ATSF Class 5000 #5000: a Texas type locomotive on display in downtown Amarillo

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ATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo, TX

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Class 5000 #5000 is a Texas type locomotive (2-10-4). It is currently on outdoor display next to Queen's Garden in downtown
Amarillo, TX, close to the junction of SE 2nd and Lincoln Aves.

#5000 retired in 1953 after twenty-three years service, and was then donated to the City of Amarillo by the AT&SF in 1957. For years it stood outside the AT&SF depot in downtown Amarillo, slowly deteriorating in
the extremes of the northern Texas weather. Finally,
in 1996, the Texas Panhandle Railroad Historical
Society carried out a cosmetic restoration of the locomotive.

In a few years, things began to look up for #5000. In
2003, a non-profit organisation, the Railroad Artifact Preservation Society, signed an agreement with the
City of Amarillo to build a railroad education centre to
be its new home. They began restoration work that
year, which was completed in August 2008 having involved over two thousand volunteers. Beautifully preserved, the result is evidence of the dedication of
the Railroad Artifact Preservation Society and the volunteers.

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ATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo
ATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo

ATSF #5000 is displayed in a fenced off area. It was moved there in 2008 following completion of the restoration effort. The move featured on the 2006 season of the US History Channel's "Mega Movers" television show.

The engine was built in 1930 at the Baldwin Locomotive Works Eddystone, PA, shops for the AT&SF to experiment with the 2-10-4 wheel arrangement, as the 2-10-2 helper locomotives
then in use had problems reversing from Raton Pass to Raton, NM, after assisting trains up the grade.

ATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo
ATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo
ATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo

In July and August 1930, #5000 underwent extensive testing on AT&SF's Pecos Division between Clovis and Belen, NM. #5000 could pull 15% more tonnage in 9% less time, burning 17% less coal per 1000 gross ton miles than AT&SF's
2-10-2 3800 series locomotives.

#5000 went into service and, at some time, acquired the nickname "Madam Queen", by which it is still known. The AT&SF were impressed by #5000's performance, but arrival of the Great Depression and a fall off in freight, meant they had no incentive to buy others.

ATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo
ATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo
ATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo
ATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo

It was not until 1938 that the AT&SF bought ten more 2-10-4s (five coal and five oil burners, class 5001).

As these had more modern design
features, including greater heating surface and larger drivers, #5000 is the only one of its type.

ATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo

Built to haul heavy freight, #5000 is 108' 5ΒΌ" long, weighs 502,600 lbs, 372,000 lbs on its 69" drivers. Built as a coal burner with Walschaert valve gear and 30" x 34" cylinders, in 1940, the locomotive was converted to burn oil.

With a 121.7 sq ft grate, 570 sq ft firebox and
total heating surface of 9,655 sq ft heating
surface, including 2,550 sq ft superheating,
#5000 operated a boiler pressure of 300 psi, delivering 113,0870 lbs tractive effort. In its
twenty-three years service, it clocked up over 1,750,000 miles.

ATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo
ATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo
ATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, AmarilloATSF 5000 #5000, Amarillo
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