SOUTHERN PACIFIC 3420
COAL, COPPER, CANTALOPES, CERVEZAS, and CELEBRATIONS have all played a role in the history of former Southern Pacific Steam Locomotive 3420. Southern Pacific 3420’s international adventures take place In the Chihuahuan Desert of the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico.
Southern Pacific 3420 was constructed by Baldwin Locomotive Works at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in August 1904 for the El Paso & Northeastern Railway. The El Paso & Northeastern was sold to the El Paso & Southwestern on July 1 1905. The El Paso & Southwestern is leased by the Southern Pacific on November 1, 1924. Southern Pacific donated 3420 to the City of El Paso in a ceremony on May 1, 1956, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the construction of the railroads through El Paso. In 1981 was returned to operation by a group of dedicated volunteers, for 100th anniversary of the construction of the railroads through El Paso. The history of Southern Pacific 3420 cannot be told in a couple of sentences and this website is dedicated to giving a summary of her story.
Pages with more information on Southern Pacific 3420
About 3420 My Time on the Railroad: Information about Southern Pacific 3420.
About 3420 the Restoration Years: Information on 3420 after her career working on the railroad.
My Basic Parts : This page is to give the visitor the location of several appliances on Southern Pacific 3420.
Descriptive Record of 3420: This is a more detailed view of several parts of 3420 from the Mechanical Department of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
3420 Legal Papers: This page contains legal documents relating to 3420’s ownership.
El Paso Railroad History Timeline Learn all about important Railroad Events in the Southwest.
Railroad Definitions: Railroaders are often accused of speaking a different language Here are some definitions to help you translate what is said into something understandable.
To join the Southwest Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society visit: https://rlhs.org/WP/
This view of the fireman side of Southern Pacific 3420 was taken on January 10, 1953 on the service tracks at the El Paso Piedras Street Roundhouse. This photo was taken just 2 years and 10 days before the locomotive’s retirement from the Southern Pacific.
Information about other Historic El Paso Railroad Sites
El Paso Train Show Site: Information on upcoming El Paso Train Shows.
El Paso & Southwestern #1: A little History on the oldest railroad steam locomotive west of the Mississippi River that few in El Paso know of or understand the locomotive’s national historical importance.
Our Other Rolling Stock: In the early 1980s Chris Stark and other volunteers made a effort to save some pieces of historically unique pieces of Railroad Rolling Stock.
Southern Pacific Box Car 115497: The story of the Southern Pacific 1936 order of steel box cars and the survivor in El Paso.
AAR 1941 Material Specs: The publication of these 80 year old material specification is a public service to the railroad preservation community.
Alloys Brass Bronze Iron Baldwin Lima Hamilton Corporation: Material Specifications from the Baldwin Lima Hamilton Corporation.
This photo by J.E. Whittaker of the engineer’s side of Southern Pacific 3420 was taken on September 1952. This view of 3420 was used as a fundraiser by the El Paso Historical Railroad Board in the early 1980s.