See Tracks? Think Train!
RAIL SAFETY: Los Angeles
Join us September 21st and 22nd at Los Angeles Union Station!
The San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society (SBRHS), with presenting partners Los Angeles Union Station, Metro, Metrolink, and Amtrak, will welcome the public to Rail Safety: Los Angeles this September - the largest railroad safety event in downtown Los Angeles in more than a decade, as part of Rail Safety Month.
The SBRHS’ historic, 1927-built steam locomotive, Santa Fe 3751, will headline the two-day event on Track 15 of Los Angeles Union Station on Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 22, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The 3751 will be joined by some of today’s most modern Metrolink and Amtrak passenger train equipment and information booths, providing a unique educational opportunity for attendees to learn about the size, scale, and speed of trains and learn new ways to be safe around railroad tracks.
“We could not be more excited to bring the message of safety around railroad tracks back to downtown Los Angeles,” said SBRHS Vice President, Alex Gillman. “Southern California is one of the busiest centers of passenger and freight railroad operations in the nation, and promoting rail safety is crucial for all our local communities.”
According to Federal Railroad Administration statistics, California ranked 1st in 2023 for the highest number of casualties related to trespassing, with 190 deaths and 134 injuries. That same year, California also ranked No. 2 for the nation's highest highway-rail grade crossing collisions, with 172 collisions, 38 deaths, and 74 injuries.
Some of the other rail equipment that will be on display at Rail Safety: Los Angeles includes a Metrolink passenger locomotive, designated as an F125 “Spirit,” and a Metrolink passenger “Cab Car” railcar, a specially designed railcar that allows Metrolink trains to operate with the locomotive pulling or pushing at the rear of the train. Attendees will also have an opportunity to walk through the Cab Car passenger railcar, and Metrolink will have an information booth and staff on hand to answer questions about the agency’s safety initiatives.
In addition to Metrolink’s display equipment, Amtrak’s one-of-a-kind Operation Lifesaver painted locomotive, Amtrak 203, will also be on display. This diesel-electric P42-DC locomotive is the only unit in Amtrak’s locomotive fleet that features a special yellow and black paint scheme, symbolic of railroad crossing signs, which it received in 2022 as part of Operation Lifesavers' 50th Anniversary.
Other presenting agencies at Rail Safety: Los Angeles will include Metro, Los Angeles Union Station, Operation Lifesaver – California, Amtrak Police Department, Los Angeles City Fire Department, Montebello Fire Department, and the Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency (LOSSAN).
When Will 3751 Operate Next?
Find Out The Latest Below
I'm excited to see 3751 again soon...but why doesn't the SBRHS announce operations earlier?
At any given time, the SBRHS Board of Directors is actively involved in discussions for (at least) three to five different 3751 outings. These range from having the locomotive travel for displays at events like Fullerton Railroad Days to multi-day excursions to destinations like San Diego or others. We strive to keep our Supporters and fans as up to date as possible regarding all planned 3751 operations, but with that said, each day of planning any outing for our 874,000-pound engine brings with it new areas to address. The SBRHS will almost always wait for a ‘SURE GO' status to be achieved before making an announcement, which could be as early as a year or just a week from the actual departure date. You can learn more about SBRHS-3751 operation announcements on our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Page.
Overall, if you are unable to find information about an upcoming trip through the SBRHS, it is because the plans are still being finalized. Rest assured, our crew looks forward to having 3751 out just as much you, and both the Steam Crew and Board of Directors are doing all they can to plan and execute the next operation of the locomotive so that you can come out and enjoy it.
We thank you for your understand and the generous backing from our Supporters to help keep 3751 steaming.
To learn more about how you can help, visit our Current Needs or Membership Pages.
