Santa Fe class 3450
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway's 3450 class comprised ten 4-6-4 "Hudson" type steam locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1927. Built as coal-burners, they were later converted to oil-burning during the 1930s. At the same time, the locomotives were given driving wheels instead of their original, and the boiler pressures increased from. Combined, these changes reduced the starting tractive effort from, but increased the top speed and efficiency. Their early service was in the Midwest, between Chicago, Illinois and Colorado; later, some were assigned to service in the San Joaquin Valley of California between Bakersfield and Oakland.
They were smaller and less powerful locomotives than the later 3460 class, but were capable of equivalently high speeds.
The first locomotive built, No. 3450, was donated by the Santa Fe in 1955 to the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society's Southern California chapter, and is preserved at the Society's museum in the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds at Pomona, California. The locomotive sits inside the RailGiants Train Museum. It is not in operational condition but is preserved in good condition as a static exhibit. It is currently receiving a cosmetic restoration. Visitors who walk into the cab can ring the bell and blow the classic ATSF 6 chime whistle, which receives pressure from an air compressor.Other Images
