Santa Fe 5000

Santa Fe 5000

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway 2-10-4 steam locomotive #5000 "Madame Queen" waiting in a siding to meet an eastbound train. Ricardo, New Mexico, March 1943.
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number 61524
Build date 1930
Specifications
Configuration 2-10-4
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia. 69 in (1,800 mm)
Wheelbase 24 ft 6 in (7.47 m) (driving wheelbase)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		 121.7 sq ft (11.31 m2)
Boiler 108 in (2,700 mm) diameter
Cylinder size 30 in (760 mm) diameter x 34 in (860 mm) stroke
Performance figures
Tractive effort 95,584 lbf (425.18 kN)
Factor of adh. 3.89
Career
Operators Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Numbers 5000
Retired April 17, 1957
Current owner city of Amarillo, Texas
Disposition

Static display in Amarillo, Texas

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company Depot and Locomotive No. 5000
Coordinates 35°12′31″N 101°49′36″W / 35.20861°N 101.82667°W / 35.20861; -101.82667Coordinates: 35°12′31″N 101°49′36″W / 35.20861°N 101.82667°W / 35.20861; -101.82667
Built 1930
NRHP Reference # 86002189
Added to NRHP September 18, 1986

Santa Fe 5000 is a 2-10-4 steam locomotive constructed by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1930 for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. No. 5000 was immediately nicknamed "Madame Queen"[1] and remained a unique member of its own class. It was donated to the city of Amarillo, Texas, in 1957 and is currently maintained by the Railroad Artifact Preservation Society. Santa Fe 5000 is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Construction

The Texas type on the Santa Fe is by design a Berkshire with an additional driving axle, as it was ordered by most railroads.[1] Although Santa Fe 3829 was the first steam locomotive with the 2-10-4 wheel arrangement, Santa Fe 5000 served as the prototype for all further 2-10-4 locomotives rostered by the road.

In 1930, Santa Fe looked at the contemporary heavy-duty motive power policies of other railroads, and decided that its own needed substantial reappraisal.[1] Additional locomotives were ordered as a result of this study, including the 5000. Santa Fe 5000 was placed in service between Clovis and Vaughn, New Mexico for observation. The result was the company had purchased a locomotive which would pull 15% more tonnage in 9% less time, burning 17% less coal per 1000 gross ton miles than its 3800 series 2-10-2s.

Although the locomotive was a success, the 1930s brought the national depression and Santa Fe adopted a policy of avoiding capital expenditures during this period. By the time the next 2-10-4s were delivered in 1938 they were placed in a different class because of many design refinements. With the various classes of 4-8-4 types, the 2-10-4 type represented the pinnacle of modern heavy-power development on the Santa Fe Railway System.[2]

Modifications

Santa Fe 5000 underwent few modifications during its service life. It received a larger 'square tender' which required the cab roof to be modified with an area that allowed crew members to pass from the cab to the top of the tender. In 1940 the locomotive was converted from coal to oil fuel.

Preservation

On April 17, 1957, after several years of storage and 1,750,000 miles (2,820,000 km) of service, Santa Fe 5000 was retired and donated to the city of Amarillo, Texas. It was placed on outdoor static display at the Santa Fe station. In August 2005, 5000 was moved by the Railroad Artifact Preservation Society to a new location in Amarillo where they plan to construct a building to house and preserve the locomotive. In July 2016, the city of Amarillo has proposed to sell the locomotive.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Worley, p. 333.
  2. ↑ Worley, p. 353.
  3. ↑ Hughes, Michael (2016-07-22). "Amarillo officials plan to sell historic Madam Queen". Amarillo Globe News. Retrieved 2016-07-23.

Bibliography

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