ABILENE, Kan. — Photographers from around the country came to Abilene to shoot Santa Fe 4-6-2 No. 3415 before the locomotive is slated to be taken out of service for its federally mandated 1,472-day inspection. But they didn’t leave the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad empty-handed. Organizer Dak Dillion presented the railroad with $10,000 in checks to help kick start the rebuilding project. While it’s only a small amount of the estimated $600,000 needed, “But it’s at least getting that ball rolling because it’s going to take everyone getting involved,” Dillion told Abilene-RC.com.
About 30 photographers attended the one-day event, which included a night photo session. Dillon fundraised and donated around $10,000 from ticket sales for the charter. No. 3415 returned to service during the Labor Day weekend after extensive work in August. It will operate consecutive weekends until its last scheduled run of the season Oct. 8.
No. 3415 was built by Baldwin in 1919 for Santa Fe passenger service. Retired in 1954, it sat in Eisenhower Park in Abilene until 1996, when it was put on display in the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad yard. Restoration began in 2005 and was completed in early 2009.
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