News Archive

This page maintains all of the News Flash information from the Front Page as it rotates off the Front Page to help you find items referenced.

2024-01-06] Please participate in survey on the fate of Running Extra and give feedback on Convention duration.  Click here. [9/19/2023]

[2024-01-06] Society’s 2024 Convention will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico from June 26 to June 30, 2024.  Watch for more details!

[20231113] Santa Fe Passenger Car Compendium[ has sold out.  The Society is ordering a second print run.  [9/19/2023]

[20230821] Winslow Minimeet – May 13, 2023 – clinics posted here.

[20230821] 2023 Annual Convention – The Fast Fifteen Information posted.  Registration open – CLICK HERE! [2/26/2023]

[20230821] Congratulations to Bill Van der Meer for becoming Master Santa Fe Modeler #7.  Check out Bill’s bio and work HERE.  [08/20/2022]

2023 Convention will be in Houston with an Extra Fare trip to Galveston, both in Texas.  Save the dates:  June 7-11, 2023.

[20211001] All:  You can bid for Santa Fe model items (many N scale) and Santa Fe art and collectibles from Gene Rutledge’s estate until October 20, 2022.  This is independent of the Society.

[20220820] Congratulations to Bill Van der Meer for earning the 7th Master Santa Fe Modeler!  Congratulations, Bill, and we will run an article in the Running Extra and post on the website what goes into the making of a Master Santa Fe Modeler!

[20220803] Cajon Pass Group archives join www.SFRHMS.org! Thanks to John Thompson and Michael Davis.  Check it out.  [4/4/2020]

[20220620] Order the New Society Books: Painting and Lettering Guide by John Signor and Eastern Division by Bob Walz! [Posted 9/17/2021]

[20220620] Check updates for Gene Crossett’s ATSF and BNSF Diesel Rosters and new image of interest. [Posted 9/18/2021]

[20220620] NOTICE!!  The 2022 Convention is now available.  REGISTER HERE  Explanations of Convention Program and registration are found at 2022 Convention.  See you in Kansas City!

[20220620] NOTICE!  Looking for the supplemental material for the Fourth Quarter The Warbonnet?  Click HERE.

[20220620] NOTICE!  The 2022 Winslow Mini-Meet is scheduled or Saturday, May 14, at the La Posada Hotel and Gardens.  The 2022 Indianapolis Mini-Meet is scheduled for March 12, 2022 at the Allisonville Christian Church.  See Conventions and Mini-Meets page for more information.

[20220620] New Refrigerator and Ice Cars added to Rebuilding the Santa Fe page!

[20220210] Mini-Meets are BACK!  Check out the Denver and Indianapolis information here.

[20220210] Builders’ Plates.  A collection of ATSF steam and diesel builders plate is posted in the members’ Marketplace (forums).  Check it out! [Posted 3/21/2021]

[20210807] 2021 Virtual Convention Registration Now Open!  June 26, 2021, 11-5:45 EDT.  Click to see the PROGRAM or to REGISTER.  [Posted 5/1/2021]

[20210807]  Albuquerque Convention CANCELLED due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.  [Posted 4/1/2021; Updated 5/1/2021]

[20200425]

2020 Albuquerque Convention logo 2

2021 annual convention – transcon nm 140 – albuquerque, new mexico

Updated:   April 1, 2021 (No, this is not an April Fools post).

ALBUQUERQUE CONVENTION UPDATE

 As a consequence of continuing restrictions which will not be lifted sufficiently beforehand, it has been determined that an in person convention in Albuquerque will not be possible this year. The hotel will be cancelling any outstanding room reservations.

 An alternative to the live convention will be explored and the details as to what type of convention to host will be announced by April 30th on the website, on this page, and in the second quarter “The Warbonnet” magazine and “Running Extra” to be mailed in early June.

 Your Board of Directors, volunteer staff , and the Convention Committee appreciates your patience and understanding as they worked through the myriad complicating issues in this uncharted territory.

