Santa Fe 3751 - The Restoration & Return to Steam 2 DVD Set
 3 of 5 (3)

Click to enlargeNote: Cover image may differ from actual product

The Restoration

Here is the story of a truly momentous undertaking involving a truly historic steam locomotive. Built in 1927, locomotive 3751 was the first 4-8-4 for the Santa Fe and the first ever for Baldwin Locomotive Works. She was the first of Santa Fe's passenger trains to arrive at the new LAUPT in 1939, and she served in passenger service faithfully for 27 years before she was retired in 1953. In 1957, she was donated to the City of San Bernardino where she sat on display, exposed over the years to the elements and vandalism until a dedicated band of supporters formed the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society in 1981 with the intent to protect her and possibly restore her. It wasn't until 1985 that a suitable location was found where the 3751 could be housed and rebuilt from the inside out. Skeptics said it couldn't be done; she was too deteriorated. Yet after 10 years and thousands of hours of concerted effort, 3751 was returned to the rails in elegant splendor.

This show will take you along that monumental journey, from the move to new quarters to the work that took place during the intervening years, ending with the 3751's break-in freight run from San Bernardino to Los Angeles in 1991. You'll meet the volunteers who cleaned, welded, fabricated, and refurbished the engine to its original design. They will explain the many challenges they faced. You'll see rivets and bolt caps, boiler tubing and piping, firebricks and side sheeting being replaced. You'll learn how pumps and compressors, rods and piston rings, miles of copper tubing, and other elements were restored or created, including the cab's numerous valves and interior construction, as well as the tender's repairs. Take this trip with us and see how a determined team accomplished what others said couldn't be done, which was to give a bright new future to a magnificent icon of American railroading lore.

Return to Steam

It's December 1991 and former AT&SF steam locomotive #3751 has returned to the Santa Fe mainline. She's heading up a 4-day maiden excursion after years of restoration effort. Her journey is going to take her from Los Angeles to Bakersfield via Cajon and Tehachapi Passes and Pentrex is with her to capture the thrill of big steam on the rails!

The San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society had purchased the Baldwin-built 3751 in order to restore and operate the oldest surviving example of Santa Fe's 4-8-4 fleet. So before we begin our California Limited adventure, we'll take you back to 1986 to show you the move from the 3751's resting place at Viaduct Park in San Bernardino to the California Steel Industries site in Fontana where SBRRHS volunteers performed the majority of the restoration. Following that historic move, we'll fast forward to the successful break-in runs of August 1991 and show what countless man-hours and dedication had achieved.

The December 27 maiden voyage of this restored locomotive was a fabulous success. The engine powered a recreation of the California Limited passenger train, celebrating the 99th anniversary of the original train's debut. Leading the excursion from Los Angeles to Bakersfield and back via the stiff grades of both Cajon and Tehachapi Passes, the 3751 performed flawlessly. Two FP-45 diesel locomotives, #97 and #95, in dazzling Warbonnet paint scheme, were coupled behind the steam engine as helpers. They were a beautiful sight but it was the 3751 that thrilled the spectators lining the route. Pentrex brings you trackside to experience all the excitement of this momentous event. You're bound to enjoy every minute!