Santa Fe #93, an EMD FP45 diesel locomotive at the Great Plains Transportation Museum (GPTM) in Wichita, Kansas, will be getting a new lease on life thanks to a Hollywood star. Actor and railfan Michael Gross is helping the museum kick off a fundraising effort to cosmetically restore the locomotive. The goal of the campaign is to raise $193,000 dollars.
Locomotive 93 was built in 1967 by EMD and pulled the famous Super Chief passenger train before being used for freight service by both the Santa Fe and later BNSF. The unit was donated to the museum in 1999.
The money raised will be used not only for the restoration, but also to mechanically repair the locomotive so that it can travel to Kansas city for the restoration. It will be repainted in the classic red and sliver “Warbonnet” scheme then returned to Wichita. It is hoped to raise all of the money needed by mid-2024.
Michael Gross, who starred in Family Ties, a 1980s sitcom, has a personal connection to the Santa Fe through his grandfather who worked in the Fort Madison, Iowa shops. He grew up running Santa Fe Lionel trains around the Christmas tree. His role will be as a spokesperson and advocate during the fundraising process.
Donations can be made directly on the GPTM website at https://www.gptm.us/santafe93-donation
Image from the GPTM website
Learn more
Railfan and Railroad article
Local new press release
Trains Newswire article
Great Plains Transportation Museum website