 For the Board and Convention Committee,

 Raymond D. Woods, Jr., Business Manager

[20210401] Albuquerque Convention members survey.  65% of 110 respondents said they thought it would be safe to attend but 57.8% said they would not attend if COVID restrictions like masks are still required.  64% said they would attend a Virtual Convention.  See the full results in the News Archive. [Posted 3/13/21]

[20210313] Full Convention Survey Results:

ALBUQUERQUE CONVENTION

Q1:  Safe to travel to ABQ in June 2021?  Yes – 73 65.8%; No –  38  34.2%

Q2:  Would you attend Convention if COVID restrictions/masks still required? Yes – 48 42.2%; No – 66  57.8%

Q3:  If no live, would you do virtual? Yes – 71  64.0%; No —  40 36.0%

KANSAS CITY CONVENTION

Q4:  Do you want more than 1 extra fare? Yes – 75 72.8%, No —  28 27.2%

Q5:  Are you willing to travel to KC in 2022? Yes – 99 90.8%, No – 10  9.2%

Q6:  Would you be willing to pay higher hotel cost without being deterred? Yes – 20 18.4%, No  –89  81.6%

[20210313] Santa Fe Steam Compendium books.  Orders are CLOSED for the books.  CDs are still available!  Santa Fe Steam Compendium are enroute to our fulfillment house!  We will begin to ship shortly! [Updated 1/4/2021]

[20210123] ALBUQUERQUE/KANSAS CITY CONVENTIONS:  The Board needs you to take a survey on whether to hold the 2021 Convention “live” (assuming COVID lets us) or “virtually” and questions about costing for the 2022 Kansas City Convention.  Take the SURVEY.  The survey closes on January 15, 2021 so don’t delay! [Posted 1/4/2021]

[20210123] Many new images of Santa Fe models have been added to Rebuilding the Santa Fe!  Check them out HERE.

[20210123] Warbonnetstatus.  The magazines were mailed in bulk on December first. Hobby shops and other resellers have received their magazines as they are shipped priority mail. The individual member magazines are caught up in an unprecedented postal service slowdown. We have seen more than one report showing the huge backlogs in postal facilities. Everyone is affected by this and there is nothing to be done but to wait patiently and pass the word to members who are not on the web and social media that the fourth quarter The Warbonnet are stuck in transit. [Updated 12/20/2020]

[20201215] Santa Fe Steam Compendium books.  Orders are CLOSED for the books.  CDs are still available!  We are still expecting delivery of the Santa Fe Steam Compendium books before the end of the year with individual copies mailed as soon thereafter as practical. we must bear in mind, however, they could also be impacted by the current postal shipping situation as well. [Updated 12/20/2020]

[20200720] 2021 Albuquerque Convention news-hotel reservations availableCheck Status.  2022 Convention planned for Kansas City; 2023 Convention planned for Flagstaff. [7/20/20]

[20201015] NEWS.  Time is running out to reserve hard copy editions of Joseph Strapac’s Santa Fe Steam Compendium Vol 1 and Vol 2!  We are 100 short for Vol 1 and 60 short for Vol 2!  Reserve Vol 1 ; Reserve Vol 2

[20200401] ANNOUNCEMENT:  Limited number of McCall’s Early Diesel Daze and Coach, Cabbage & Caboose available!  Also Pounds’ Santa Fe Depots: The Western Lines.  Check out Shop!  [4/1/2020]

[20200831] NEWS.  WalthersProto releases Late 1960s Combined Super Chief / El Capitan set.  11 cars.  Also EMD F7 Phase II A/B units.  Read more about train and locomotives.  Preorder deadline is August 31, 2020. [7/14/20]

[20200622] NEWS FLASH:  Society and Westerfield Models offer special SALE until June 27, 2020!  Read all about it!

[20200624] NEWS FLASH:  2020 Virtual Convention for June 20, 2020! REGISTRATION OPEN.  Read all about it!  [6/9/2020]  Society will release Strapac’s Santa Fe Steam Compendium Volume 2 – Modern Locomotives in book and CD; Walz’s Santa Fe’s New Mexico Division: Varnish, Coal, Copper and Cattleand the 1950 System Time Table at the Virtual Convention and to the general public the following Monday!

