ABILENE — In an effort to get it back on track as soon as possible, a 1919 steam engine, now owned and used by the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad , is undergoing a major overhaul, with volunteers leading the way.

Per regulation by the Federal Railroad Administration, every steam engine in the United States must undergo a complete teardown and rebuild, making sure that the pressurized vessel of the boiler and other components are safe as it continues to operate.

The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe 3415 engine, a 4-6-2, Pacific-type locomotive, built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1919, is no different. As the only operating steam locomotive in the state, it's important that this overhaul is done right.

While this steam locomotive is out of commission for the overhaul, ASVRR is still operating passenger excursion and dinner trains using a diesel locomotives from the 1940s.

A large team of volunteers working on the ATSF 3415 overhaul

While ASVRR has contracted with Heritage Rail Management to assist and oversee some of this restoration, much of the work is being done by volunteers like Steve Schwarting, a retired family medicine doctor who lives in Abilene.

"I started volunteering in 2004," Schwarting said.

Now, he somewhat oversees much of the mechanical work done by volunteers for the official heritage railroad in the state of Kansas.

Schwarting said work on this project is being done with about 40 volunteers, each of whom come and work when they have time.

Right now, they have scheduled work weekends every month, where those who have the training and the know-how can come and help.

"Then, there's another volunteer in town that's retired, and he and I work on it three to four days a week," he said.

The engine had its last run in October 2023, before the overhaul process began, with work coming somewhat slowly, mainly because of the financial undertaking it requires.

"They didn't want to start tearing it down until they had the monies to restore it," he said. "That's kind of come about gradually."

While not all of the funding has been secured, he said the work will continue, with hopes that the entire process can be done and the engine can get back on the excursion route for the ASVRR sometime in 2026.

In addition to the hundreds of pipes that carry steam through the entire engine, every cap, weld, cover and more has to be removed and restored or replaced, so this was never going to be a quick process.

"We started tearing down in probably October or November," he said. "It just takes time."

Joining the team on some occasions, including this past weekend, has been Randy Babcock, chief mechanical officer for American Heritage Railways.

"I started working on steam engines in 1998," Babcock said. "It's my day job."

American Heritage Railways owns and operates a several heritage lines, excursion trains and special event licensing operations, like the Polar Express, but it is only here in Abilene in a contracted role, with the ASVRR its own independent line.

"We work with them on advisory, overall operations and then our mechanical contract side," he said.

For more information about the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad, visit its website, asvrr.org . People interested in volunteering with ASVRR, including in this overhaul project, can find information at the "Volunteer" tab on the website including how to apply.