Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Steam Locomotive No. 3751
Also known as: AT& Sf 3751
Why it's listed
Santa Fe Railway locomotive No. 3751 is a 4-8-4 steam engine built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1927 and designed jointly by Santa Fe engineer H. H. Lanning and Baldwin staff. It was the thirteenth 4-8-4 built in America. The twelve before it, made for the Northern Pacific, were all scrapped, so it is now the oldest of its type in existence. It was also the first 4-8-4 Baldwin built and the first the Santa Fe bought. Converted to burn oil in 1936, it was rebuilt in 1941 with larger drivers, higher boiler pressure and roller bearings, allowing speeds of 90 miles per hour. Its fires were dropped in 1953, and it was donated to the City of San Bernardino in 1957. Volunteers of the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society restored it to steam in 1991, aiming to match its 1953 appearance. The nomination ties it to engineering progress and to the Santa Fe's development of faster, more comfortable long-distance travel.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues national significance in engineering and transportation. It is the oldest surviving 4-8-4 locomotive, the first 4-8-4 built by Baldwin, and the first purchased by the Santa Fe. It also reflects the Santa Fe's move toward faster, more modern passenger and freight service.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 00001178, listed October 4, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2435 E. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | October 4, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001178 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1927-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (designer); Baldwin Locomotive Works (builder) |
| Architectural style | Other: steam locomotive |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored to operation in 1991 to appear as it did when retired from service in 1953; housed at the Redondo Junction Roundhouse in Los Angeles. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.01716, -118.22624 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 00001178.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7419492
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.