I've been trying to find out some history about ATSF 3784, a 4-8-4 northern steam engine from the 3776 class. I was wondering if anyone knew about what she mainly did (passenger, freight....both?) and where she was around when she was retired then scrapped. I'm guessing from what i have found out that she was retired around 1957 and scrapped in 1959.
ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT!
jtf-
The Santa Fe was a very progressive railroad with a long and varied mainline. Accordingly, they didn't hesitate to purchase relatively specialized locomotives. This didn't necessarily apply to the big Northerns. AT&SF 4-8-4s of every class were expected to handle both manifest freight and passenger trains. The 3776s were no exception. These locos were used on freight trains all over the railroad and for very long hauls with passenger trains. It was common for Santa Fe Northerns to pull the Chiefs between Chicago and La Junta CO or between Los Angeles and Albuquerque, sometimes at speeds approaching 100 mph. Those are very long distances for a steam engine. What's more, they also backed up the early diesels and delivered Santa Fe's crack trains when the diesels weren't up to the job. The 3776s weren't brutes like the 2900s, but they were huge, beautiful and powerful engines which epitomized high pressure, super steam locomotives. In short, they were terrific.
-- D
My guess would be that she ended her service in New Mexico.