ATSF 4-8-4 Northern

ATSF #3751 is a Baldwin Locomotive Works built 4-8-4 Northern that was added into Ro-Scale Central Railroad on March 30, 2023. It is a free locomotive.

## ATSF 4-8-4 Northern

ATSF 4-8-4 Northern #3751 doubleheading with an ATSF RS-1, and 20 passenger cars.

## ***History***

In 1927, the *Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad* ordered several 2900 classes and 3700 classes. These were well-known to the general public as the ATSF Northerns. 3751 was built in 1927 and 2926 was built in 1944. No. 3751 was the first 4-8-4 built for the ATSF and was referenced as the "Heavy Mountain", "New Mountain" or "Mountain 4-wheel trailer" as notation for this new 4-8-4 type and continued the numbering sequence of the 3700 class Mountains by numbering the first 4-8-4 3751.

In 1936, the locomotive was converted to burn oil and was given a larger boiler tender that holds up to 20,000 US gallons of water and 7,107 US gallons of fuel oil 2 years later. The locomotive was also present at the grand opening of the *Union Passenger Terminal* in Los Angelis on May 7, 1939. pulling *The Scout,* one of Santa Fe's crack passenger trains as it arrived in Chicago. It was the first steam locomotive to bring a passenger train into Union Station.

In 1941, 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 steam powered locomotive until 1953. when the locomotive pulled the last steam-powered passenger train on the Santa Fe between Los Angeles and San Diego on August 25; this was its last run in revenue service before official retirement from active service. After that, it was stored at the Redondo Junction. It was placed on display in San Bernardino in 1958.

### *Restoration*

Beginning in 1981, the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society was formed with intentions of restoring and operating 3751. Four years later, it achieved its goal when 3751 was sold to it for one cent from 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 $1.50 million. It moved under it's own power for the first time in 38 years on August 13, 1991 and made it's first ever excursion run on December 27, 1991, running with 2 Santa Fe EMD FP45s and 16 passenger cars on a four-day trip from Los Angeles via Barstow to Bakersfield. It has been utilized for a large number of excursions and small trips, and for display at many events.

### *Excursion Service (1991-2000)*

As of today, #3751 is owned by the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society, the same organization that performed the 1986 initial restoration. The 3751 would be found on it's largest excursion run so far in August 1992. For 2 days in 1995, 3751 was displayed in the Riverside Sunkist Orange Blossom Festival in Riverside. On December 31, 1996, the locomotive retained the same number, following the merge of the ATSF and the Burlington Northern Railroad to form BNSF. It operated again on April 22-23 of 1996.

In June 1999, the locomotive participated in Railfair 99. On the way there, 3751 would run with a BNSF GE Dash 9-44CW and a boxcar train from Los Angeles to Sacramento via San Bernardino, Barstow, Bakersfield, and Stockton.

### *2000-2010*

Beginning in October 2000, #3751, along with sister locomotive 3759, were listed on the *National Register of Historic Places.*

The locomotive was placed on display at the Fullerton Railroad Days in Fullerton, California for a number of times.

In August 2002, 3751 ran an Amtrak excursion from Los Angeles to Williams, Arizona to participate in the *2002 National Railway Historical Society Convention.* It tripleheaded with 2 of the Grand Canyon Railway's locomotives: Chicago Burlington & Quincy 2-8-2 4960 and ex-Lake Superior & Ishpeming 2-8-0 18. There was a night photo session with the engines placed side to side.

### *2010-present*

In May 2010, the locomotive returned to the Surf Line for a third excursion from Los Angeles to San Diego, pulling eight Amtrak cars and a few dome cars, attracting large crowds. This would result in the excursion being split over two days. It went South to San Diego on May 1, and north to Los Angeles the following day. The weekend after the trip to San Diego saw the engine in San Bernardino for National Train Day and the 2010 San Bernardino Railroad Days festival. It has made annual runs to San Bernardino for the Railroad Days Festival in April or May since the initial trip.

In May 2012, 3751 powered a 6-day excursion from Los Angeles to Williams, Arizona to celebrate the state's Centennial. As part of the excursion, another special round-trip was doubleheader to the Grand Canyon and back was run with 3751 and GCRY 4960.

In May 2013, 3751 ran on a fourth trip to the San Bernardino Railroad Days Festival.

In May 2015, 3751 made an appearance at Fullerton Railroad Days 2015 in Fullerton, California, making it the first time since 2008 to appear at this event. From April 30 - May 1, 2016, the loco was on display again and left Fullerton 2 hours late due to traffic. She was on display yet again from May 6-7 of 2017 and was on display on July 15, 2017 before being overhauled. 3751's overhaul was estimated to be complete in 2021, and on August 10th of that same year, 3751 was test fired right before the 30th anniversary of the locomotives' first return to steam, as well as the 40th anniversary of the SBRHS. In March-April 2022, No. 3751 was equipped with the new Positive train control (PTC) system. Afterwards, on September 24 and 25, 2022, No. 3751 participated in the *Amtrak Track Safety* community event at the Fullerton Transportation Center.

## Trivia

* This is the first ATSF steam locomotive to ever be in the game.
* This locomotive is the 2nd locomotive to have fully working valve gear, 2nd to the Pennsylvania Railroad K4 Class, built and added in December 2022.

## Errors

* Its Eccentric Crank and its Eccentric Rod are painted in a darker gray than the rest of the rods.
* When a player scrolls out or if the locomotive is more than 50 studs away from the player, the boiler door isn't seen very well.

## *Gallery*

Photo taken by RarePea, one of the winners of the thumbnail contest (07/08/23)A picture with intense sunbeams