS) is an Albuquerque based, all-volunteer group of scientists, engineers, machinists, tradesmen, educators, students and others laboring together to restore a massive steam locomotive, the AT&SF 2926, to operation. The guiding philosophy for the NMSL&RHS is that the machine must be made as good as or better than when factory new in 1944. The lecture will detail the efforts of the NMSL&RHS, working with brains and brawn, as one
technical problem after another is solved to restore the 2926 to meet the standards of the Federal Railway Administration (FRA) for safe operation. Nondestructive testing has guided repairs to the boiler, bearings, lubrication system, air-brakes, cab controls and other subsystems. Modern operating requirements for safe railroading must be incorporated in order to produce an engine that will run local excursion passenger service. AMTRAK, the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the BNSF Railway, and the FRA all have regulatory oversight of the effort.
