ATSF 761 Moving day

ezdays

Out AZ way
Fifty years ago, Santa Fe gave the town of Wickenburg engine 761, but would not allow it to rest on the right of way. The townspeople built tracks along the street and hand pushed 761 two blocks to a park. 761 did not go easy. It jumped the tracks and locked up its wheels and took two days to get it there. For fifty years 761 had to settle for hearing the horns and clatter of trains as they passed through town longing to see what was going on, and probably wondered why none stopped here anymore.

Well, after 50 years of negotiations, BNSF has decided 761 deserved a rightful place next to the station it abandoned so long ago. yesterday and today was moving day. It still took two days, even with all the modern tools of man.

Here is a picture of 761 the night before the big move. Note that it is treebound by a sapling that was planted, you guessed it, 50 years ago.

Don
 

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    761parknew.jpg
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ezdays

Out AZ way
Yesterday they loaded the tender on a truck and moved the engine in position.
 

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  • 761 tender on trailernew.jpg
    761 tender on trailernew.jpg
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ezdays

Out AZ way
Note that the engine is now in a handycap parking spot.
 

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  • 761 enginenew.jpg
    761 enginenew.jpg
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ezdays

Out AZ way
This morning they had just finished placing the engine when I got there
 

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  • 761 placing enginenew.jpg
    761 placing enginenew.jpg
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ezdays

Out AZ way
Both engine and tender are on the tracks, but the engine coupler needs to be reinstalled before they can join once again. I am told that a caboose is being restored and will arrive in October.

Don
 

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  • 761 all on tracksnew.jpg
    761 all on tracksnew.jpg
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