[20200420] NEWS FLASH – Winslow Mini-Meet CANCELLED.  We will see you next year. Help out the La Posada and request a gift certificate instead of a refund! [4/20/2020]

[20200411]  NEWS FLASH – Denver Mini-Meet POSTPONED!  Date TBD  [4/11/2020]

[20200422] 2020 Annual Convention hard copy information POSTED!  On-line registration Now Available! New Mexico public health has not recommended cancellation so we are still on.  Please note change in cancellation policy. THIS CONVENTION IS POSTPONED to June 15-20, 2021.

[20200422] NOTICE:  The 2021 Convention will be in Kansas City, KS from June 15-20, 2021.  THIS WILL BE PUSHED TO 2022.

[20200422] Upcoming (NEW!):  23rd Annual Kansas City Mini-Meet.  Learn more.  The Winslow, Arizona Mini-Meet will be held on May 9, 2020 at the La Posada Hotel & Gardens, the former Harvey House.  [Updated 4/21/2020]

[20200324]  Society is backing Prototype Junction Bx-11, Bx-12 and Bx-13 HO injection-molded boxcars.  Check out details on our site and theirsBuy in!  Unfortunately, not enough people bought into the project so it did not make.

[20190912] Kistler Photos Now Available for Order!  If you have always wanted some of Stan Kistler’s iconic photographs of Santa Fe equipment, now is your chance.  Ordering Information. Additional catalogs added!

[20191207]  The Society is proud to release two new books:

  • Livestock Operations: History, Equipment, Facilities & Modeling.  By J. Stephen Sandifer.  Learn more.  Instructions for accessing on-line supplemental information are available in the book description.  (On-line supplemental information has been updated to include PDF files in addition to the original Excel files. There is also some new information. 5-Oct-2019)
  • Santa Fe Hoppers & Gondolas: 1960 – 1995.  By Charles Slater.  Learn more.

[20191027] Addendum to “An Organizational History of the Santa Fe: 1869- 1995” available!  Additional information on this topic has become available and Bob Walz has compiled it into an Addendum to his work.  The Addendum is included with new sales and is free for anyone who purchased one already.  If you have already purchased, just email us at and let us know whether you prefer a digital or hard copy Addendum and the address!

[20190717] Society decals and detail parts now in on-line Company Store!  Check them out here.

[20190811] New citrus industry information and photos posted!  Check them out here.

[20190806] 2019 Convention UPDATE!  Members and friends of the Santa Fe are invited to join us July 26-28, 2019 for our Annual Convention, held this year in Pueblo, Colorado, and featuring lots of Santa Fe and steel town action.  A new update was posted on June 24, 2019 with new hotel information.  Please check out the revised information!

[20190717] Take the American Limited Tank Car Survey!  Closes Friday, June 28th!

[20190622]  New Member Forum paint discussion! Members can join a discussion on best paints to replicate Santa Fe colors. Go to Members, Forum, Modeling Forum, General Modeling, and select the paint discussion!

[20190622] Athearn Caboose/Way Car model new review from Bob Walz.

[20190605] Site Maintenance Note:  A server upgrade is planned for June 4, 2019 between 16:00 and 19:00 PST.  Site performance may be affected.

[20190602] You are Invited to AT&SF 2926’s 75th Birthday Party on May 26, 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico!  Flyer

[20180811] New Forum Topic:  What is Santa Fe Maintenance-of-Way “grey”?  Join the discussion in the Forum.

[20160428] Clinics Announced for Winslow Mini-Meet on April 27th.  Bill Childers – Gulf & Northern, Craig Foster, Bridges at Topock, Kenny Rhoads – Restoring the Verde Valley, and John Smith, Modeling the Santa Fe in “O” Scale.  Read more. (scroll down to mini-meets).  Don’t forget Indianapolis Mini-Meet, also on April 27th!  flyer

Check out the new Santa Fe Steam Compendium, Volume 1!  Written by noted locomotive historian Joseph Strapac, this important work details Santa Fe’s steam locomotives, including some newly discovered, and those operated by subsidiary lines.  A great addition to any Santa Fe or steam fan’s library!  Read About | Purchase [Moved to Archive 4/2/2019]