The 1920's was marked by a period of modernization and rebuilding of the Santa Fe's physical plant following World War One and the Governments return of the Railroad to it's owners on September 1, 1920. Major programs included a major rebuilding of the company shops. Major purchases of new locomotives and cars. New line construction resumed along with a major expansion of double track.
In the 1920's modern fireproof concrete Machine shop buildings were built at Albuquque, Cleburne and San Bernardino along with dozens of other shop buildings at each locations. Not only did the major shops see a major rebuilding but out on the line Argentine and Waynoka recieved a new Machine shop, Newton a new blacksmith shop and division office building. New icing facilities were built for Clovis, San Bernardino, Bakersfield, Hobart, and Waynoka. New coal chutes and oil fuel facilities to numerous to mention were built across the system along with new turntables at a number of locations.
Fifty new locomotives were delivered in 1920-30; heavy Mikados of the 3160 class 3258 - 3287, 10 Santa Fe 3800 class 3830 - 3839 and 10 Mountains of the 3700 class 3712 - 3721. As the decade progresseed 101 addtional Mikado's were delivered in 1921 - 1926 of the 4000 class 91 additional Santa Fe's of the 3800 class and 29 additional Mountains 3722 - 3750. The year 1927 saw the arrival of Santa Fe's first 4-6-4 Hudsons type locomotives with the delivery of the 10 locomotives of the 3450 class 3450 - 3459. Also in 1927 saw the arrival of the first Santa Fe 4-8-4 Northern with the delivery of 3751 followed in 1928 and 1929 by 13 more northerns 3752 - 3764. Another new wheel arrangement arrived on the property in 1927 with first 2-8-4 Berkshires 15 of the 4101 class 4101 - 4115 another 7 Berkshires arrived in 1928 making up the 4193 class 4193 - 4199. The arrival of all these new classes of power along with the breaking up of the 2-8-8-0 Mallets into heavy mikados was driven by an increase in train speeds across the system resulting in the need for these new and faster steam locomotives.
Five hundred Caswell bottom dump gondolas were delivered in 1920 along with 2,500 refregerator cars and 2,700 box cars. During the remainder of the decade a additional 3,650 Caswell Gondolas were delivered which with the 4,650 Caswell delivered between 1905 and 1918 made up the majority of the Santa Fe's open top fleet from the 1920's through the 1940's.
Established 04/22/96-Updated 08/26/2008
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